Oakland University Senate

February 20, 1968

MINUTES

PRESENT: Messrs. S. Appleton, Atkinson, Miss Attwood, Messrs. Burke, Butler, Cherno, Davis, Dutton, Galloway, Gerulaitis, Hanmerle, Harding, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hough, Howes, lodice. Miss Juth, Messrs. Kent, Langer, Linsalata, Lowy, Lyons, Matthews, McKay, Norris, O'Dowd, Pino, Richter, Righter, Simmons, Stoutenburg, Susskind, Swanson, Tomboulian, Varner, Williamson, Mrs. White.
ABSENT: Messrs. Burdick, Cafone, Fernald, Gibson, Hahn, Hoopes, Johnson, Kleckner, Shank, Torch.
GUESTS: Mrs. Hope, Messrs. Coffman, Dahlmann, DiChiera, Dovaras, Eklund, McAlpine, and Sullivan.

Chancellor Varner called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.

Mr. Howes reported on the work of the Commission on Student Life. In reviewing last year's work, he reported that between the time of its formation in March 1967 and the end of the winter 1967 semester, the Commission had made the following recommendations:

1. The Commission should be made permanent. (This recommendation is still pending.)

2. The Rosemont Proposal on student artistic expression. (See attached recommendation.)

3. The liberalization of rules concerning off-campus housing. (Chancellor Varner has authorized the Director of Housing to use discretion in certain cases that fall under this recommendation.)

4. The liberalization of women's hours. (Approved with slight modification.)

5. The recommendation of a $50 rebate to students tripled in dorm rooms against their wishes, (now under consideration by Board of Trustees.)

6. The establishment of Student Activities Board to manage spending of student activities fees. (This has been done and the SAB is in operation.)

Members of the Commission on Student Life met several times during the summer and early fall to discuss various matters with Chancellor Varner and to advise the Dean of Students on several specific problems. At one such meeting members of the Commission advised the Dean of Students that the policy forbidding the holding of religious services on campus should be continued.

Five new student members were elected to the Commission on October 5 and 6, 1967. With the appointment of several new faculty members later in the semester, the Commission was formally reorganized. New committees were established to examine a number of issues involving student life on the campus. Of special interest to the Commission was the status of the Rosemont Proposal. A committee of the Commission undertook the re-examination of this proposal and after several weeks of study, discussion, and consultation with the Chancellor, the Committee moved the adoption of a recommendation on Student Artistic Activity. This recommendation was adopted by the Commission on January 30, 1958, and was forwarded to the Chancellor. The Chancellor has informed Mr. Howes that this recommendation, with the exception of that portion asking that the University commit itself to support the student in any court action which might result, has been approved by the Board.

Various committees of the Commission continue to study such problems as student records, signs on campus, and the liberalization of rules regarding open houses.

Mr. Howes concluded with a remark that the morale of the Commission was rather low. He called upon members of the Senate to encourage their colleagues to do anything they can to raise the morale of the Commission.

Mr. Tomboulian reported the activities of the Graduate Study Committee. He stated that the University is hampered by the lack of a formal organizational structure for the graduate program. This item was also pointed up in the Silverman Report which the committee reviewed as a good report. The committee has abolished the "permit to register form" for graduate students and in its place instituted, effective September 1968, a "special student" category good for one semester. The student in this case will be allowed one semester to file his credentials if he wants to be considered for continued registration at the University. The committee will propose to the Senate, in the near future, an organizational structure for the graduate program. In addition, recommendations will be made for rules concerning dismissal, plagiarism, and miscellaneous mechanical details.

Mr. Harding presented a memorandum to the Senate describing the activities of the Research Committee in administering Faculty Grant Awards funds from two sources�the regular University Budget from state appropriated funds (Faculty Research Fund), and a portion of the National Science Foundation Institutional Grant Fund (NSF Institutional Fund). The magnitude of the latter is related to the amount of research support individuals obtained by our faculty from N.S.F. through their regular granting program.

Essentially, all of the funds available for this fiscal year have, therefore, been committed. Recently, Provost O'Dowd authorized a deficit spending of 20 per cent, which now enables the Committee to entertain further proposals.

To date, a total of 46 applications from 17 departments have been approved. Two applications are pending.

Mr. Harding presented a summary of the actions taken by the Committee with regard to faculty grants.

