Present: H. Alley, A. Berenstein, L. Bowditch, G. Epps, S. Eyster, L. Freinkel, P. Gilkey, R. Horner, J. Hurwit, K. Kennedy, P. Keyes, C. McNelly, G. McLauchlan K. McPherson, D. Pope, M. Raymer, L. Robare, G. Sayre, E. Singer, D. Sinha, L. Skalnes, C. Sundt, N. Tublitz, L. Wellman, M. Woollacott

Excused: F. Gearhart, S. Haynes, M. Harvey, C. Lachman, W.A. Marcus, A. McLucas, K. Merrell, G. Psaki, M. Russo, P. Scher, K. Sheehan, M. Shirzadegan, M. Wilson

Absent: L. Alpert, C. Bybee, F. Cogan, C. Ellis, M. Holland, R. Graff, E. Luks, J. Wagenknecht

CALL TO ORDER

Senate President Greg McLauchlan called the organizational meeting of the University Senate to order at 3:08 p.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Minutes from the May 14, 2003 regular senate meeting were approved as distributed.

STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY

Introduction and orientation of new senators. Senate Secretary Gwen Steigelman introduced the newly elected senators (see http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~uosenate/ dirsen034/memsen034.html). She noted that five students from the student senate would join the University Senate fall term. The secretary provided a brief orientation to the general operational procedures of the senate including signing the roll sheet at the start of each meeting, and, when unable to attend due to illness or other university business, notifying the secretary in advance; senate by-laws require attendance records and removal of any senator with two unexcused absences during a term.

Secretary Steigelman drew the new senators' attention to aspects of the senate's web page (see http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~uosenate/senate.html), and noted important links from the page to senate related items such as agendas, minutes, legislation, committees, reports, faculty elections, as well as correspondence and other governance information. Senate minutes in electronic format are accessible via the web page from 1992 on; earlier printed minutes of the University Assembly meetings are available in the registrar's office. Lastly, the secretary noted that the senators' email addresses would be added to the senate listserv to facilitate email communications among senators. Agenda materials are emailed prior to each meeting as well as posted on the web page.

Remarks from outgoing Senate President Greg McLauchlan. The senate president began his remarks by recognizing and thanking several people who have been especially helpful in the organizational tasks of the senate: Parliamentarian Paul Simonds,

Webmaster Peter Gilkey, and the secretary of the faculty and senate, Gwen Steigelman. President McLauchlan then offered some reflections on his year as the UO senate president. He couched his perceptions of the year as a contrast of "big picture" and "small picture" events, noting the necessity of linking them to gain an accurate perspective of the year's activities. Big picture issues such as the struggling stock market and East Asian economy have had an effect on the senate. The big picture war in Iraq created small picture issues for the senate, such as the debate about the war and whether to consider a resolution in opposition to the war. Nationally, the military budget is over $400 billion a year and impacts the University of Oregon as an institution and contributor to its community. Consequently, it is necessary for the senate to address such issues, especially when public education funding is under assault.

President McLauchlan also spoke about the procedural difficulty of obtaining a quorum at a faculty petitioned convening of the University Assembly, as a fully empowered legislative body, for the purpose of considering a resolution against the war in Iraq. He suggested the issue of establishing a more easily attained quorum for such meetings should be pursued so that the assembly has the ability to be an effective body in the future.

During the past year the senate sponsored several war issue related forums with and for concerned faculty, student groups, and community members, which the president hopes will continue in the future. Similarly, at its last meeting, the senate passed a motion to provide ongoing monitoring of the USA Patriot Act's impact on university and its implications for information gathering, privacy, research, and other campus activities. President McLauchlan noted the senate would be working closely with administration in this area.

President McLauchlan then turned his attention to the "big picture" issue of the state's fiscal crisis and the resulting deep budget cuts experienced by higher education and the UO. As tuitions climb, access to higher education is decreasing. However, the "small picture" response has been the university's launching of a five-year Comprehensive Campaign to raise $600 million dollars, and a legislative proposal for OUS universities to become more fiscally autonomous from state government regulations. Speaking out more often and more directly on issues relating to better funding, access, and diversity is imperative.

The president continued his comments saying that the "big picture" view of intercollegiate athletics is that public support of athletics is increasing at twice the rate that it is for education. The "small picture" reality is that the UO is one of only a handful of universities that have self-sufficient athletics programs that receive no public support dollars. The success of the athletic department along with good management has eliminated what had been an annual $2 million general fund subsidy of athletics. Additionally, former Senate President Jim Earl's efforts two years ago to organize PAC-10 faculty leaders to pass a resolution calling into question the unending athletics arms race has drew national attention to the issue; as a result, Jim is part of a joining a national organization of faculty leaders who are working toward policies that bring restraint and logic to the escalating, "arms race" costs of athletics. This is a quintessential example of taking a local problem to the national level.

President McLauchlan further remarked that diversity and inclusiveness serve to define one of the university's core missions. This year's senate, in conjunction with other faculty and student leaders, addressed the controversial issue of KUGN radio's claim as the "Voice of the Ducks" while also being known for right wing "hate radio" programming. After thoughtful discussions, the UO's name will only be associated with sports programming and advertising, and not with any other of the station's programming. President McLauchlan concluded his remarks by saying he was proud to have served as senate president, and by advising the new senators to become acquainted with the issues facing the university to see how students, staff, and faculty can come together to talk about their goals.

NEW BUSINESS

Election of new Committee on Committees members. Senator Julie Novkov, Senate Nominating Committee, presented the slate of nominees for new Committee on Committees members: Malcolm Wilson, classics; Matt Roberts, law; Herb Cherek, registrar; and John Conery, computer and information Science. The nominees were elected unanimously to serve on the committee for a two- year term (2003-05).

