S I A Ï f » i h i s i U i t T Y L I The lAWRENTIAH. 8 11 a T A T t 9 T b \ * I Vol. 90, No. 14 Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin Friday, Feb. 5, 1971 I 57i Editorial The Lawrence community is a commonwealth com­ prised of faculty, administration and students. All factors must work together in order to obtain the common good for all. Taking into account the fact that the faculty con­ trols quite a bit of the power of decision making in regard to the academic life of the student, I cannot understand why Mr. Stowe “ . frankly does not understand why stu­ dents want the minutes from faculty meetings.” Most, not all, pertinent information is released in the Lawrentian, and there may be some information not print­ ed in the paper that would be pertinent to some students. It seems rather strange to me that the actual minutes of the faculty meetings would be released to only those authorized to attend the meetings, for they more than anyone else know what takes place at the meetings. It must also be noted that not only academic subjects are discussed at the faculty meetings. There is also much de­ liberation about committee reports; committees which are comprised of students and faculty. By suggesting that the statements made at faculty meetings would be “misinterpreted,” Mr. Stowe indicates a lack of intelligence in the Lawrence community; for if the statements were made clearly and not subject to as­ sumption or doubt, there would be little, if any chance of misinterpretation. Since faculty members are invited and encouraged to attend student meetings, I see no reason why students should not be invited to faculty meetings. This way there would be no reason for anything to be misinterpreted, mis­ understood or missed. If students are the primary subjects of discussion at faculty meetings I see no reason why the presence of stu­ dents at these meetings would inhibit the discussion. And, Mr. Stowe, don’t you think that since faculty meetings are so boring maybe student attendance would liven up the action a little? Trying to keep the students away from the faculty meetings is like trying to keep a plumber out of the bath­ room, or a baker out of the bakery. H o w would you feel if you were excluded from a meeting of the French De­ partment? — Debbie DuVemay “IGNORANCE IS BLISS!" Petition calis upon faculty by Jon Mook “ Hie present attitude cannot but minutes are distributed. lead one to suspect that the fac­ ‘‘Students therefore, always ulty does have the desire to with­ know what occurs at the faculty hold useful and necessary inform­meetings long before the minutes ation from the students.” stated come out,” Stowe added. LUCC president Walter North in The actual minutes of faculty in regard to faculty meetings,” mittee the “personal embarrass­ a recent memorandum to Presi­meetings, however, may not be also be hesitant to speak freely, Stowe declared. ment” of having to judge, and al­ dent Smith, regarding the faculty released to anyone except persons said Stowe, if there was a chance North in his memorandum to lows for the privacy of the stu­ policy of withholding the minutes authorized to attend the meetings. that their statements would be President Smith stated a number dent being evaluated. of their meetings. An exception was made only for released to the whole Lawrence of reasons why “ if not legally, Besides being exempted from As a result, North is initiatingthe minutes cf the special meet­ commun'ty a'nd subject to misin­ then morally, the faculty has the certain considerations, North said a petition to be signed by the stu­ ings devoted to the Povolny Re­ terpretation. Information that is obligation to open their delibera­ that “ the rights of the student dents that ‘‘the minutes of all port. released, therefore, includes only tions to the community ” members of the university com­ a general summary of the discus­ faculty meetings be made avail­ Th?se meetings are not releas­ “Faculty are allowed and en­ mittees are not at present equal sion. able to The Lawrentian. LUOC, ed, said Stowe, for three main couraged to attend all student of those of the faculty since, unlike Not generally distributing the and the general community.” reasons: to keep certain deliber­meetings ( . with the possible the faculty, they are not privy to minutes also preserves the person­ Two other petitions are also be­ations confidential until they have exception of Wilson House),” sand first consideration of their com­ al privacy of those who are invol­ ing circulated concerning students been acted upon; to insure priv­ North, although students are for­ mittee’s action.” ved in individual questions which on faculty committees. One is a acy for both the faculty who speak bidden to attend faculty meet­ By being able to attend faculty come before