Chancellor Varner reported on the 1968-69 budget situation.

*Mr. Hetenyi moved to accept the minutes of January 16. Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis.

Mr. Davis asked that his motion on page 5 be corrected to read that Mr. Brooks' academic advisor objected to Mr. Brooks' appointment to the Student Publications Committee, because he was on academic probation.

With this correction the minutes were then approved.

OLD BUSINESS

Mr.  O'Dowd restated his original motion of January 16 regarding the Placement Council's Hershey resolution, previously seconded by Mr. Johnson.

* Mr. Hetenyi restated his amendment to the motion of January 16, previously seconded by Mr. Williamson, to add the phrase "as elected representatives of the university community" after the words "Oakland University" in the first line of the main motion. Adopted.

* The motion with the amendment was adopted by an unanimous vote of the Senate.

THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE LETTER SENT BY GENERAL LEWIS B. HERSHEY TO LOCAL SELECTIVE SERVICE BOARDS ON OCTOBER 26, 1967, IN WHICH IT WAS IMPLIED THAT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MAY BE RECLASSIFIED FOR EXPRESSING DISAGREEMENT WITH MILITARY RECRUITING PRACTICES. SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY GENERAL HERSHEY HAVE AMPLIFIED THIS INTERPRETATION OF THE ORIGINAL LETTER AND DEEPENED ITS IMPLICATIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS LETTER, BY ITS VERY IMPRECISE WORDING, ENDANGERS THE ESTABLISHED PRIVILEGE OF STUDENTS TO EXPRESS VIGOROUS DISSENT ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS. IN EFFECT, IT IS AN ATTACK ON THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THAT IS CENTRAL TO THE CONCEPT OF THE MODERN UNIVERSITY. WE URGENTLY REQUEST THAT THE LETTER BE WITHDRAWN AND STUDENTS BE RELIEVED OF A REPRESSIVE THREAT OF REPRISAL FOR LEGAL EXPRESSIONS OF DISAGREEMENT.

Mr. Burke restated his original motion of November 15, regarding trips by officially sponsored activities which require students to miss classes. Previously seconded by Mr. Righter.

Mr. Burke explained that paragraph 2 had been rewritten by the Committee. This procedure has been accepted in the past prior to final vote.

Mr. Lyons withdrew his amendment and Mr. Righter his second regarding the omission of Condition 2 and amending Condition 3 by omitting the word "will" and substituting after the word "and" the phrase "should inform the student's instructor and."

* After much discussion regarding wording of Condition 3, Mr. Hetenyi moved to amend Condition 3 by deleting the words "well in advance." Seconded by Mr. Lowy.

Additional discussion took place regarding other words in the paragraph.

Mr. Linsalata called the question. Seconded by Mr. Righter. Adopted.

Mr. Hetenyi's amendment was then adopted.

Mr. Linsalata moved that paragraph 3 be deleted. Seconded by Mr. Heubel. Not adopted.

Mr. Righter moved to amend paragraph 3 by deleting the phrase "in order to maintain some control on the number of such trips." Seconded by Mr. Linsalata. Not adopted.

Mr. Linsalata moved to defeat the whole proposal. Parliamentarian Appleton stated that this motion would require a three-quarters vote of those voting.

Mr. Iodice asked whether the trips would be taken anyway if this motion was defeated.

Mr. O'Dowd stated that without authorization, there could be no trips.

* The main motion with Mr. Hetenyi's amendment was adopted.

ALL TRIPS BY OFFICIALLY SPONSORED ACTIVITIES WHICH REQUIRE STUDENTS TO MISS CLASSES MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

1. NO ONE ACTIVITY MAY SCHEDULE TRIPS INVOLVING MORE THAN A TOTAL OF FIVE CLASS DAYS IN ANY ONE SEMESTER.

2. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE PROPOSED TRIP IS COMPATIBLE WITH HIS ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITIES, AND TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS WITH HIS INSTRUCTORS.

3. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SOME CONTROL OVER THE NUMBER OF SUCH TRIPS, THE DEAN OF STUDENTS SHOULD BE INFORMED OF EACH ONE, AND WILL MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE ACADEMIC POLICY COMMITTEE.

Mrs. White restated her original motion of January 16 regarding the Senate visitor policy previously seconded by Mr. Torch.

