Members discuss du Lac policies
By JASON McFARLEY
Assistant News Editor
With major revision work to du Lac slated for this summer, Campus Life Council (CLC) members on Monday heard which areas of the University student handbook will likely undergo change— and made clear which issues they plan to keep off the agenda.
Discussion at the 70-minute meeting centered on the du Lac introduction, which details the University's unofficial policy of drafting major changes to the handbook every two years. The CLC was somewhat receptive to proposed changes by the Office of Residence Life (ORL), but several members expressed doubt and frustration toward Faculty Senate-initiated recommendations.
Bill Kirk, assistant vice president for Residence Life, told the group Monday that the ORL, based on information from residence hall staff and campus security reports, has placed four du Lac policies under consideration for revision:
uExpanding the definition of abusive drinking to include the misuse of prescription or non-prescription drugs in connection with alcohol consumption
uFormatting and presenting housing and residence hall information and regulations
uDetermining the impact of disciplinary sanctions on student eligibility for athletic participation and awards, campus clubs, student government positions and study abroad programs
uRegulating the use of small appliances in residence hall rooms
"I don't know which way administrators are leaning in any of these areas, but [the recommended changes] highlight concerns," Kirk said.
Kirk, who was required to present to the CLC before the group's first March meeting any areas under consideration for revision in the next edition of du Lac, said significant changes to the handbook are not likely.
"I don't see revisions we're making being terribly dramatic this year," he said.
Most work on changes to the 2001-02 edition of du Lac will take place in early summer, according to Kirk. He said the handbook then moves to University trustees for approval in August.
But if the CLC's discussion Monday was an indication, some proposed changes may fall off the agenda long before summer.
While Kirk's recommendations prompted little debate Monday, three Faculty Senate resolutions presented by Ed Manier stirred some tense, frank exchanges.
The resolutions, passed unanimously by the senate on Jan. 24, target the section of du Lac, which indicates the process by which students and clubs may propose changes to the handbook.
Nathan Hatch, University provost, directed the recommendations to the CLC after the senate forwarded them to the new Academic and Student Life Advisory Council that Hatch co-chairs.
The senate proposals highlight three areas of concern in du Lac:
uA discrepancy between the academic freedom guaranteed to professors by the faculty handbook and that granted to students in du Lac
uHearing procedures for disciplining student organizations
uFaculty participation in major revisions of du Lac
Several CLC members debated at length over the first proposal, before tabling the discussion and agreeing to resume talks at the group's March 5 meeting.
In general, members were at odds over the role of academic freedom at a Catholic university.
"There are no provisions for academic freedom for students anywhere in du Lac," said Manier, a philosophy professor. "I personally have indulged in activity that may contravene the mission of the Catholic Church, but I don't think that I should not be free to inquire, to obtain information."
At recent Faculty Senate and CLC meetings, members of both groups have discussed controversy surrounding the Women's Resource Center (WRC). In April 1998, the University placed the center on probation following sanctions for distributing information on abortion.
The WRC has since been taken off probation, but as recently as last December, the senate cited conflict surrounding the center as evidence against a free academic environment. Sister Adrienne Piennette disagreed with Manier Monday.
"Academic freedom in the classroom — that's fine. Outside, that's a different context," the Welsh Hall rectress said.
Kirk also offered a candid opinion.
"I think all three resolutions are so fundamentally flawed they're beyond repair," he said. Kirk's comment followed the CLC's decision to form a task force to look into du Lac revisions.
Brian O'Donoghue, student body president, said the task force will make recommendations that must be approved by the CLC before moving to the Office of Student Affairs. He said in the past, the Office of the Student Body President would appoint representatives to make proposals to Student Affairs, but a task force puts du Lac revisions under the jurisdiction of the CLC.
O'Donoghue said the task force's make-up would be similar to the CLC, which now includes students, faculty, rectors and administrators.
In other CLC news:
uO'Donoghue said the forum on teaching and tenure scheduled for Wednesday is postponed indefinitely. He cited panelists' scheduling conflicts as the primary reason for the cancellation.
All News Stories for Tuesday, February 20, 2001
