Publications Committee of the American Society of Andrology 1977

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'" CANADIAN ANDROLOGY SOCIETY
SOCIETE CANADIENNE D'ANDROLOGIE
President: Jerald Bain, B.Sc.Phm., M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.P(C).
Dr. D. W. Fawcett, \
President, American Society of Andrology,
Department of Anatomy,
Harvard Medical School,
25 Shattuck Street,
Bost~n, Massachusetts. 02115.
) ,
Mount Sinai Hospital,
Suite 639-640,
600 University Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario. MSG lXS.
November 23, 1977
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Dear Dr-. .· Fawcett:
As a member of the American Society of Andrology, I am in receipt of your
Referendum and letter dated October 18, 1977. The current debate regarding journal
selection interests me not only because of my membership in ASA but also because of
my activity in the Canadian Andrology Society. The CAS is about l~ years old and
most of our attention has been directed to establishing the Society and developing
its programme. However, we are extremely interested in what decisions the ASA will
reach regarding selection ofa journal, for we, too, may wish to include a journal
as part of our membership. ' ,
The Canadian Andrology Society will not be selecting a journal for the
coming year, however, we will be interested in related events as they unfold, i.e.
the decision of the ASA and the publication of new journals of andrology.
To be published are two new journals, Archives of Andrology (undoubtedly
inspired by the initiative and seemingly boundless energy of Saad Hafez) and the
International . Journal of Andrology (three of whose associate editors ' are ASA activists)~
Despite the advance publicity, your letter has informed us that the ASA is not
affiliated with the latter journal. Personally, I applaud Dr. Hafez and CIDA for
their initiatives in promoting the growth and development of a~drology. The creation
of yet another journal (American Journal of Andrology - or pre::erably a title that
is less rationalistic in t one) at this time, before the other two journals have
yet had time to be assessed, seems a rather frivolous undertaking.
Speaking as an ASA member I cast my vote in favour of a "wait and see"
policy and against adopting an official periodical at this time. Speaking as
president of the Canadian Andrology Society I would say that we have an interest in
considering an appropriate journal for our members and would be pleased to share
the thoughts of our executive with yours.
One final point. Although not stated precisely in this manner, your
letter leaves the impressi on that in order to maintain high scientific standards,
the selected journal should be American-based rather than emanate from a European