Oakland University Senate
October 15, 1970
MINUTES
PRESENT: Messrs. Akers, J. Appleton, Barthel, Beardman, H. Burdick, Cherno, Dahlmann, Davis, Dovaras, L. Gerulaitis, Gibson, Haskell, Hetenyi, Heubel, Hildum, Iodice, Phil Johnson, Kent, Kleckner, Light, Mascitelli, Matthews, McKay, Obear, O'Dowd, Righter, Stern, Stoutenburg, Susskind, Swanson, Torch, Torgoff, Witt.
ABSENT: Messrs. Briod, Burke, Butler, Coon, Cramer, DeMent, Harding, P.J. Johnson, Rue, Seeber, Simmons, Tipler.
President O'Dowd opened the information session at 3:15 p.m.
President O'Dowd thanked the Steering Committee for their efforts in meeting the charge of the Board of Trustees to gather information and opinions in the selection of Oakland University's first president. He thanked the university community for their endorsement of him and said, "I hope I merit it and I hope the future is justified."
President O'Dowd reviewed the budget request approved by the Board of Trustees on October 13.
President O'Dowd called the meeting to order at 3:45 p.m.
Mr. Hetenyi moved the approval of the June 4, August 6, and September 17 Senate minutes. Seconded by Mr. Hildum.
Mr. Obear asked that the statement on page 1 of the September 17 minutes regarding Mr. Jerry Dahlmann's appointment to the Senate be corrected to read:
"The Steering Committee has approved that the Senate seat held by Mr. Fernald be filled by Mr. Jerry Dahlmann."
Mr. McKay asked that the wording in the August 6 Senate minutes regarding the motions to allow students to participate in the summer graduation exercises be changed to read:
Mr. McKay moved the recommendation of the Academic Standing and Honors Committee that
"THE FACULTY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY AUTHORIZED THE POTENTIAL GRADUATES AT THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE LEVELS, NAMED IN A LIST (JUNE 20 and AUGUST 15) TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THIS MEETING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM ON AUGUST 15, 1970."
Mr. McKay moved the recommendation of the Academic Standing and Honors Committee that
"THE FACULTY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY AUTHORIZED THE POTENTIAL GRADUATES AT THE MASTER'S DEGREE LEVELS, NAMED IN A LIST DISTRIBUTED AT THIS MEETING, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM ON AUGUST 15, 1970."
With the above corrections to the previous minutes, the Senate approved the June 4, August 6 and September 17 minutes.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Hetenyi's amendment of the Steering Committee's recommendation to discontinue multiple commencements was reintroduced for action.
Several substitute motions were moved but after discussion of each the substitute motions were withdrawn. Mr. Beardman moved a substitute motion to Mr. Hetenyi's amendment by deleting the work "multiple." Seconded by Mr. Burdick. Not adopted.
* Mr. Hetenyi moved a substitute motion to his amendment to read,
"THE UNIVERSITY SENATE OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY RESOLVES THAT THE PRACTICE OF HOLDING MULTIPLE COMMENCEMENTS SHALL BE DISCONTINUED, AND HENCEFORTH ONE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISE SHALL BE HELD EACH YEAR ON THE SATURDAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY."
Seconded by Mr. Torch. Adopted.
* Mr. Obear reintroduced Mr. Heubel's September 17 motion welcoming the efforts being made by students to organize a student congress. After a brief discussion, this motion was adopted.
"THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE WELCOMES THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY STUDENTS TO ORGANIZE A STUDENT CONGRESS; THAT WE NOTE THE APPARENT ABSENCE OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF ANY STUDENT GROUP IN THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS TO FILL THE THREE STUDENT VACANCIES IN THE SENATE; AND THAT STUDENT ELECTIONS FOR THE SENATE AND THE FILLING OF STUDENT VACANCIES ON THE SENATE COMMITTEES SHALL BE DEFERRED PENDING THE ADOPTION OF A STUDENT CONGRESS CONSTITUTION OR THE APPEARANCE OF SUBSTANTIAL STUDENT INTEREST IN HOLDING THE ELECTIONS FOR THE THREE VACANCIES."
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Burdick managed an election to fill a vacancy on the Steering Committee. Mr. Richard Light was elected.
* Mr. Hildum moved that
"ITEM B 2 b ON THE OCTOBER 15, 1970 AGENDA BE MADE ELIGIBLE FOR FINAL VOTE."
Seconded by Mr. Davis. Adopted.
* Mr. Hildum moved the recommendation of the Academic Policy Committee that
"A NEW UNIVERSITY COURSE, INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE (UC 045), BE APPROVED, AND THAT IT BE INCLUDED IN THE FINE ARTS CATEGORY OF THE DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS."
Seconded by Mr. Davis. Adopted.
* Mr. Obear moved for the Steering Committee, that,
"THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION OF THE SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT NOT BE AMENDED ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE."
Seconded by Mr. Stern (the parliamentarian ruled this motion procedural and eligible for vote today). Adopted.
Mr. Obear moved that, "the Senate approve the constitution of the School of Economics and Management." Seconded by Mr. Stern (the constitution was attached to the agenda).
Final action on this motion will be taken at a subsequent meeting.
Mr. Mascitelli moved the recommendation of the Academic Conduct Committee that,
"It is the policy of this University that grades should be used only to measure academic achievement. In cases in which academic misconduct such as plagiarism or cheating has been established through the Academic Conduct Committee, it is appropriate that a student should receive no credit for a piece of work which has been found to be not honestly prepared. However, it is not proper that a student be automatically denied course credit or assigned a penalty grade in the course beyond that which is a consequence of receiving no credit on the unacceptable work. Since the University has provided a set of procedures and a system of penalties for dealing with cases of academic misconduct, instructors should not use course grades as an additional means of penalizing students for academic offenses."
Final action on this motion will be taken at a subsequent meeting.
Mr. Davis moved,
"the University Senate abrogates all official authority to recommend policy in the area of student life-student affairs except in the following three areas: Student Special Services, Public Safety, and Financial Aid. The Senate recommends to the Board, vesting all such official authority to recommend policy, in the student body."
Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis. Final action on this motion will be taken at a subsequent meeting.
Mr. Davis moved a substitute motion for the Steering Committee to read,
"the Senate recommend to President O'Dowd that a constitution of the University Congress be accepted and implemented, with the exception of Article III, Sections 1 and 8. Implementation of these sections should be deferred pending further study and clarification.:
Seconded by Mr. Susskind. Final action on this motion will be taken at a subsequent meeting.
* Mr. Cherno moved
"TO POSTPONE FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE DAVIS MOTION AND SUBSTITUTE MOTION UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST MEETING OF THE CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE."
Seconded by Mr. Hildum. Adopted.
* Mr. Obear moved the recommendation of the Steering Committee that,
"THE ASSISTANT CHANCELLOR FOR ADMINISTRATION BE ADDED TO THE LONG-RANGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AS AN EX OFFICIO, NONVOTING MEMBER AND THAT PROFESSOR MICHAEL RILEY BE APPOINTED TO FILL A VACANCY ON THE LONG-RANGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE."
Seconded by Mr. Gerulaitis. Adopted
* Motions and amendments adopted at this meeting.