Academic Senate against proposed amendments
Debate heats up as Academic Senate prepares for all-faculty vote on April 30 about possible amendments.
Jeremy Fugleberg
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 3 next >
|
The move comes less than a week before an all-faculty vote April 30 to decide if the changes, independently brought forward by some faculty members, will be adopted.
The three amendments would change the how the body is elected, alter the senate leadership's structure, and give seats only to faculty members.
The roll call vote was taken after some senators expressed concern that some in the university community were confused over the senate's position on the proposed changes.
Supporters of the amendments say the changes are meant to transform the Academic Senate into a faculty senate, providing faculty members with a forum and a unified voice.
"This is a first step towards being less of a rubber stamp and more of an organization that is driven by faculty issues," said Laura Wight, a senator and library science professor. Wight said she is still uncertain about how she'll vote on the amendments, but thinks the Academic Senate could be better-run.
She said a primary concern of supporters is the desire to speak freely without administrators or department heads sitting at the table as voting members.
"The problem becomes, if that was your dean who was the administrator, how comfortable would you feel voicing your opinion in front of that group," she said.
Joel Hefling, president of the senate and a communications studies and theatre professor, said some professors won't stop seeing boogeymen that don't exist.
"If they really believe that someone is watching their every move, then someone is going to keep watching their every move," he said. "Paranoia knows no bounds."
Mike Reger, executive vice president, said it doesn't make sense to him that professors would fear for their jobs, especially with the safeguards of the university system.
Be the first to comment on this story