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