Oakland University Senate
November 6, 1969
Agenda
To: Members of the University Senate
From: William F. Sturner, for the Steering Committee
Re: Agenda for the Meeting of November 6, 1969
The next meeting of the University Senate will be held on Thursday, November 6, at 3:30 p.m., in Rooms 128-30, Oakland Center.
A. Old Business
1. Recommendation submitted by David Letvin and Mary Mattis. A motion was submitted by Mr. Letvin and Miss Mattis on October 16, 1969. George Matthews submitted a substitute notion at that same meeting. The original motion and the substitute motion are presented now for their second readings.
a. Resolution submitted by David Letvin and Mary Mattis.
THE UNIVERSITY SENATE OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES AND EXTENDS ITS SUPPORT TO THE RESULTS OF THE FORTHCOMING RESIDENT STUDENT REFERENDUM ON THE SUBJECT OF VISITATION HOURS. THIS REFERENDUM, PASSAGE OF WHICH WILL REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE OF THE RESIDENT STUDENTS VOTING IN THE REFERENDUM, CALLS FOR EACH DORMITORY OR HOUSE TO ESTABLISH, BY WHATEVER MEANS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE, ITS OWN VISITATION HOURS, UNRESTRICTED BY LIMITATIONS OR GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY ANY OTHER OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY.
b. Substitute motion submitted by George Matthews:
THE UNIVERSITY SENATE OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZED AND EXTENDS ITS SUPPORT OF THE RESULTS OF THE FORTHCOMING RESIDENT STUDENT REFERENDUM ON POLICY REGARDING VISITATION HOURS. THE POLICY SUBMITTED TO THIS REFERENDUM WILL BE WORDED AS FOLLOWS:
EACH RESIDENT HALL COUNCIL SHALL ESTABLISH, BY WHATEVER MEANS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE, THE VISITATION HOURS OF ITS OWN RESIDENT HALL.
PASSAGE OF THIS POLICY WILL REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE OF./THOSE RESIDENT STUDENTS VOTING IN THE REFERENDUM.
B. New business
1. Consideration of a report submitted by Lawrence Fitzpatrick. (Messrs. Sturner, Fitzpatrick, and lodice)
Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Director of Personnel, has submitted a summary of the progress made by his office in investigating various insurance options for the faculty and staff. His office was specifically requested by the Senate to undertake this project as a result of a motion passed by the Senate on January 16, 1969. The Oakland University Insurance Committee, to which Mr. Fitzpatrick refers was formed by his office to give representatives of each of the portions of the university affected by or interested in the insurance policies of the university an opportunity to outline their needs and desires in this area. A copy of Mr. Fitzpatrick's report to the Senate was attached to the Senate agenda of October 16. 1969.
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cc: Deans, Chairmen, and Directors of Academic/Administrative Departments
The Commission on Student Life
Office of the Dean of Students
Oakland University student newspapers
To: Members of the University Senate
From: William F. Sturner, for the Steering Committee
Re: Addition to the Agenda for the Meeting of November 6, 1969
The Steering Committee received on October 31 a request from the External Affairs Committee to place three alternative resolutions on the agenda for the Senate meeting of November 6. The request was reviewed and approved by the Steering Committee on November 4. That request, presented in the form of three alternative resolutions, is brought to the Senate now as an addition to the original agenda.
B. New Business (continued)
2. Consideration of three alternative resolutions presented by the External Affairs Committee. (Mr. Barthel)
Comment: The External Affairs Committee held an urgent meeting on Friday, October 31 to consider recommending action to the University Senate regarding the peace demonstrations planned for November 14 and 15. This was the first meeting of the Committee since its formation by Senate action on October 16.
It soon developed that three different attitudes toward action by the Senate on this issue were represented in the Committee: (1) that the Senate should declare its support of the demonstrations and call for the cancellation of classes; (2) that the Senate should express approval of student absences and cancellation of classes in connection with the demonstrations; (3) that the Senate had no business expressing itself on this issue at all. None of these attitudes had the support of a majority of the Committee.
There was not enough time to find a compromise acceptable to a majority and yet most of the members thought the Senate should be given the opportunity to consider the issue. The Committee is fully aware that a single proposal would have been preferable, and that its proper function is to recommend Senate action only after the Committee itself has been able to reach a decision. In view of the importance and scale of this particular issue, however, and the unusual time factors involved, it seemed appropriate at least to define three alternate resolutions as starting points for possible Senate action.
The three alternative resolutions proposed:
a. THE UNIVERSITY SENATE OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY, RECOGNIZING THE IMMORALITY OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM, CALLS FOR A CESSATION OF CLASSES ON NOVEMBER 14 IN ORDER FOR THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE WAR.
b. THE UNIVERSITY SENATE OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZES THAT MANY CITIZENS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES INTEND TO EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION TO UNITED STATES POLICY IN VIETNAM IN A VARIETY OF WAYS ON NOVEMBER 14 AND 15. THE UNIVERSITY SENATE FURTHER RECOGNIZES THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES IN ALL LEGAL WAYS. THE UNIVERSITY SENATE THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZE THE SPECIAL NATURE OF THESE DATES EITHER BY (1) CANCELLING CLASSES AFTER FULL CONSULTATION WITH CLASS MEMBERS, OR (2) EXCUSING STUDENTS WHO DESIRE TO BE ABSENT FROM CLASS IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SUCH A PETITION.
c. RECOGNIZING THAT A MAJOR PURPOSE OF A UNIVERSITY IS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF INQUIRY; AND THAT POLITICAL ADVOCACY BY THE UNIVERSITY MUST ALMOST INVARIABLY DEFEAT SUCH A PURPOSE: WE RESOLVE THAT THIS UNIVERSITY, THROUGH ITS SENATE, SHOULD NOT ADVOCATE A STAND ON ANY POLITICAL ISSUE, OTHER THAN ON ONE WHICH CONCERNS THE RIGHTS OF ITS FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO FREEDOM OF INQUIRY ON ANY SUBJECT.
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