Election of senate vice president for 2003-04. On behalf of the nominating committee, Ms. Novkov put forth the name of W. Andrew Marcus, geography, as the committee's nominee for senate vice president. President McLauchlan asked if there were any other nominations from the floor. Hearing none, the president noted that Mr. Marcus was on a research trip and unable to attend the meeting but had provided a brief candidate statement, which was then read. Mr. Marcus' statement elaborated on three main themes that would guide his efforts as vice president: (1) maintaining a strong sense of shared community within the University of Oregon, (2) working with the senate and administration to advance the roll of shared governance, and (3) helping the university to focus its voice to sustain the Liberal Arts tradition in the face of looming budget cuts. President McLauchlan then asked for a vote and Mr. Marcus was elected unanimously.

Confirmation of 2003-04 Senate President Lowell Bowditch. President McLauchlan confirmed P. Lowell Bowditch, classics, as president of the University Senate for 2003-04 with the traditional passing of the gavel along with a copy Robert's Rules of Order. The new president thanked past president McLauchlan and offered a few brief comments. She remarked how pleased she was with the election of Vice President Marcus, saying their issues and concerns are similar. President Bowditch emphasized the critical importance of maintaining the status and integrity of the UO's identity as a research institution. She noted discrete events and circumstances that pose challenges to that integrity, mostly budget related, such library cuts, growing enrollment, greater reliance on nontenure track instructors, and depressed faculty salaries. Other issues, including the roll of athletics and its relationship to academics, and the need to continue upgrading facilities, effect the university's standing as a place of higher academic research. President Bowditch went on to say that the university has taken several important steps to meet these challenges and it is important that the University Senate continues to be involved in the decisions being made. For example, senate committees are addressing the goals of the Comprehensive Campaign, the status of nontenure track instructional faculty, and the white paper goals for enhancing faculty salaries. The newly appointed senate ad hoc Committee on Campus Vision is another area where faculty and staff will have a voice in shaping the future identity of the University of Oregon. The senate, as the primary governance structure and voice for the faculty and staff, should honor that charge even as it focuses on areas where it can have a concrete impact.

President Bowditch also acknowledged the recent senate resolution monitoring the implications of the USA Patriot Act on the university, saying it is an area where the senate in coordination with the administration can have a significant roll. In the same vein, she concluded her remarks noting that senate meetings will continue to have a question and answer period with President Frohnmayer and Provost Moseley to continue facilitating the relationship between the faculty and administration. Such a relationship is a sine qua non for the university to move forward in this time of accelerating change, both in terms of its own identity and in the larger, socioeconomic context of the state.

WAYNE WESTLING AWARD FOR UNIVERSITY SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP

President Bowditch introduced chemistry professor Peter von Hippel as the 2003 recipient of the Wayne Westling Award for University Service and Leadership. She emphasized Professor von Hippel's exemplary, clear thinking and his extraordinarily sage advice as attributes characteristic of the spirit of the Westling Award. Acknowledging that it would take a long time to list all of Professor von Hippel's many accomplishments and services to the university, President Bowditch highlighted a few. A world-renowned scholar of DNA protein interactions, Professor von Hippel assumed the directorship of the Institute of Molecular Biology in 1967. He chairing the Faculty Advisory Committee from 1979 to 1981, and for the past 25 years presidents and deans alike have called on Peter as an ad hoc advisor. Professor von Hippel also chaired the Riverfront Research Park Scientific Advisory Committee from 1986-1988, and, as described by colleagues was a magnificent head of the chemistry department for many years. They lauded him as a model for other department chairs, one who was respected by everyone for his fairness coupled with compassion. Although beyond the scope of the Westling Award criteria, President Bowditch commended Professor von Hippel for his scientific contributions and more than 200 publications.

University President Dave Frohnmayer added to the accolades, saying that it is a pleasure to honor Professor Hippel with this award for his years of commitment, dedication, and contribution to the university. President Frohnmayer noted he had the pleasure of knowing Wayne Westling personally and found his influence in the school of law to be profound, making it all the more important to look carefully for someone who meets the true spirit of the award. President Frohnmayer announced that this year's award recipient and subsequent recipients would be recognized at the pre-commencement brunch and at the commencement ceremonies, indicative that a person of great distinction is being saluted. He went on to say that Professor von Hippel has held many positions, not all with formal titles, and has served on all of the presidents' task forces since 1971. Professor von Hippel's interests are ecumenical; along with the Eugene Symphony and the Bach Festival, the president noted his personal connection with von Hippel's academic work advancing the field of molecular biology. After a standing ovation, Professor von Hippel accepted the award and commented about his surprise at being so honored. He thanked everyone for their many kind words and compliments, and acknowledged with appreciation, his colleagues at the university.

President Frohnmayer then asked to say a few more words before concluding the meeting. He singled out the leadership of senate president Greg McLauchlan during the past year. Noting that it has been a difficult year on many fronts, with challenges yet ahead, he commented that President McLauchlan's service as the senate leader and beyond the senate, distinguished the UO campus from any other. President Frohnmayer said that he meets with AAU presidents twice a year and none of their campuses have the sense of collegiality in power and shared ideas as the UO. Noting that the UO charter promotes the idea of shared governance between the university president and the professors, the president was proud of the concept of shared governance as expressed at the UO. The president lauded Greg's leadership in times of turmoil and thanked him both individually and collectively on behalf of the senate by presenting him with a token of appreciation. In response, Past President McLauchlan thanked the president, members of the senate, and other members of the administration for their support and assistance.

ADJOURNMENT

With elections and the award presentation concluded, newly confirmed Senate President Bowditch adjourned the meeting at 4:08 p.m., inviting all to remain for a reception welcoming the new members of the senate and honoring Westling Award recipient Peter von Hippel.

Gwen Steigelman Secretary