CCSU Faculty Senate

CCSU Faculty Senate

Minutes—March 17, 2003

VAC 105 3:00 PM

Members Present:

Altieri, Austad, Benfield, Benser, Best, Blitz, Brann, Braverman, Callery, Conway, Crundwell, Dimmick, Duquette, Gallagher, Halkin, Halloran, Hedlund, Hensley, Kim, Kleinert, Knox, Leake, Martin, Martin-Troy, Mueller, Oâ€™Connell, Osterreich, Packer, Pesaro, Perry, Petkova, Sarisley, Sevitch, Sweeney,Terry, Terezakis, Thornton, Wolff.

Ex Officio Members: Provost Bartelt, Deans Lemma, Pease, Whitford, Kremens, and Root. Dr. Elaine Demos, Snr V.P and Asst to President.

Guests:

Sarah Peltier The Recorder â€“ student newspaper

Chris Pudlinski Chair, University Curriculum Committee.

Paula Bunce, OPIR. SUOAF-AFSME

Sal Cintorino. Athletics

Richard Bachoo. Chief Admin. Officer

Linda Sagnelli

C.J Jones, Athletics

Doug Carter

President Best opened the meeting at 3.06.

Approval of Minutes of 03/03/03

Motion to approve Minutes of 03/03/03 Martin-Troy/Crundwell

CARRIED

Announcements

a. Period of time to add a course. President Best.

The current policy reads "Students may add courses on a space-available basis during the first four days of the semester." When we tried to implement this policy, it became apparent that students did not have an opportunity to attend at least one session of a call prior to the deadline. We piloted an 8-day window and it seemed to work better. COD has concluded that 8 days would be more appropriate.

Sen Halkin: Noted that this may be problematic in some lab courses where the course

Sequencing (Monday starts) may mean a student misses 3 labs prior to first attendance.

b. AAUP Report

Sen. Austad reported that there were no major changes in negotiations but of the 22 laid off tenure track faculty at Southern (reported last meeting) all 22 have been re-hired into vacant positions.

Elections.

Sen. Braverman indicated that there were vacancies in the following areas:

Advisory Committee for CSU Professorship=one from School of Technology

Mediation=one large

Termination=one at large

Excellence in teaching=one from School of Technology

Sen Altieri then spoke to the IT vacancies which were:

IT Committee vacancies =

one from School of Ed

one from School of Technology

one from humanities

one from fine arts

two from math and CS.

All vacancies and nominations should be concluded by March 22, and ballots will go out next week for an April 7 vote.

Senate Committee Reports

Academic Standards Committee.

Dr Warshauer withdrew this item from the agenda

Curriculum Committee. Dr Pudlinski

Dr Pudlinski presented the Curriculum Committee report.

Motion to accept Curriculum Committee Report Martin-Troy/Wolff

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Unfinished Business

There was none

New Business

a. Sen. Sevitch introduced the following that he will propose as a motion at the April 7 meeting.

Whereas the CCSU budget has been cut significantly, and

Whereas the state's economy is deteriorating, and

Whereas Connecticut is a small state that can only support one public, Division I sports program,

Be it resolved, that the Faculty Senate recommends that CCSU's Athletics Program be downgraded from Division I to Division II, as is the case at our sister institution, SSCU.

Sen. Sevitch: In introducing his motion indicated that while we have had some success recently, particularly in menâ€™s basketball (making the NCAA tournament 2 out of the last three years) we cannot now afford the luxury of Division I sports, particularly when tuition is rising at around 15%. Southern Connecticut State is not division one and they are doing well. Budget is the issue here and in particular large salaries. The State can only afford one division one school and that school is in Storrs. While Sen. Sevitch believes in Mens sanus in corpore sanoCCSU cannot afford Division one luxury.

Sen. Martin Troy: Where are the data? This belongs before the Strategic Planning Committee or the Athletics Board of Senate.

Sen. Blitz: Budget and Planning are meeting on March 19 and this could be brought up then, moreover data will still be needed. Secretary and Sen. Blitz to obtain data prior to next meeting.

Sen. Terezakis introduced the following resolution (modified from original on agenda)

WHEREAS, the President Bush has failed to make a satisfactory justification for a pre-emptive and unilateral war against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, a United States military attack would violate international law and the United States commitments under the U.N. Charter and further isolate the U.S. from the rest of the world; and

WHEREAS, as academicians we have a responsibility to foster sober reflection among U.S. citizens, especially those in the University, where we teach and counsel careful examination of all possible evidence as the standard basis for problem-solving; and

WHEREAS, such a proposed war and its aftermath would bring additional economic hardship at a time when our nation, State, public education and University face economic crisis and serious budget cuts, and the many billions of dollars could be far better spent addressing these serious domestic concerns; and

WHEREAS, military action has the potential to destabilize the Middle East and the world, risk deaths of thousands of Iraqi people and destruction of their cultural heritage and lead to more frequent acts of terrorism against Americans here at home and abroad; and

WHEREAS, the faculty of CCSU have the deepest respect for those who are willing to risk their lives to protect the U.S., and believe further military action against Iraq will unnecessarily risk the deaths of thousands of Iraqi people and jeopardize the safety of U.S. troops; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the FACULTY SENATE of CCSU oppose unilateral preemptive war against Iraq; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate urges the Bush administration and Congress to work with and through the United Nations to obtain compliance by Iraq with U.N. Security Council resolutions concerning the disarmament of Iraq of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and to fully support the work of the international weapons inspectors to Iraq for that purpose.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate of CCSU requests President Richard L. Judd to note our sentiments and forward copies of this resolution to our Congressional delegation and to the President of the United States of America.

