Issues in Progress

University Senate

In its final meeting of the academic year, the Senate heard a report from Provost Billy Frye on the status of the strategic planning process. Conversations arising from the Strategic Planning Task Force recommendations ended in March, said Frye, and the next step will be synthesizing and summarizing the main themes, which will be presented in a draft document to the University community in the fall.

University Secretary Gary Hauk gave a report on the administration's response to Senate resolutions during the past academic year, including the addition of new benefits for Emory employees and lowering the retirement age by making employees eligible when they reach age 55, provided they have served at least 10 consecutive years and the combination of age and years of service equals 70. The committee's work on Emory Village was forwarded to the campus master planning team; President Chace met for the first time last fall with members of the Emory Village Business Association; and conversations between the association and administration are ongoing.

Newly installed Senate President Bill Cody presided over the second half of the meeting, which included annual reports from each of the nine standing committees.

The Fringe Benefits Committee found merit in offering an employee-paid long-term care insurance program through payroll deduction, reported chair Sidney Stein. A group contract is preferable, said Stein, because employees can acquire insurance without meeting underwriting criteria. The committee recommended that Human Resources review proposals by August 1 so that coverage could be implemented by May 1998, if approved.

The Committee on the Environment's input on projects this year included the location of Hope Lodge; a parking and complex addition at Yerkes; the Lullwater disposal area cleanup; Lullwater Lake sediment dredging; control of flyer garbage; building, drainage and parking plans for the new Scholars Press Building; and a variety of issues with the university's master planning consultants, said chair Bill Buzbee.

Chair Steve Batterson of the Athletics and Recreational Policy Committee said that the Emory Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes the senior who best exemplifies achievement in athletics and academics, will be given at the Athletics Award Banquet later this month. The committee also worked with Sports Information Director John Arenberg to make athletics results available on the web. Expressing concern of Emory's violation of Title IX guidelines for gender equity, the committee recommended the addition of women's softball, action on which the administration has deferred, citing financial constraints and the need to identify a field site in the campus master plan.

Campus Development Committee chair Ray DuVarney reported that his committee's inclusion of Steve Misner from the Druid Hills Civic Association helped provide feedback on how campus projects are affecting the community. DuVarney shared a list all projects currently under construction or in the planning and design phases with Senate members.

Judith Raggi-Moore, chair of the Campus Life Committee, reported that temporary bulletin boards to announce events will remain until replaced by permanent structures. The committee's Task Force on Advertising Litter resolution will be the first item of consideration proposed by the Campus Life Committee in the fall.

Linda Matthews, chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee, said that the committee will ask the University community this spring to make recommendations for next year's commencement speaker, a move that would initiate the process earlier than before. The committee then will send a list of at least 10 names to President Chace. The committee wants student input in particular, she said.

The Committee on Library Policy met monthly this year to address three major concerns: access to the libraries by nonconstituent students and by nonstudents; use and access of electronic media; and pursuit of the renovation of Candler Library, said chair Steve Kraftchick. Senate Past President Luke Johnson encouraged standing committees and the Senate as a whole to get involved in the effort to make the Candler Library renovation a higher priority.

The Safety and Security Committee focused this year on identifying and examining smaller, more tangible problems, said Tommy Cutts, chair. Among the issues the committee addressed were outdoor lighting at the DUC; the traffic light at the Woodruff Circle/Clifton Road intersection; an all-way stop at the Fraternity Row/Peavine Creek Drive intersection; additional bicycle safety information; painting of handicapped ramps; employment of a University fire marshal; installation of speed limit and all-way stop signs; enforcement of campus speed limits; improvement of campus sidewalks; and creation of "Safety Net" as a site on the Emory web where information such as descriptions of perpetrators of campus crimes would be posted.

Nancy Wilkinson, chair of the Traffic and Parking Committee, reported that consultants have estimated that an additional 1,600 to 2,900 spaces would be needed on campus by March 2000 and that the University should continue to pursue alternative means of transportation


President's Commission on

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Concerns

At the Commission's April 14 meeting, co-chair Kevin Gelé presented nominations to fill membership vacancies for the 1997-98 academic year. After discussion, a slate of nominees for the Commission was discussed and approved.

Members also heard a report from the Long-Range Planning Committee concerning a proposed campus climate survey that would take place in the fall of 1997. Saralyn Chesnut, director of the Office of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Life, said the survey would be used to assess the university community's attitudes and beliefs about, knowledge of, and experiences with lesbian, gay and bisexual people and issues. The survey would include a random sample of about 5,000 members of the Emory community, including faculty, staff and undergraduate and graduate/professional students. Survey results will be useful in providing baseline data to determine whether programs and services are successfully improving the campus climate for lesbian/gay/bisexual people, said Chesnut. The information also will help indicate segments of the community that are least accepting of lesbian/gay/bisexual people and might therefore be the focus of the Commission's efforts. Members agreed to review the survey proposal and questions in order to give their feedback at the next meeting.

Chesnut also reported that the College Council has named Emory's GLOBAL student group as most outstanding organization of the year, and has selected GLOBAL's "Candlelight Vigil Against Hate Crimes" as program of the year.

Leslie Harris of the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Studies Curriculum Committee reported on the success of the first in a series of luncheons with faculty and graduate students interested in lesbian and gay studies. The final luncheon in the series has been moved to April 24, said Harris. Interested faculty and students should e-mail her at <lharr04@emory.edu>.

Members also heard proposals on revisions to the Commission's bylaws concerning membership and voting. The revisions will be considered and voted on at the next meeting on Monday, May 5, at 4 p.m.


 

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