Meeting Minutes 

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PRESENT: Andrews, Arend, Banchoff, Bates, Dorothy Brown, Cole, Curran, Danielson, Davis, Diamond, Glazer, Goldfrank, Haramati, Iglarsh, Jacobs, Kromer, Martire, McAuliffe, McFadden, S.J., Morris, J.Murphy, A.Myers, Nelson, Noyes, O’Connor, Pfeiffer, Regan, Rameh, Sitterson, Soudee, Spiegel, Temple, Tracy, Viksnins, Vroman, T.Walsh, Witek, S.J.

ABSENT: Angel, Douglas Brown, Byrne, Cohn, Cuddington, Dover, Ernst, Evans, Fasold, Fink, Gallucci, Gerli, Glavin, Haft, Harter, Hauser, Lauerman, Lepgold, McCabe, McGrail, Oakley, Picken, Puto, Ronkainen, Rothstein, Serene, Whittington, Zuccarelli.

GUESTS: J. Blumenthal, R. Friedman, S. Glickman,  M. Lumpkin, A. Raines, C. Robinowitz,  M. Pentecost,  N. Scribanu, S. Subramanian
 

The meeting was called to order by Prof. Bates at 4:20 p.m.   The agenda included two items: student concerns related to tolerance, diversity and associated issues, and continuation of discussion of Medial Center governance after the transaction with MedStar.

Tolerance, Diversity and associated issues

Prof. Bates called on Prof. Peter Pfeiffer, chair of the Student Affairs Committee, to report on its recent activities.  Prof. Pfeiffer stated that his committee feels the faculty should take a more pro-active role in student affairs.  A number of committees are meeting to consider various facets of the issues raised by students.  Prof. Pfeiffer encourages faculty to participate.  Prof. Pfeiffer introduced 3 motions, which were moved and seconded:

1. The Senate encourages the planning committee for the First Year Student Convocation to broaden the theme of academic integrity of the convocation to include a strong message of personal integrity as well.

2. The Senate encourages all faculty members to engage students both inside and outside the classroom in a variety of conversations and discussions on issues of diversity, integrity, and academic inquiry. The Senate will develop a list of faculty members willing to work with the Office of Student Affairs on common projects. 

3. The Senate encourages all departments and programs to make issues of diversity and tolerance an appropriate topic of departmental conversation, addressing such issues in teaching and the departments' ethos. 

Motions one passed unanimously.  Motion two and three passed by acclamation.  In connection with motion two, Prof. Pfeiffer urged the Senate to take a role in identifying and encouraging faculty participation in various activities, especially those involving direct student contact, to promote dialogue related to diversity and tolerance.

Steve Glickman, president of the Jewish Students Association and spokesman for the Unity Coalition, reported on student activities and students’ role in the committees mentioned by Prof. Pfeiffer.  Students feel a diversity-related question on essay topic on the application for admission might help.  Another proposal is that a course in diversity should be required, not as an additional required course, but as part of the current degree requirements.  If two sociology courses were required for a major, for example, one could be a course dealing with diversity.

Prof. Arthur Raines suggested that the response to some isolated incidents was out of proportion.  Prof. Tony Arend responded that there have been more than a couple of incidents, and that this type of introspection and evaluation is desirable. Prof. Raines stated that the Senate might focus on the alcohol problem on campus.  Provost Dorothy Brown stated that the alcohol issue has been, and is being, dealt with.  She encouraged faculty to make suggestions on how to better deal with alcohol.  Prof. Mark Danielsen commented that students will drink, and that the University should teach students to drink responsibility.  Prof. David Goldfrank supported Prof. Raines’ view.  Others pointed out the relationship between drinking and antisocial behavior, including acts of intolerance.

Prof. James Regan asked whether the Senate should, in some manner, express its condolences to the family of the student killed recently on campus.  The Senate voted affirmatively that Prof. Bates should write a letter to the family.

Medial Center governance

Discussion of the draft governance report from Prof. Arend’s Medical Center governance committee (appointed by President Leo O’Donovan,S.J.).  Prof. Dan Martire, chair of the standing Governance Committee of the Senate spoke first on points raised at the Senate Steering Committee.  He enumerated several recommendations made by the Arend’s group that require specific Senate action, and modification of the Faculty Handbook or Grievance Code.  He also recommended that the Medical Center Caucus be consulted on all changes.   The Arend’s group should request additional time to prepare a final report.

Prof. Raines mentioned that some of the issues in the Arend’s draft report had been dealt with in the 1996 Faculty Task Force Report, and some essential elements, for example, a bottom-up administrative review, have been ignored.  Prof. Arend assured the Senate that such issues will be considered.

Prof. Gloria Massaro expressed concern that MedStar employees will affect academic policy unduly.  She is especially concerned about Committee on Faculty and how it will function.

One aspect of the Arend’s report which was broadly discussed was whether faculty involvement in governance was sufficient as proposed, and whether business and administrative interests were unduly great.  While members of the Arend committee and members of the Pentecost committee (a committee appointed by EVP Sam Wiesel of the Medical Center) defended their draft reports, others argued for more representation of educational interests.

Prof. Bates expressed concern that if governance issues aren’t resolved before July 1, serious problems will result.

Prof. Nina Scribanu questioned the lack of consideration of faculty appointments, tracts, etc.

A motion was made to approve transmission of the Arend’s draft report to Father O’Donovan, while reserving the right of the Senate to act on specific items as required by the Faculty Handbook.  The motion was seconded.

A quorum call was requested.  There not being a quorum, the meeting was discontinued at 7:05 p.m.

AKM/jhg

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