Smoking resolution pushed to January

By Eric Rangus erangus@emory.edu

At its Dec. 12 meeting, the Employee Council tabled its resolution for smoking in open spaces on the Emory campus until its January meeting.

President Bill McBride had written a statement and brought it to the council for approval, but several members of the council’s executive committee wanted to review it further.

The formal wording of the statement will be completed at the council’s next meeting, Jan. 16. Following approval, the resolution will be presented to the University Senate.

The council hosted three guest speakers. Frank Vandall, professor of law and president of the University Senate, discussed what would happen to the smoking resolution once it left the council.

If it passes the Senate, Vandall said, he would take it to President Bill Chace, who ultimately would be responsible for implementing it as written, changing it in any way or not implementing it at all. Vandall stressed the resolution would be a living document and that the issue probably would not be resolved quickly.

Vandall applauded the council for its work on the issue. “In my opinion, this is an appropriate issue for the Employee Council,” he said. “It has an obligation to provide employees a safe place to work.”

Also addressing the council was Bob Ethridge, vice president of Equal Opportunity Programs, who discussed the importance of staff members working together and not allowing cultural differences to divide them.

Ginger Cain, University archivist, brought memorabilia including yearbooks, programs and photographs, some dating to before the Civil War. One of the highlights of her presentation was a screening of a silent, black-and-white film called “Life at Emory.”

The 1932 film was found in an unmarked canister several years ago. It tracks the life of an unnamed freshman student during his first year on campus. The film, Cain said, was used as a recruitment tool.

Laquanda Jackson, cochair of the membership committee, said that biographies of council members who will be running for office during the 2002–03 year will be distributed at the January meeting.

Employee Council’s Jan. 16 meeting will be held at Seney Hall on the Oxford campus at 2 p.m.

If you have a question or comment for Employee Council, send e-mail to President Bill McBride at wjmcbri@fmd.emory.edu