Eight faculty members met in the Jones Room of the library to serve as a faculty focus group to discuss the CONTACT Emory ideas to improve the community on campus. Some of the points made, include:

Several mentioned what seemed to them to be a deliberate and institutionalized segregation of students from faculty, e.g. faculty dining room in the DUC and student dining terraces.

Faculty felt that there had been a split between academics and "entertainment." How the admissions counselors describe Emory to prospective students is more about fun than academics. Campus life has been delegated to administrative staff rather than faculty members.

The point was made that at Oxford College the faculty could join the students in their cafeteria and eat for free thus promoting easier interaction out of the classroom. Faculty want more places on campus where this interaction can take place easily and naturally.

The idea was presented that there was a split between the "Old Emory" prior to the Woodruff gift in 1979 and the "New Emory" which has developed since that time. This idea sparked several comments:q Faculty who have been at Emory for many years objected to the way the new faculty are described as "supremely qualified," because it seems to suggest that existing faculty are somehow less worthy.

One new African American female faculty member felt that the talk of the Old Emory, which some described as better, created in her a sense of not being welcomed and somehow to blame for the way things are now. Some have told her "how nice this place used to be before you came." She interpreted this to mean "before people like you came."

Some faculty members pointed out that research indicates that since1960 there has been a decline in participation by Americans in social activities of all sorts and Emory’s experience may be merely another expression of this.

They said that there is not enough respect given to faculty and a central role in the life of the university. Because of this, there is a sort of "learned helplessness" on the part of the faculty to bring about positive change and/or avoid noxious stressors.

Faculty governance is non-effective in their opinion. Lots of bureaucracy; the desire to have faculty rubber stamp decisions which have already been made by administrative staff, no consultation – e.g. Gravity Monument gone in a surprise move. Some faculty had used the Gravity Monument as a poetry writing assignment and a landmark for gathering, etc.

In the existing administrative meetings, there is no meaningful discussion. There is only handing out of papers and procedural discussions.

Some faculty members saw the new pedestrian campus as a change in campus geography which makes possible encounters between faculty colleagues and students without the fear of being run over by an automobile.

More small scale interdepartmental affinity grouping were seen to be needed as one way to promote community among faculty members across campus. For example, the program for faculty who wish to learn Spanish in an intensive program in Spain created community among participants that otherwise would not have known each other.

There is a lack of spaces for informal gatherings of faculty and students. Faculty want more "soulful spaces" of the right size and flexibility to allow brown bag lunches to take place.

Dooley and his attendants were described as thugs who rudely invade classrooms in a mean-spirited way. "Dooley invades territory and usurps authority and should be sued!" (They hated the current manifestation of Dooley!)

Suggestions:

o Create faculty housing options in the new residence halls.

o Provide opportunities for faculty to live closer to campus.

o Faculty want to be an integral part of ongoing extracurricular programs with students rather than being invited in for a one shot opportunity in a longer term program.

o More warm, welcoming, personalized service from staff particularly those working in dining facilities. For example, several mentioned the great job done by Jo in the Faculty Dining Room.

o They loved the Houston Mill House dinners which have since been cancelled.

o They said the retreats for faculty that were once held at Rock Eagle camp were memorable and community building.Suggestions contd.

o Possible rallying points for larger community gatherings – new performing arts center, service (Volunteer Emory).

o Avoid trying to create a model of community that is imposed from above and that does not fit the reality of how people actually live and interact on campus.

o Explore assigning parlors in residence halls to a particular academic department for their use in promoting student/faculty interaction and programming.

o More funds to pay for faculty/student lunches.
o The suggestions which grow out of the CONTACT Emory study must be judged by whether or not they promote and strengthen the student/faculty relationship.

o There was no consensus about a faculty club, though some felt that it is needed to build community and that it would be a symbol that faculty are respected and have a meaningful place in the university.