DECEMBER 21, 2004
Attendance: (Those present indicated by an underline)
Officers: President Schoenberger, President-Elect Kilborn, Past President Fisher, Secretary: Gasparino, Treasurer Motin
IFO Board Members: Hill, Kilborn
Unit Representatives: COB SubbaNarasimha, COE Hornstein, FAH Condon COSE Akubue, COSS Ore, SPEC Vacant
Negotiator: Langen
Guests: Students from Support the Court
1. Call to order at 3:15 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes (November 30, 2004). We need to decide about the conversation with Provost Spitzer.
Motion to accept and publish these minutes after Provost Spitzer reviews them and the requested edits have been made (Subba/Kilborn). Passed
3. Treasurer’s Report – No report will be made until January.
4. Call for new agenda items – None.
5. Announcements
a. Internal Audit and Budget Update (EC 121404 5.a)
FA President Schoenberger, Past-President Fisher, and President-elect Kilborn had a meeting with President Saigo, Steve Ludwig, and Diana Burlison. This topic is on the next Meet and Confer agenda.
b. New Copier for FA local office. The copier is on back order -- the salesman says it should be here before Christmas, but it still isn’t here. The network line has been run and has the connector.
The new copier was installed today!
c. Violation of Zmora Agreement in the College of Ed. Steve, Judy, Rob and I met with Anne Zdd. We will tell you our impression of that meeting.
Motion the Executive Committee appoint FA President Schoenberger to deliver the statement drafted by Steve Hornstein, incorporating the revisions agreed upon by the EC, as a courtesy to Provost Spitzer prior to discussing the statement in Meet and Confer (Motin/Langen). Passed
d. Update on Homecoming Court: I have invited the Support the Court group for 4:00 PM or shortly after. I told them I would be asking them to leave shortly after 5. (EC 121404 5.d)
FA: At the last Executive Committee meeting, the Provost came and talked to us; so we thought you should come talk to us and tell us anything you’d like to tell us. We’ll probably need to limit our discussion to 45 minutes.
Guest: We’d like to say if you don’t agree with us, it’s okay – I’m looking around the room and seeing many people we saw at the Meet and Confer meeting. We respect you all and hope you respect us. If you have questions, please don’t put them in a hateful or derogative manner. We’ve been attacked by numerous people, and we don’t wish to be attacked. Thank you for having us. As we understand, they (the Administration) went through their responses – a list of things they’ve done, and we’d like to go through the same list.
v Immediate support from Public Safety was offered to the Homecoming Queen and members of the Court when safety concerns were expressed about appearing at the Homecoming Football Game. When it was learned from GLBT students that they were not comfortable with Public Safety, Student Life and Development offered its services to accompany any student requesting an escort on campus.
v The Support the Court group requested that Public Safety officers in plainclothes be present at Atwood rally; the Homecoming Queen requested the presence of a uniformed officer; both were present for the rally.
Guest: Student Life and Development offered its services. Public Safety’s support was requested by the Homecoming Queen and was present for the rally on campus. This list also came after we pushed them to tell us what they’ve done about this issue. With regard to this first bullet point -- they didn’t do this, it was student initiated. Students were raising concerns regarding safety issues; and though it was nice of Student Life and Development to offer its services, I personally don’t feel any safer being escorted by Dr. Church (maybe less so).
v Student names and contact information were removed from the university website to protect those targeted in the early hateful messages and threats.
Guest: This was also a student initiative.
v Caller ID was installed on Student Government’s phones to deal with hateful and threatening phone calls.
Guest: Yes, they did do this -- but they didn’t realize the need for caller ID to be installed on Student Government phones. I don’t know who requested this or where it came from.
v The Emergency Blue Light/Phone was checked; repairs were made as needed and all units are working properly.
Guest: The breaches in the Emergency Blue Light were already being worked on by Student Government and the Women’s Center.
v Students sending homophobic e-mail messages to GLBT Services have been contacted and will be processed through the Student Conduct System.
Guest: The Student Conduct System has continued to fail this group and this initiative time and time again. We’ve all filed complaints, and no action is being taken.
