Senate proposes du Lac policy changes
By JASON McFARLEY
Assistant News Editor
In a move that may translate into unprecedented change for the University handbook, the Faculty Senate on Wednesday took aim at du Lac, Notre Dame's guide to student life.
At its regular meeting, the senate unanimously passed three resolutions concerning the handbook, and members will now direct the proposed shifts to the new Advisory Council on Academic and Student Life (ACASL).
Today members expect faculty senate chair Jean Porter to email the approved resolutions to University provost Nathan Hatch and vice president for student affairs Mark Poorman, ACASL co-chairs.
"I hope administrators will be receptive to the resolutions, but it only seems logical that they would be," said philosophy professor Ed Manier, chairman of the senate's student affairs committee.
The resolutions, approved by each of 19 senators, center around the du Lac introduction, which indicates a process by which students and clubs may propose changes to the handbook. In particular, the measures deal with the University's unofficial policy of drafting major changes to du Lac every two years.
Bill Kirk, assistant vice president for residence life, acknowledged that the University makes annual changes to the handbook and every other year "open ourselves up to the possibility of more changes."
The senate proposals highlight three areas of concern in du Lac:
u A discrepancy between the academic freedom granted to professors by the faculty handbook and that granted to students in du Lac
u Hearing procedures for disciplining student organizations
u Faculty participation in major revisions of du Lac
Manier said the same freedom guaranteed in the faculty handbook and the University's "Academic Articles" is not granted to students in du Lac.
"That freedom should be spelled out, especially in connection with student organizations," Manier said. "Students shouldn't have to sacrifice their academic freedom simply because they form a club."
Manier also took issue with how matters concerning student clubs are addressed.
The senate's proposed change suggests an alternative to the way student organizations' cases of alleged wrongdoing are handled. The shift would effectively allow more faculty and student representation in the hearing and judicial processes, Manier said.
Another senate resolution calls for additional faculty involvement in major changes of the student handbook. While du Lac currently details a procedure for individual students or student groups to recommend changes to the handbook, it denies faculty participation in the revision process.
"We want to establish the fact that the Office of Residence Life isn't the end-all be-all of du Lac revisions," Manier said.
Thursday, Kirk said he does not envision any major changes to du Lac.
"At the moment, we don't have any big plans in mind. I don't think we will undergo many changes," he said.
However, Kirk said before the Campus Life Council's first March meeting, he will meet with the group to identify any areas under consideration for revision in the next edition of du Lac.
All News Stories for Friday, January 26, 2001
