Minutes
of the Academic Senate Meeting
of May 14, 2002
The
Academic Senate was called to order by Chair Vaughn at 2:10
p.m.
Senate
Members Present:
Aaron,
Eunice Adisa-Thomas, Karima Alvarez, Alvin Avila, Guadalupe Bartscher, Patricia Bishop, Anna Blomberg, Judith Boyle, Andrea Cherny, Robert Collier, James Colvin, Caran Concolino, Christopher Consoli, Andres Corrigan, Robert A. Daniels, Robert |
Duke,
Jerry Edwards, James Friedman, Marv Fung, Robert Ganji, Vijay Garcia, Oswaldo Garcia, Velia Gillotte, Helen Gerson, Deborah Gregory, Jan Harnly, Caroline Henry, Margaret Higgins, Susan Hom, Marlon Houlberg, Rick |
Hubler,
Barbara Jerris, Scott Kassiola, Joel La Belle, Thomas Langbort, Carol Levine, Josh Luft, Sandra McKeon, Midori Moallem, Minoo Newt-Scott, Ronda Nichols, Amy Oñate, Abdiel Pong, Wen Shen Raggio, Marcia Sayeed, Lutfus |
Scoble,
Don Shrivastava, Vinay Smith, Miriam Steier, Saul Strong, Rob Su, Yuli Terrell, Dawn Turitz, Mitch Vaughn, Pamela Warren, Mary Anne Warren, Penelope Wolfe, Bruce Yip, Yewmun |
Senate
Members Absent :Remember to delete all the names listed here from the list of members presentif you complete the attendance? |
Guests:names herejust let me know if you are not sure
that you got everyone |
Announcements
Penny Warren, Vice Chair of the Academic Senate
reported that Velia Garcia, Rick Houlberg, and Pamela Vaughn had received
awards of excellence as student organization advisors.
Chairs
Report
Chair Pamela Vaughn offered an
end of the year report focusing on the events of the year.
I
had intended to entertain you with a breezy little speech about the challenges
and joys of sitting in the front of the room and some lighthearted comments
about senate chairdom in general, but I feel now that a speech of that nature
would be self-indulgent and inappropriate.
The
last several months have been a challenge for us all. We, as a senate, began
the academic year with a resolution that, among other things related to the
aftermath of September 11, condemned responses stigmatizing members of any
religious, ethnic, racial, or national group. Resolutions are not enoughresolve
and action are required. We have seen an increase in intemperate language,
in acts of intimidation, from too many quarters and not all of these acts
are related to political events.
Given
my academic discipline and my general disposition, it will come as no surprise
that at times like this I frequently seek refuge in the classics particularly
Cicero and Marcus Aurelius. It has often been alleged that the Romans didnt
do philosophy but it is actually the case that they expected their philosophy
to be practical, to help them in their everyday life. And for the Roman leaders,
in particular, that meant a philosophy that encouraged participation in the
larger community, that was involved and participatory, that allowed them to
speak of the greater good and service to the community. That is why Stoic
philosophy found a home in ancient Rome.
It
is that sense of community, that sense of connection to a larger whole that
drives our resolutions today they all speak to the larger issue of the significance
of education and its role in transforming lives and our obligation in upholding
fundamental concepts in the education process: the free and open exchange
of ideas, critical thought and analysis, and civil disputation. The challenge
for us in and out of our classrooms is to move ourselves and our students
away from slogans and propaganda into a respectful discussion of ideas and
principles and that is no small challenge. Deep convictions and sincere
emotions cloud our thinking, and yet we must persevere the academic venue
may be our last best hope for the resolution of the many problems facing our
world.
I
am reminded of what the late Joseph Campbell said in meditating on thencrisis
in Lebanonthat it was
one of the great tragedies of the world, having three great religions fight
over a metaphor. Campbell, of course,
was on of the great interpreters of mythology in the 20th century;
he saw religion as an attempt to define a path to a single truth, and therefore
titles of religions were simply markers for different paths to the same goal.
But when we become wrapped in the metaphor, when we are blinded to the possibility
that a single truth may entertain more than one avenue to its realization,
then we are doomed. The same, I think, can be true of peace, if we accept
peace as a truth to be attained. We must be open to the possibility that
there is more than one valid path to peace; if we accept only one path as
the true path, then we will indeed become lost.