FA: I can say all students didn’t show up at the meeting they were required to attend, and they’re getting a letter in their file.
FA: Who decides what happens?
FA: Bernadette Wilson.
v The article, editorial, and political cartoon published in the University Chronicle have been referred to the Student Conduct System for review and action if judged to be in violation of the Code of Conduct.
Guest: We did that. We made them look at that time and time again. It wasn’t something they came up with. All of these things are all reactive -- not proactive.
v Letters were sent by University leadership to St. Cloud Mayor Ellenbecker, St. Cloud Police Chief Ballantine, and the City Human Rights Commissioner, Odukale, indicating that students at the University were experiencing hateful speech and personal threats. We also indicated that additional resources might be needed to adequately respond to the situation.
Guest: The police were not supportive in our filing.
v Statements supportive of the Homecoming Court were made by University leadership to:
- Student Government
- Made available to the Support the Court Action and Organizing Committee prior to the speak-out they organized
- WCCO Television News
- KARE Television News
- WJON Radio News
- Numerous alumni, donors, and community members’ calls, e-mails and face-to-face interactions
Guest: We were not involved in any of the above. Based on what we’ve received (i.e., press releases) have not been good at all. Regarding KARE 11, this was something where they were just on campus and said “hey will you talk with us.” With regard to WCCO News, we asked them to write a letter. Regarding numerous alumni donors and community members’ calls, e-mails, and face-to-face interactions, we partnered with leadership that organized campaigning for the Homecoming Queen to relinquish his crown. They’re not going to insist the crown be relinquished – this is reactive they’ve chosen not to deal with alumni or issues in mass kinds of ways.
v The Court was honored at the first home hockey game.
Guest: I’m the Homecoming Queen, and I chose not to go because of safety concerns.
Guest: We had talked with them beforehand and asked them to give us the statement before they made it; and they e-mailed it to us a few hours before. We made it clear it was for reasons of safety concerns. The Administration said if they had announced it was for reasons of safety concerns, it might offend the hockey audience.
FA: Administration said they talked with the Athletic Department staff, and they said no one had been consulted.
FA: Are you the Homecoming Queen?
Guest: Yes.
FA: Finally, I’m pleased to meet you. It’s my pleasure, and I admire your courage.
v An Anti-Hate Campaign was launched in the Residential Life system.
Guest: This was a Residential Life initiative, not a university initiative.
v Drafts of responses to the St. Cloud Times (and University Chronicle) have been developed.
Guest: They sucked! We had to do many revisions to these, and they were not given back to us to be released. We don’t know what happened to the Chronicle response. In addition, Channel 5 making false reports about the Homecoming Queen and his personal life -- we don’t know what happened to that letter either. After much talking, President Saigo ended up putting his letter on My Turn.
FA: When you say you don’t know what happened to the response(s), it is possible they were sent.
Guest: We asked for a draft, and we said it wasn’t so good; and then we had an understanding they’d give the document back in final form, but it never happened.
FA: They could have sent them, but you don’t know.
Guest: We were expecting this -- the My Turn letter was printed on Sunday, but we heard nothing about the Channel 5 letter.
Guest: Did the Provost go over our original demands?
FA: We got this from Meet and Confer.
Guest: The responses from the leadership to the Homecoming Court have been very reactive, insulting, and negative; and, actually, there hasn’t been a response other than the My Turn letter made public. We need support. We cannot be a bunch of radical students without support. They’re waving Support the Court buttons, but they cannot do this in a public arena, and we’re not sure why. There has been a kiosk set up by the College Republicans with a petition stating negative things. The petition states the Homecoming Queen is a homosexual man and the crown ought to be removed and awarded to the Princess – this is very hateful and homophobic and not good. An outside agitator threatened students by choking. When we approached the leadership about these issues, they say it is a Freedom of Speech issue. I responded by saying if I were to make these statements, I can guarantee I’d be put in the system of conduct, and it wouldn’t be beneficial on my behalf. Do you have any questions? We have a list of things we’d like from you.
