Employees of the Carter Center presented a motion to the Employee Council asking that the body recommend to the administration a suspension of Emory’s pre-employment drug screening policy.

The motion was made at the council’s most recent meeting, held in the Carter Center’s Cypress Room on Nov. 20. More than 30 Carter Center staff members were on hand for the presentation of the motion, which was read by center employee and council representative Lynne Randolph.

Council members said they would consider the motion with the intent of determining a plan of action in time for the council’s December meeting. Should the council decide to act on the motion, with or without any amendments, the next step would be to present it to the University Senate.

Joining Randolph to explain the rationale behind the motion were Carter Center employees Gabrielle Mertz and Bryan Conley.

The motion asked that the policy be rescinded “pending a full consultative review and redesign of a more effective and just policy.” Accompanying a printed copy of the motion were two pages of justification. Both Mertz and Conley discussed the research Carter Center employees did in crafting their argument.

The motion listed six reasons to rescind the policy including a “lack of a documented need,” prohibitive costs and an offense to the privacy of prospective employees.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to amend its bylaws, changing its administrative year to run September–June. This coincides with the academic and fiscal calendars of the University, as well as the schedules of Emory’s other governance bodies. Previously the council’s administrative year began in April. The change will extend the term of the current officers and governance liaisons through August 2003.

The next Employee Council meeting will be held Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. in the Luce Center.

If you have a question of comment for Employee Council, send e-mail to President Cheryl Bowie at cheryl@radonc.emory.org