There
is no doubt some who will feel that todays new resolution is no more than
a knee jerk response to events of last week. To some extent, that is true
if the demonstration last week had not occurred, we might not feel compelled
to state our resolve today. But, just as last September was the impetus for
reaffirming our values as a university and condemning the unwarranted profiling
of any group, so to the demonstration of May 7 has provided the impetus for
our reaffirmation of the universitys principles and our condemnation of acts
or words of hate.
It
is incumbent upon us, as faculty leaders, to take a stand, to contribute in
a positive way to actions and words that foster civil discourse and critical
debate, to reject intimidation in all formswhether in the political arenas,
the classroom, the administrative office, or in our own faculty meetingsto
temper emotional and hyperbolic statements with reasoned judgment and analysis;
and to encourage communication and constructive engagement. We need to recommit
ourselves to this every day whether we are sitting in the front or the back
of this room.
Agenda Item #1: Approval of Agenda for Meeting of May 14, 2002
Terrell
to amend the agenda Steier, agenda item #7a passed
m/s/p (Terrell,
Steier) to approve the agenda and insert a new item at 7a
Agenda Item #2: Approval of Minutes for Meeting of March 5, 2002
m/s/p (unanimously)
to approve the minutes as amended.
Agenda Item #3: Report from Statewide Senators
Eunice Aaron and Jan Gregory
Eunice
Aaron
provided senate with a brief report on the activities at the statewide CSU
academic senate. All Senators received by email a comprehensive end of year
report from the CSU academic senate. Eunice Aaron indicated that in
her role as a member of the CSU Academic Senate Faculty Affairs Committee
that they will continue to work with education at the K-12 focusing on the
quality of education for the children. She indicated the coming weeks and
months should prove interesting due to the changing nature of the states
budget. She also indicated that the final budget would probably come sometime
after the election of a new governor. Jan Gregory, a member of the
CSU Faculty Affairs Committee, spoke briefly about two resolutions on the
review of academic administrators and faculty role in the review. One resolution
focused on the campus reviews and the second focused on the system wide reviews.
The discussion between CFA and the CSU on clarification of implementation
of the new agreement are continuing and two items have been sent to the mediator
for resolution. He committee is continuing to work on the tenure and promotion
process and the weighting between service category and other categories.
Agenda Item #4: Report from Lecturers Council
(Bonnie Homan)
The
lecturers Council was established by the Academic Senate to facilitate professional
development and communication among lecturer faculty, as well as to provide
a vehicle for highlighting issues of concern to lecturer faculty. This academic
year the Lecturers Council began discussing a list of lecturer issues and
will continue to work on those issues next academic year. The list of issues
includes:
-
Development
and/or updating of the Lecturer Faculty Handbook.
-
Distribution
of the Request for subsequent Employment Form should be on the Academic
Calendar so that all lecturers receive the form in a timely manner.
-
Develop
resources related to lecturer issues. Some ideas include the following:
-
Shelf space
I the library for lecturer related publications
-
A dedicated
lecturer bulleting board on the first floor of the University Club
-
A lecturer
of the month could be featured on the bulleting board to highlight accomplishments
and strengths of lecturers
-
Access
to an email alias to communicate with all lecturers
-
Possibly
a lecturer web site (maintaining the content of the web site would be
an issue. Jo Tomalin worked with CET last year, when Jo was a lecture,
and developed a web site for new lecturers. Jos work is certainly appreciated
and any additional web site (or web pages) would not duplicate her work.
-
Possibly
a faculty lounge so that lecturer faculty could collaborate and communicate
Develop
a long-range plan for the Lecturers Council. This might include a person
in Faculty Affairs dedicated to dealing with lecturer issues.
Thanks
to all the lecturers who participated in the Lecturers Council this Academic
Year. Welcome to all new lecturer senators. We hope to see all of you (whether
you remain on the Senate or not) at the Lecturers Council next year.
Chair
Pamela Vaughn
encouraged all lecturers to participate in the Councils activities.
Agenda Item #5: Proposed
Academic Calendar from 2003-2004
Marlon
Hom,
chair of the Academic Policy Committee, introduce the items and indicated
that the proposed academic calendar was returning to the senate and that all
recommendations and concerns were included in the new proposed calendar.He indicated that Barbara Luzardi was present
to answer any questions. Rick Houlberg indicated his support for the
revised calendar and asked what does review day mean? Marlon Hom
indicated that review day is a day between the end of the semester and the
start of the exam week and allows students time to prepare for the exams.