FA: Are you part of the Homecoming Court?
Guest: No.
FA: Thank you.
FA: You met a couple of times with Provost Spitzer and Dr. Church. Can you tell us how those meetings went? We understand some of these meetings were long.
Guest: All of them were long. We didn’t really get anywhere -- we were just trying to educate them on why we feel this way and why we’d like this to happen; but the end result was nothing.
FA: Are you still meeting with them?
Guest: No. The last meeting was horrible. The message I personally took was “we don’t know who you are….
Guest: They talked over us.
Guest: They “scape goated” us, and we weren’t getting clear answers. We still don’t have the answers, and it is annoying us by trying to work with them.
FA: Are you talking about the St. Cloud Times?
Guest: No -- the Administration.
FA: I was at the Meet and Confer when you guys approached us. To what extent was the matter of approach at Meet and Confer similar to the approach at this meeting?
Guest: We had a meeting after Meet and Confer that resulted in a lot of dialogue and promises not fulfilled. Did we have two or three meetings (I was in his office every day, so I don’t know.)? I would have to say that they were far more disrespectful than us in the way they spoke to us and how they treated us.
FA: Do you think respect is a two-way issue?
Guest: Two-ways and something that needs to be earned by both parties, and I believe we earned it by standing up for this social justice issue and becoming targets ourselves. The students are the reason why we’re here. I respect the Administration. I’m sorry you‘re feeling disrespected.
FA: When you first came here, you said “apparently, we all have to stand…..” Did you see anything wrong with that statement? Were you all expecting us to arrange seats for you?
FA: I’m asking you to stop now.
FA: I thought you said we should ask questions
FA: You’re out of order.
(Executive Committee caucused)
FA: I guess you can tell us the things you think we could do that could help; however, please understand we might not be able to do everything.
Guest: Right. We’re pretty negotiable and pretty diplomatic. It may not seem that way.
FA: Do you have a list you can give us?
Guest: We made a short list. We need to push the University Program Board policy not to be based on gender. This past Friday, they made a survey and distributed it at an after-dark event and are planning on distributing it again for two days in February. Based on the results from the survey, they’ll decide to incorporate it into the policy (based on gender, what you can and can’t run for) -- we oppose this. This survey was given to Steve Cirrone of GLBT and Hal Kimble, but nobody else saw the survey. The second thing was to reinforce the Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance -- it’s lacking enforcement. They say it’s superceded by MnSCU’s policy (when we say this has been violated, they say under MnSCU, it’s okay.) So, basically, our Code of Conduct is crap (ours policy is stricter than MnSCU’s).
FA: So, what’s the point?
Guest: Add this to your list!
Guest: So is there is anything we can do about this situation?
FA: What is the code?
Guest: Ours is on page 2.
FA: When they say the MnSCU code supercedes that….
FA: Susan knows how to get access to this (MnSCU’s code).
Guest: There is a historical list of oppression issues. There is a lot of talk going around of how Support the Court has caused the Vote of No Confidence against the Administration. This is not accurate. The Vote of No Confidence is not only because of the lack of response, but also to historical content – the reference made to the Holocaust denial in the Chronicle. If you have anything to add to the list of historical oppression SCSU has taken part in….
FA: I’m laughing because we have lots of answers…..
Guest: We’d like to include your efforts as part of ours as well.
FA: A long time ago, there was a lady aspiring to become an Electrical Engineer. She came to me at a point and said that each time she went in for advice on something in her major, she was told “why don’t you go to Sociology -- what are you doing here”? However, a male student Engineering major is shown what to do…. I have written about taking a closer look at our institution and the workplace to find out about those obstacles preventing women from getting into the “male sphere” kind of profession. I will gladly mention to you the young lady is now a successful engineer (she did not graduate from this university, but rather from another), and I continue to have young ladies come to me; so people, if I ask you a question, it’s not that I don’t like you, I love all of you – I’m just direct.
Guest: As teachers, we ask for you not to allow oppressive behavior or language in classes -- to confront things when you hear them.
Guest: It’s really important to crack down and use the Code of Conduct.
