Minutes: September 9th, 2003

MINUTES for the Academic Senate

Meeting on TUESDAY,

September 9, 2003

Senate Members Present:

Gaudalupe Avila

John Gemello

Ania J. Otero

Patricia Bartsher

Deborah Gerson

Pete Palmer

Marian Bernstein

Sam Gill

Wenshen Pong

John Blando

Jan Gregory

Don Scoble

Tara Bohannon

Jaimes Guerrero

Brett Smith

Christopher Carrington

Bruce Heiman

Miriam Smith

Gene Chelberg

Marlon Hom

Saul Steier

Yu Charn Chen

Rick Houlberg

Genie Stowers

Robert Cherny

Scott Jerris

Dean Suzuki

Caran Colvin

Karen Johnson-Brennan

Dawn Terrell

A. Reynaldo Contreras

Joel Kassiola

Connie Ulasewicz

Robert Corrigan

Martha Klironomos

Mary Ann Van Dam

Robert Daniels

Mary Beth Love

Pamela Vaughn

James Edwards

Midori McKeon

Penelope Warren

Ned Fielden

David Meredith

Robert Williams

Robert Fung

Leroy Morishita

Nini Yang

Oswaldo Garcia

Amy Nichols

Senate Members Absent: Eunice Aaron (excused), Alvin Alvarez (excused),

Natalie Batista, Rob Strong (excused)

Visitors:  Kevin

Bowman, Dan Buttlaire, NeetaChowdry,

Kristen Gates, Ann Hallum, Ken Monteiro, Brian

Murphy, Godal Sakin, Mitch Turtiz, Marilyn Verhey

Call To Order at 2:10PM

Announcements

Senate Chair Edwards asked Senator Vaughn to the podium for an

announcement regarding a CSU-wide scholarship, the Trustees Hearst award, given

to five students every year in recognition of individuals who have overcome

adversity in a variety of situations. Senator Vaughn stated that classics student Cameron Fitzsimmons had won this award, but teaching obligations

prevented him from attending the current senate session. Senator Vaughn went on to note some outstanding

qualities of student Fitzsimmons,

who has been a unique student, a gifted linguist and teacher. He has a BA

degree from Sarah Lawrence University, turned to Latin in his studies here, finishing

his B.A., M.A. and certification. He has been wooed by UCLA to attend their Ph.D.

program as well as others, and as a teacher and scholar he will be worthy representative

from campus. Classics is very proud of him and Senator

Vaughn noted that this was the 2nd

year in a row that a student from our campus was selected, as a history student

won this award last year.

Chair Edwards noted some changes in the

senate office, that:

Angela Sposito was now the assistant to the chair,

newly

hired Leigh Magness

is now the new administrative assistant, coming from the History department,

and currently working towards her MA in Anthropology here at SFSU.

Part time help also comes

from the following students:

Nicole

Henderson, Nathan Furgason, and Lejoi Mims.

Senate Chair Edwards also noted that the senate

Executive Committee has appointed three election committee members:

Senators Terrell,

Carrington and Palmer.

Senate Chair Edwards stated that nomination forms

for four administrator search committees were on their way to senators’

mailboxes, due back before October 12,and urged senators to forward names. The

four searches are for Dean of Faculty Affairs (internal) and nation-wide

searches for Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs,

Associate Vice President for Academic Resources, and Dean of Graduate Studies

Chair Edwards further noted that

there was a faculty majority on all these committees.

Nomination forms will

also be forthcoming for elections to the following committees:

University

Advancement Advisory Committee,

All-University

Teacher Education Committee,

Academic

Affirmative Action Committee,

University Academic Assessment Advisory Committee.

State-wide Senator Cherny reported that the CSU Academic Senate

met last week, but his email report was not able to be distributed to the SFSU

Senate. He indicated that a full report would be forthcoming at the next senate

meeting.

CHAIR’S REPORT

Senate Chair Edwards spoke to several issues in his introductory

remarks. He welcomed all senators, particularly newly elected senators, and

noted both the internal and external complexities present for campus this year.

Stress levels are apt to be unusually high, and he suggested that faculty refer

students who might need emotional bolstering to the Counseling and Psychological Services Center in the Student Services Building, telephone contact 338-2208.  Further, faculty concerned about individual

students’ psychological well-being or wishing to discuss their own personal

needs can utilize the staff/faculty number, 339-6100. He urged a spirit of

positivism on all campus members.

AGENDA ITEM #1 - APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2003

Senate agenda moved for

approval by Senator Otero, second Senator

Houlberg.

Approval unanimously passed.

AGENDA

ITEM #2 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE LAST MEETING OF THE SENATE AY 2002-2003

Minutes moved for

approval by Senator Jerris, seconded

by Senator Otero.

Senator Williams asked for a correction on item

9, to strike “not” from his statement regarding the sunset provision of the

Patriot Act.

Passed

unanimously.

AGENDA ITEM #3 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE FIRST

MEETING OF THE NEW SENATE AY 2003-2004

Minutes moved for

approval by Senator Otero, seconded

by Senator Jerris

Approval unanimously

passed.

AGENDA ITEM #4 - SENATE ELECTIONS—STUDENT CENTER GOVERNING BOARD

ACADEMIC SENATE REPRESENTATIVE: Time Certain—No later Than

2:15 p.m. 

Chair Edwards stated that the Student Center

Governing Board is seeking faculty representative, and Larry Medcalf, Professor of Speech and

Communication, was nominated. The Senate sought nominations from the floor but

there were none forthcoming.

Senator Warren moved for election by

acclamation, seconded by Senator Terrell.

Unanimously

elected Larry Medcalf

to the Student Center Governing Board.