the faculty. Such as request that the duties of studentsand those who are spoken about; ings. meetings in an ex-officio position, the determination cf honor, waiv­ on university committees should and for the practical purposes of students would be present at all Since faculty meetings are large­ ers, and grade changes. be expanded to include the albility avoiding “ enormous waste” of deliberations on their committee’s ly concerned with committee re­ Even if the mrnutes were re­ to help interpret policy in indivi­ time, paper, and money. motions. North remarked that he ports, students by virtue being onleased, “ I don’t think most stu­ dual oases. The faculty did approve a pro­ was “ not implying that the faculty university committees are alsodents would read them,” remark­ The other would allow student posal in 1966 empowering the is not representing students views responsible for much of the ag­ ed Stowe. “ After reading one or representatives on UniversityPresident and V-P of Academic at their meetings,” but was just enda of the meetings. North add­ two sets no one would bother to commitees to be present in an ex­ Affaiirs to make available to the being “ logically consistent ” ed therefore, he “would surmiseread them anymore.” officio status at faculty meeings, President of LUCC, the editor of Stowe, however, disagreed with that in actuality there is now The other two petitions concern­ thus giving them the right to the Lawrentian and “ such ether North since he said that when little that could not be deemed ing university committees would speak but not to vote. Both of students as they deem appropriate students are present faculty mem­ appropriate for the student body also require changes in previous these petitions being signed by summaries of those faculty ac­ bers are placed in a more “ expo­ to know about.” faculty resoluiions. According to present committee members would tions that the President or Dean sed” position which inhibits dis­ a proposal passed last spring, apply to next year’s student repre­considers appropriate for the stu­Some discussion at faculty cussion. Students would also be “ students on university commit­ sentatives. All the petitions will dent body to know about.” (bold meetings, according to Stowe, liable to interpret remarks by a tees participate fully in all com­ be presented to President Smithfac? added.) should be kept confidential, in­ faculty member in a different cluding recommendation from the mittee business except the con­ and voted on by the faculty. This motion, said Stowe, “in no manner than would other faculty faculty to the trustees 'until the sideration of individual cases be­ “ I quite frankly don’t under­ way reflects a desire to withhold members. Because of these reas­ recommendations are acted upon), fore the committee on Administra­ stand why the students want the useful or necessary information ons, according to Stowe, “there announcements of student awards tion. admission and Foreign Study, minutes,” remark'd Richard S- from the students.” has always been quite a decisive or prizes, and discussion aboutand the academic evaluation ot Stowe, faculty secretary, ‘‘since In practice, information about vote opposed to the idea'’ of stu­ certain policy negotiations in pro­ students by the committee on they don’t give any information most deliberations may be ob­ dents observing faculty meetings. gress which should not be releas­Honors.” that is not already known.” All tained from the faculty secretary Furthermore, Stowe added, “ at ed until they have “ reached a This proposal, remarked Stowe, pertinent information, he said, isor any faculty member. There is, most of the faculty meetings, stu­ certain point.” spares the students on the com­ released to the Lawrentian which therefore, no communications gap dents would be bored to death.” Some faculty members would prints the information before thebetween the faculty and students W aring presents foreign studies proposals at faculty ‘non-m eeting’News Briefs bv Douglas Davidson many; one from the German de­ In an open '‘non-meeting” mod­ intended as one just for Germanpartment, and the other to teach Ripped- off records erated by Professor E. Grahamstudies, and, because enrollment courses “ relevant to the European Waring, chairman of the Commit­ W L F M declares that Monday, Feb. 8, is general am­ in the German department has situation.” In place of the third tee on Foreign Studies, the faculty dropped in the absence of a Lang­ nesty day for all “borrowed” station records. Return them faculty member, two seminars assembled Wednesday, February to the station or to the box in the stairwell and there will uage requirement. would be established dealing with 3, to “talk about what the com­ be no questions asked— and we will be eternally gratefu .