FA: I get really mean when I hear this language.
FA: So what are your plans for your next step?
Guest: We’re talking about this -- it’s finals time right now.
FA: They have a study day planned for tomorrow. Most members here have been there for 8 hours.
Guest: We can’t be descriptive about what our plans are – you’ll probably just see it (it can’t be broadcast).
FA: Can we get a list of what has not been met?
FA: I asked Support the Court to e-mail it to me.
FA: Some things we can’t get a consensus on, but there is a clear consensus about treating our students well.
FA: Is it possible, one of these days, you can give me an audience to address the body when you have the chance?
Guest: Based on our previous interaction, I’m a little cautious.
Guest: It’s something we’ll discuss in our group.
FA: I asked because I’d like to present myself to you rather than having somebody else doing so. That’s the reason why I asked. Thank you.
FA: I don’t know if this is good news or bad news, folks, but a number of us in this group have been working a number of years (on this effort). You are hardly the first group. I could see it going both ways. I hear you talking, and some of the things you’re dealing with are exactly what we’ve experienced. This is not an isolated incident – it is part of a much larger picture.
Guest: Let’s keep the dialog going. People need to know the Support the Court Action Committee doesn’t have a hidden agenda. So, thank you.
FA: I want to make you aware our Senate doesn’t meet until next semester, either. Don’t let that silence make you feel there isn’t any support; we want you to know we’re moving forward.
FA: I want you to know your safety is paramount, your feeling safe and secure; and certainly that kind of discriminatory, oppressive behavior in classrooms faculty can take a major lead on. Maybe one of your plans could be if you feel threatened, the FA President would be a resource you could put in your safety net.
FA: It helps a lot if you put my name as a “cc.” I’ve always said a letter that goes to one person doesn’t always “get sent,” because they don’t have to acknowledge they got it -- it helps to send it to another person as well.
FA: You’re here for a few years, and there is the academic and the non-academic part and SCSU as a group and the larger St. Cloud. I thought I heard radical and social actions -- all I want to say here is please be patient when possible, and please try to prioritize, and please focus on saying what you would like. In other words, it appears we’re agreed here as faculty and Administration, and we’re all fighting for the same things -- the removal of differences or prejudice, and it is now how we execute this. That is where I see a major difference, and we need to be patient with one another.
Guest: We have been fairly patient and sat down with them (the Administration) for two or three hours; and we really have had to execute patience – we’ve been told it needs to simmer down, and we feel we need to capitalize by the media’s attention and respond immediately because we have a captive audience. To mobilize people, you need a trigger.
FA: With regard to the policy not be based on gender (who can run for Homecoming Queen), does the UPB run Homecoming?
Guest: Yes.
FA: It’s my impression the University Program Board is a student-run operation -- what level were you hoping we’d have on that process?
FA: They are a student-run process, and we can always make suggestions and encourage. We can say we’re supportive of what you’re doing. I hear you’re asking for our support.
Guest: We’re not saying you, as a body, should make people do this, but if you could send a letter of encouragement. Also, we wrote up a list and ask if there is anything else you could do to help support us….
FA: I just want to say thank you. You are all remarkably committed and articulate. I hope my kids can grow up like you.
FA: I think you might want to legally challenge. Do you have an attorney?
Guest: We need some Pro Bono work!
FA: Enforcement issues open up a whole chain of events.
FA: One thing we have on the Senate agenda is Story Chat -- we have a history of problems with this, and some faculty have been harassed.
Guest: I read the My Turn section, and on Sunday evening at 5:00 PM, there were already 60 responses. I was grateful they were not attacking the Homecoming Queen or the liberal agenda. Now they’re attacking President Saigo, and I want to say “see how it feels.” It’s a major source of problem.