AGENDA

ITEM #5 -REPORT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN FRANCISCO

URBAN INSTITUTE, BRIAN MURPHY regarding VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPUS INITIATIVE

through SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2003: Time Certain No Later

than 2:20p.m.

The Senate received a

report from Brian Murphy of the

Urban Institute regarding voter registration. Murphy noted that this initiative was only an extension from what

CFA and student com had already started. Murphy

mentioned an article from the New York Times on the American democracy project,

and the large number of people and institutions committed to projects of civic

engagement. He thought a voter registration initiative a highly appropriate

vehicle for supporting these ideas. He spoke to staffing registration tables

and that this movement had broad support from President Corrigan, the Associated Students, and the CFA. He reasoned that

this was a justifiable expenditure of classroom time, especially if it came at

the beginning of class time. This was to be a year long project, with concern

for the low number of registered voters in this age group. He noted that voter

registration in the classroom would be strictly non-partisan.

Senator Houlberg noted that the recall is

frightening in that there are a large number of new voters, most voting for Schwarzenegger.

We may be working against our own best interests.

Murphy

responded that the increase is a function of poor registration in the past and

that in the south the Republican party was the

organizing party.

Senator Gregory posed the notion that

registering to vote should not be driven by nature of candidates, and should be

done regardless of expected outcomes.

Murphy

stated that he was approaching the Senate as a participant and leader in

conceptualizing and implementing the initiative. He noted the significance of

the coalition so formed - SFSU administration, CFA and Associated Students.

AGENDA

ITEM #6 - REPORT FROM NED FIELDEN, CHAIR, COMMITTEES ON COMMITTEES

The senate heard a report

from Senator Fielden, chair of the

Committee on Committees, who reported on the document prepared by the committee

summarizing the work of the 30 Senate committees who produce annual reports. He

made general comments about the process, the value of peer evaluation in

reviewing committee work. Senator Fielden

further noted the format of the report: a full review followed by an executive

summary, with recommendations that ought well to be

heeded by committees. He spoke to the nature of the recommendations, and their

intent to suggest ways that the committees could do their best work. Provost Gemelo had noted

earlier that 40% of our faculty are now here less than seven years, and Fielden urged senators and more experienced

faculty to adopt a mentoring relationship to new faculty, who will be doing ever

more committee work. Minor complaints arose as to attendance and timely

deliverance of annual reports.

Senator Smith asked if a committee’s report is

late, if there is any mechanism for feedback?

Fielden

noted that reports will be accomplished after the fact and brought as addendums

to a future senate meeting.

Senator Palmer moved to approve, Senator Houlberg seconded.

Approval of Committee on

Committee report is passed unanimously.

AGENDA

ITEM #7 -ACADEMIC POLICY COMMITTEE- ACADEMIC CALENDAR AY 2004-2005, 1stREADING, NO RECOMMENDATION: Time Certain—No Later Than 2:30

p.m.

Chair Edwards introduced the calendar, coming

from APC, with split recommendations. Senate cannot deal with two separate

proposals, so will move to committee of the whole, for more informal

discussion, and will then return to full senate deliberation.

Moved

to committee as whole by Senator Meredith,

seconded by Senator Garcia.

Passed

unanimously.

Discussion occurs in committee of the whole.

Moved back to regular senate session.

APC chair Senator Meredith moves adoption of  calendar option

two, second by Senator Stier.

Senator Cherny moved to second reading, Gregory second.

Passed

unanimously.

Second

reading.

Meredith

moved to vote

Calendar Option Two

approved unanimously.

AGENDA

ITEM #8 - RECOMMENDATION from the STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: RESOLUTION IN

SUPPORT OF VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN AT SFSU—consent item—, 1st and 2nd readings

Student Affairs chair Gerson moved approval. Senator Chelberg second.

Senator Gerson noted the good arguments from guest

Murphy today and that this resolution

now urges classrooms for voter registration, to enable all eligible members

access to registration.

Senator Chelberg requested

a friendly amendment, to add Associated Students as supporters along with CFA

Amendment accepted by Senator

Gerson.

Resolution on Voter

Initiative passed unanimously.

AGENDA

ITEM #9 - RECOMMENDATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: RESOLUTION in OPPOSITION

of PROPOSITION 54, 1st and 2nd readings—consent item

Senator Gregory moves adoption of this resolution,

second by Senator Vaughn.

Senator Gregory commented that the format is different

from the traditional resolution format, as not all concepts would be accurately

portrayed. Resolution is a statement addressing some concerns that particularly

affect the scholarly and academic community. This proposition would deprive

scholars from data and keep them from conducting research. And is an anti intellectual,

anti empirical movement. Proposition 54 is antithetical to policy documents on campus

and in CSU documents.

Senator Otero noted the full support of

students, who had passed their own resolution in opposition to this

proposition.

Senator Cherny noted that the statewide senate

also adopted a resolution in opposition, and suggested that our resolution may

help inform and contribute to the board of trustees understanding of this issue.

Senator Williams felt very passionately about

this topic. Academics is the main reason for support

but he noted that as an African American discrimination is extensive and the

kind of data that proposition 54 would inhibit is important for tracking all

kinds of research and discrimination. Ward Connerly (proposer of Prop 54) says that this proposition is a move

towards a race blind society, which would be fine, but we are not there yet Proposition

54 will not help.

Senator Cherny moved to second reading, Senator

Otero second

Passed

unanimously.

AGENDA

ITEM #10 - ADJOURNMENT: Time Certain—No Later Than 3:30

P.M.

to be IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY SENATE ORIENTATION

Meeting Date (Archive)