Saul Steier asked if the change in the end date for Spring 2004 semester
have any effect on summer semester. Marlon Hom indicated that summer
semester is not effected by the new calendar.
m/s/p
(Houlberg, Steier) to close debate
Voted on the item. Passed.
Agenda
Item #6: Proposed Resolution on a Moratorium on the Death Penalty
Jan
Gregory
introduced the proposed resolution and indicated that it parallels a statewide
effort for a moratorium on the death penalty. She indicated that Bernice
Biggs, Professor Emeriti SFSU, had requested that the senate consider
the resolution. The moratorium is need at this time due to emerging new research
that indicates that many who are on death row have been wrongly convicted.
New efforts in genetics, scholarly work on the issued of mental illness, ethnic
background and national background are proving that many who are on death
row may have been wrongly convicted.
m/s/p
(Terrell, Steier) to second reading
Mary
Ann Warren
suggested that of the many states that are listed as adopting a moratorium
on the death penalty that Maryland should be added
to the list. This amendment was accepted.
m/s/p
(Houlberg, Steier) to close debate
Voting on the item Passed
Agenda Item #7: Proposed Resolution on Welfare
Reform
Barbara
Hubler,
chair of Student Affairs Committee introduced the resolution and provided
the senate with some background information. She asked Christina Badasow
and Tracey Faulkner to speak to the item. Christina Badasow
indicated the importance of the service that is provided for the students
at SFSU who are welfare recipients. She indicated the extensive needs of this
group of students and the need to improve the services at SFSU. Tracey
Faulkner indicated the need for the resolution in support for changing
the federal legislation that is presently under consideration in Washington.
Rick
Houlberg
offered his support for the resolution.
m/s/p (Gregory, Steier) to second
reading
m/s/p
(Onate, Houlberg) to close debate
Voting
on the amended resolutions - Passed
Agenda Item #7a: Proposed Resolution in
Support of Civil Discourse and the Principles of the Academy
Penney
Warren,
Vice Chair of the Academic Senate, introduced the proposed resolution. She
indicated that it is time to make a statement that will we will be leaders
in upholding the principles of the Academy. Saul Steier spoke strongly
in support of the resolution and the importance of the Academy.
m/s/p
(Houlberg, Aaron) to second reading
Pamela
Vaughn
spoke in favor of the resolution and indicated that the spirit of the resolution
is a response to the frequency of events that cover the entire year. The senate
should make a strong statement about the basic principles of the Academy.
m/s/p
(Duke, Steier) to close debate
Voting
on the resolution - Passed
Agenda
Item #8: Seating of New Senate Members and Election of Senate Officers
Chair
Vaughn thanked all the senators who are leaving the senate and welcomed all new
and returning senators.On behalf of
the senate she extended best wishes to retiring Dean of Faculty Affairs, Paul Barnes.
The new senator were seated at 3:00 PM
Election of the senate leadership for the Academic
Senate 2002-2003:
Robert
Cherny elected by acclamation Chair of the Academic Senate
Penny
Warren elected by acclamation Vice Chair of the Academic Senate
James
Edwards - elected by acclamation Secretary of the Academic Senate
Dawn
Terrell - elected at-large member of the Executive Committee of Academic Senate
Rick
Houlberg - elected by acclamation to be the second at-large member of the Executive
Committee of Academic Senate
Agenda
Item #9: Election of Chairs for Standing Committees 2002-2003
The
newly elected members and the returning members of the senate form into their
respective committees and elected the follow senators as chairs of their respective
committees:
Amy Nichols, Chair Curriculum Review and Approval
Committee (CRAC)
Oswaldo Garcia, Chair Academic Program Review Committee
(APRC)
Caran Colvin, Chair Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC)
Deborah Gerson, ChairStudent Affairs Committee (SAC)
Chair
Academic Policy Committee (APC) is was not filled during the senate meeting.
Agenda
Item #10: Provision for a Summer Senate
The
following resolve was submitted to the new Senate for approval:
A
summer committee of the Academic Senate, composed of no fewer than six members
of the Senate, shall be available on an emergency basis during the months
of June, July and August for consultation, calling of special Academic Senate
meetings, and handling of such duties as may be delegated to it by the Academic
Senate.
m/s/p
(Houlberg, Colvin) to second reading
Rick
Houlberg called the question
The
Senate accepted the resolve
The
Senate adjourned at 3:27 PM
Respectfully
submitted,
James
Edwards
Secretary
to the Faculty