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May 2, 2005
Senate ends 2004–05 with benefits, committee reports

BY Michael Terrazas

Much of the University Senate’s last meeting of the academic year, held April 26 in Woodruff Library’s Jones Room, was devoted to discussing the proposed changes to employee benefits recommended by the ad hoc Benefits Review Committee. The proposal passed by a vote of 19–1.

Following that discussion, Richard Levinson from public health, chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee, presented a slate of five candidates to receive honorary degrees in 2006.

The Senate voted on the individuals (who will be announced next spring) and a later tabulation showed the slate was approved 18–1.

Leslie Campis, coordinator for sexual assault response and educational services, delivered a presentation on sexual assault. Campis, who chairs the Senate’s Safety and Security Committee, said sexual assault presents a “public health crisis” on campus, with as many as one in four college women experiencing an assault during her college career. Campis cited two studies of Emory students, one on all undergraduates (498 respondents) and one on sorority members (367 respondents). Roughly 30 percent of respondents to both surveys reported an unwanted sexual experience during their time at Emory.

Campis suggested several possible actions, including bringing back a peer-education course on sexual assault and reviewing peer institutions’ policies on the issue.

With time running short, Senate President Sharon Strocchia asked committee chairs to hit only the highlights of their year-ending reports, which also were submitted in more extensive printed form. Those highlights included:
• Athletic Policy, chair Ruth Pagell: focused on renovation of Woodruff P.E. Center and growing club sports presence.
• Campus Development, chair Nancy Bayly: reviewed and approved 12 capital projects, urged more communication with campus planners on Emory Village developments.
• Campus Life, chair Mark McLeod: helped develop student website for mental health resources, assisted president’s office in forming task force on mental health.
• Committee on Environment, chair Tim Bryson: coordinated with Campus Planning on developing Emory’s land-use map, also urged more communication on capital projects affecting campus environment.
• Fringe Benefits, chair Sid Stein: helped Benefits Review Committee conduct its work, but took no formal action.
• Library Policy, chair Steve Strange: worked on continuing challenges of space needs, stressed greater integration with strategic planning.
• Parking and Transportation, chair Scott Kitner: explored carpool option for students, urged DeKalb County to adjust signal timing at Clairmont and N. Decatur roads.
The presentations delivered earlier in the meeting by Levinson and Campis served as reports from the honorary degrees and safety and security committees, respectively.
After thanking the Senate for its work during 2004–05, Strocchia passed the “Honorary Billy Frye Gavel” (named for Emory’s former provost, chancellor and interim president) to Mike Rogers, associate professor of mathematics at Oxford College, who officially began his term as Senate president. Outgoing secretary Jim Brown then passed a ceremonial pen to new Secretary Jennifer Vasquez, administrative assistant in the School of Medicine.
To close the meeting, President Jim Wagner also thanked the body for its work during the year, and he anticipated much more activity in 2005–06, citing strategic planning, fund raising, faculty development, and implementation of the proposed benefits changes as some of the issues to be addressed. “If we can continue to grow this pattern of collaborative, engaged activity,” Wagner said, “we’ll be fine.”
The Senate will next meet in September.

If you have a question or concern for University Senate, e-mail President Mike Rogers at rogers@learnlink.emory.edu.

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