Motion: To limit debate to 30 minutes and no speaker have longer than 2 minutes

Wolff/Halloran

Sen. Sevitch: speaking against the motion indicated that on so serious a topic, 30 minutes was ludicrous. Thirty minutes to discuss war was an affront.

Sen. Duquette: In a moment of crass advertising noted that if 30 minutes was not enough he had a debate planned for Thursday that could go on for over two hours!

Sen. Dimmick: This was not a debatable item under Roberts Rules.

Motion Carried

23 for

7 against

No abstentions.

Sen Crundwell: read the following into the record:

First of all, I would like to state that I am against pre-emptive strikes on Iraq and I agree with some of the sentiments proposed in this resolution; but I would also like to state that the Faculty Senate is not the appropriate venue for this resolution. If this were a petition awaiting me outside the door, I would sign it immediately and without hesitation but let me make this perfectly clear... The passing of this resolution will reflect only a majority opinion in the Senate. Its passing will effectively quench opinions that differ from the majority. Are we that self-important to take away a voice from our colleagues in order to serve our own political and moral agendas? The Faculty Senate exists for discussions and actions on academic issues. This resolution should be tabled indefinitely, withdrawn, or voted down.

I find the bringing of this resolution to the floor to be completely hypocritical especially by those who want a "free vote" on the issue. At the last Senate meeting, the Faculty Senate voted in favor of creating list servers so that all faculty can participate in discussion and have their voices heard. Less than one meeting later we might vote to pass a resolution that speaks only for a majority voice in the Senate. The Faculty Senate consists of about 5% of total faculty at the University and this resolution will undoubtedly be seen as an "at large" opinion of CCSU faculty by many inside and outside of the University! How can you for one week argue that we uphold the ideas of open representation.... then two weeks later.... have the gall to move a resolution that will be voted on by 40 or so people stuffed in one room behind the backs of the entire campus? Many of you claim to want to be able to hear all sides of an argument when it came to list servers but now you want to present one opinion only as an "official resolution"! This is absolutely disrespectful to the very colleagues you are supposed to represent.

I did not become a faculty member so I can come here and force my political, religious, or moral agendas down the throats of others. I was elected to serve on the Senate by my fellow Chemistry faculty to vote on academic issues. This resolution is NOT an academic issue. I will not marginalize the differing political and moral beliefs of my colleagues in the Department of Chemistry by voting for this resolution."

Sen. Hermes: Also had the same dilemma as to whether the senate was the appropriate body. She concluded that it was a moral question and this was indeed the place. The senate, as a forum should generate discussion and the institution should take a stand. Indeed in the writing of the US constitution there were only 54 present and it has generated debate for the past 300 years.

Sen. Blitz: saw two questions: (i) was it appropriate? He concluded, â€œyesâ€ as senate is a deliberative body and the status of the resolution was clear

(ii) Was it Pre-emptive and unilateral? He noted that Iraq had not threatened nor was threatening and hence the criteria for invasion had not been fulfilled. Thus it was an illegal act, as people will be killed.

Sen. Sevitch: rose on a point of personal privilege.

The chair must enforce the two-minute rule and Sen. Blitz was making a speech.

Sen. Blitz took his seat.

Sen. Dowty: Also supported Sen. Crundwell in that this was not the appropriate body.

Sen. Sevitch: Indicated the resolution

(i) Does not speak to the institution

(ii) President Judd has already announced that CCSU will not have a position

(iii) What is Item three from? What right do we as a body have impose this belief?

Sen. Martin-Troy: Everyone has his or her own belief

Sen. Sevitch: This is highly presumptuous.

Sen. Oostereich: noted that 52% of the US electorate did not vote in the 2000 election and similarly the senate is only part of a greater whole and this is better than doing nothing.

Sen. Austad: Pointed out that we are here to seek the truth and to do that we must make a stand and make a statement. Indeed the privilege of tenure allows us and compels us to do that.

Sen. Martin: With a brother serving in the Gulf, she was not sure what was the senate resolution hoping to accomplish?

Sen. Martin-Troy: We are trying to reflect a majority opinion in a democracy.

Sen. Martin: ...but we are faculty not the general public.

Sen. Halkin: was also not sure she wants the faculty senate to represent her.

Sen. Martin-Troy: Does not the phrase â€œ...acting as individualsâ€ cover this problem?

Sen. Sevitch: On a point of information: what is satisfactory? What would constitute satisfactory?

Sen. Terezakis: One could start with international support through the United Nations.

Sen. Sevitch: On a point of information: What is preemptive about the war on Iraq?

Sen. Terezakis: It is a stand against the war.

Sen. Sevitch: It is not a preemptive war; there have been 219 wars since 219 and only two with prior sanction by the UN (Korea and Gulf War). It is still a cassis belli as the gulf war did not cease in 1991as there is no ceasefire treaty!

Sen. Crundwell suggested something was needed in the resolution to reflect the fact that those who voted "No" weren't necessarily "pro-war" but just thought the whole idea was wrong. A friendly amendment to the motion (agreed) such that the resolution reads:

WHEREAS, the President Bush has failed to make a satisfactory justification for a pre-emptive and unilateral war against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, a United States military attack would violate international law and the United States commitments under the U.N. Charter and further isolate the U.S. from the rest of the world; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that a majority of the members of the FACULTY SENATE of CCSU acting as individuals support this resolution to oppose unilateral preemptive war against Iraq; and

Question called:

23 For

10 against

2 abstentions

CARRIED

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn

Wolff/Crundwell

CARRIED

The Senate adjourned at 4.01 p.m

Respectfully submitted

Richard Benfield

Secretary