FA: This is a business card for Doug Clark -- give him a call and see what he can do for you. When my able colleague started talking to you, he started with “radical,” and I was listening to hear where he was going. Apparently, that trailed off and wasn’t part of what he finally said. I’ve been working with students for a long time now, and I am willing to work with all of you any time -- my students have called me many names including a “teddy bear.” I have a tendency to be loud, but that’s who I am. I’m also compassionate, because I was a student for 10 years and an activist, too. My only concern is to make sure your academic side is also being held up – it made me happy when I heard that you had a study day. It is not what you’re told about somebody that matters but seeing that person that matters. I can supply letters from students from the past eight years; so, please, I’m not a bad person. What I’m saying is as you go through the university, please allow the university to go through you. I know you’re destined for greatness -- now sail and keep on sailing and let the sky be the limit. My name is Anthony Akubue. Don’t let anyone tell you about me – come to me.
FA: I also want to thank you for coming here.
FA: How are you doing?
Guest: To be honest, not really good.
(The students from Support the Court left the meeting).
e. FA office will be closed from December 23 through January 3.
We will meet on December 22 from 2:00 until 4:00 PM, and we can continue this meeting.
f. Update on Curriculum Grievance
FA President Schoenberger talked with the Provost. We’ve asked for them to collaborate with the faculty -- we need the Administration to say this job is collaborative. FA President Schoenberger will take this topic to Meet and Confer.
Past President Fisher stated there are a couple of issues regarding the grievance and the motion made in Faculty Senate for a mediation. One -- if we do an agreement that lets the grievance hang until we give mediation a chance, because of non-duty days, it brings us into next semester. Because the President has 10 days after that meeting to respond, it can go to Step 3 because all those days are not duty days. We have this week and next week through Thursday and December 28th. We have the days after Christmas, and then we go until next semester, and duty days begin again. Unless we get something done by the 28th, that would bring us to next semester. If we extend this in any way, we’re talking about next semester.
FA Past President Fisher stated she has started drafting a letter. Provost Spitzer wants to do mediation. Can we do it before 10 days? Mediation would have to occur between our last Senate -- that next day as the first day and the day before next Tuesday. It is conceivable we can do the mediation and the Step 2 grievance?
The agenda moved to New Business, 7.b.
7. b. OCE Position (Steve) (EC 121404 7.b)
FA President Schoenberger will make copies of 7.b. for Meet and Confer.
6. Unfinished Business
a. Team Work (Subba) – Not discussed
b. Article 24 Faculty Rights in Disciplinary and Investigative Action (EC 111604 7.a) – Not discussed
c. General Education Committee request for a body to set criteria for reviewing upper division writing requirement. (EC 113004 7.a) – Not discussed
d. Enrollment Management Committee and Meet and Confer (EC 113004 7.b) – Not discussed
7. New Business
a. Clickers (Theresia) – Not discussed
c. Draft Letter of Understanding Article 29, Section D (EC 121404 7.c) – Not discussed
d. Mankato PDP/PDR/Non-Renewal guidelines (EC 121404 7.d) – Not discussed
e. 1b1 intake person (Fisher) – Not discussed
f. Command performances by deans (Schoenberger) – Not discussed
8. Recessed at 5:30 PM to continue on 12/21/04.
Call to order at 2:00 PM.
6. Unfinished Business
a. Team Work
Fred Hill distributed a poem for our contemplation.
b. Article 24 Faculty Rights in Disciplinary and Investigative Action (EC 111604 7.a.)
Fred Hill will “spruce up” this document, and then we will take it to Meet and Confer and Senate for discussion.
7. New Business
a. Clickers (Theresia)
The proper term is Audience Response Technology. The group that worked on this last summer (’04) has sent out a request for information. This will be followed by a request for proposals. The goal is a system that is inexpensive, the same for all classrooms, and does not violate student/faculty privacy.
The agenda was moved to 7.e.
e. 1b1 intake person (Fisher)
FA President Schoenberger will call Pat Arseneault for information on this issue.
The agenda was moved to 7.g.
g. FYE Director
An e-mail will be sent to Diane Schellinger approving Sneh Kalia as faculty representative to the search committee. It will be pointed out that given more time, we could have found someone with FYE experience. We will suggest she contact Marla Kanengieter-Wildeson for a faculty representative from the FYE Advisory Board.
Meeting adjourned at 4:00 PM.