* Mr. Johnson restated his amendment to the motion of January 16, previously seconded by Mr. Burke, to add to the end of the second sentence of item (a) ; "or invitation of the Chancellor." Adopted.

* After a brief discussion, the motion with the amendment was adopted.

a. MEETINGS OF THE SENATE ARE OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE ELECTORATE. THEY ARE NOT OPEN TO ANY NON-MEMBER EXCEPT BY SPECIAL ACTION OF THE SENATE OR INVITATION OF THE CHANCELLOR.

b. NON-SENATORS MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSION OF THE SENATE EXCEPT BY SPECIAL ACTION OF THE SENATE OR BY RECOGNITION FROM THE CHAIR.

c. ANY SENATOR MAY MOVE AT ANY TIME THAT THE OPEN SESSION BE ADJOURNED AND THAT THE SENATE RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSION AFTER THE NECESSARY LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO CLEAR THE MEETING ROOM OF ALL NON-SENATORS. THIS MOTION MAY BE CARRIED BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF SENATORS PRESENT AND VOTING.

d. THE CHANCELLOR AS PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE SENATE MAY REQUEST A MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ANY TIME OUTLINED IN "c" ABOVE.

Chancellor Varner turned the chair over to Mr. O'Dowd.

NEW BUSINESS

* Mr. Righter moved the recommendation from the Steering Committee:

"THE STEERING COMMITTEE WISHES TO RECOMMEND THAT MISS NANCY L. BRYANT, AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT, BE APPOINTED TO THE STUDENT PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE. MISS BRYANT'S NOMINATION ORIGINATED WITH THE AD HOC STUDENT NOMINATING COMMITTEE."

Seconded by Mr. Appleton. Adopted.

Mr. Burke moved the recommendation of the Academic Policy Committee that the catalog passage describing the Freshman Exploratory requirement (now on page 54) be changed to read as follows:

"Each student, unless he has transferred equivalent credits from another institution, should take one freshman exploratory in each of his first two semesters, chosen from the following groups (no two may be chosen from the same group): Literature, Western Institutions, Fine Arts, Man and Contemporary Society, Non-Western Civilization and Natural Science. Any student who has not satisfactorily completed two exploratories in his first three semesters is not eligible to continue as an enrolled student except by special action of the Committee on Academic Standing. Successful completion of two exploratories satisfies the University writing competency requirement. No student may receive credit for more than two exploratories including equivalent credits for courses taken at other institutions."

Seconded by Mr. Righter.

Mr. Hetenyi moved to amend the motion by adding the words "and only one" following the words "should take one" after the second comma in the first sentence. Seconded by Mr. Righter.

Mr. Hammerle moved to emend the motion by deleting the words "is not eligible" in the second sentence and add the words "may be declared ineligible" after the word "semesters" in the second sentence. He further moved that the words "except" and "special" in the second sentence be deleted. Seconded by Mr. Tomboulian.

Final action on these amendments and the motion to be taken at a subsequent meeting.

Mr. Tomboulian moved the recommendation of the Graduate Study Committee:

"The M.A.T. in elementary education with concentration in classroom teaching and reading instruction should be re-labeled: 1) M.A.T.---elementary education, and 2) M.A.T.-- reading instruction."

Seconded by Mr. Hetenyi.

Final action on this motion to be taken at a subsequent meeting

Mr. O'Dowd reported the activities of the Steering Committee.

a. A Senate Elections Committee consisting of Messrs. Langer, Linsalata, Johnson, ex officio, and Kleckner, chairman, has been appointed by the Steering Committee.

b. The Steering Committee has approved the nominations of the College of Arts and Sciences of Mr. Simmons to take the seat vacated by Jon Appleton and Mr. Heubel to fill the seat of Mr. Vann who is on leave of absence.

c. The Steering Committee has established an ad hoc Committee on Student Rights consisting of Messrs. Cramer, Richter, Sturner, Wilson, Miss Houtz, and Mr. Simmons chairman. This committee will examine the implications of the Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students that has been advanced by the AAUP chapter for study by the Senate. The committee is responsible for recommending Senate action on the document

d. If time is available the Steering Committee would like to hear the views of Senators on the April final examination schedule.

Meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.

A HNS:ld
Attachment (I)
 

*Motions and amendments adopted at this meeting.