UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 10, Page 1
November 5, 1992
Faculty Senate to prepare statement of campus ideals

     The University Faculty Senate voted Monday to prepare a concise
statement of ideals for the University community.
     Tim Brooks, dean of students, spoke in favor of the resolution
introduced by Stuart Sharkey, vice president for student life, at last
month's meeting. Asserting that recent Supreme Court decisions have
"vacated our speech code of two years ago," Brooks said the
philosophical statement, dubbed the "Delaware Declaration," might
resemble one written by the University of South Carolina. The Carolina
Creed sets forth institutional ideals, including personal and academic
integrity, regard for individual dignity, respect for rights and
property, discouragement of bigotry and demonstrated concern for
others.
     The Delaware statement, which will be prepared by an ad hoc task
force, will be presented at the February senate meeting.
     Monday's meeting was dominated by twin issues of tolerance and
free expression. The senate executive committee offered a "sense of
the senate" resolution reaffirming the role of the University as a
"locus of free inquiry" and guardian against abuses of academic
freedom, First Amendment rights and the disruption of the environment
of collegiality. Margaret Andersen, vice provost for academic affairs,
offered three initiatives to "promote a free exchange of ideas" in a
more tolerant climate.
     The resolution, which will be voted upon at the next regular
meeting, referred to recent incidents of verbal abuse, assault and
intolerance. It states that the faculty through the Faculty Senate
"denounces the attitudes that generate enmity and discord and the lack
of judgment, self-control and understanding that condones aggressive,
intolerant and destructive behavior" and exhorts the University
community to "improve the climate of respect, tolerance and
intellectual richness by educating and learning about the sources and
forms of all kinds of bigotry and the ways in which intolerance and
ignorance limit and hurt us all."
     Speaking earlier, Vice Provost Andersen, referring to the recent
Leonard Jeffries visit, said the University must provide an open
exchange of ideas even though some ideas may be offensive to some
groups.
     "We must be sensitive to hurt and conflict while we allow
discussion," Andersen said, deploring the divisiveness and "either/or"
thinking that prevails on campus.
     Andersen said Jeffries appealed to African-American students who
haven't seen themselves reflected in the curriculum they are taught,
adding that many students didn't know the speaker's connections with
anti-Semitism and racism. An opportunity to think about education now
presents itself, she said, announcing three initiatives that the
provost's office hopes will "create a climate of tolerance" while
promoting a free exchange of ideas.
     Andersen proposed a panel discussion on anti-Semitism and racism
involving Delaware faculty, staff and students. The Delaware Dialog in
the spring, which is coordinated by the Honors Program, may continue
the discussion, she said. Finally, she will ask a faculty committee to
set up a new, one-credit course for next fall, open to students and
the public. Modeled on the "Research on Women" series, this course
would have as its theme freedom of expression.
     Provost R. Byron Pipes also spoke to the senate about the 1993-94
"basic" budget, which he indicated will be about $12 million more than
the previous year. Approximately $9 million of that amount is due to
increases in faculty salaries and benefits costs, he said. Under the
proposed budget, the library will receive a 5 percent increase and
financial aid will increase 7 percent. Utilities are expected to
increase 5 percent and departmental expenses will go up 3 per cent.
     Because the '93-'94 budget projects a shortfall of some $7.5
million, Pipes says the following actions have been proposed:
elimination of an enrollment contingency fund of $1.778 million;
postponement of a $1 million increase in deferred maintenance;
postponement of reinvestment of $1.5 million in endowment income; and
reductions totaling $4 million from administrative, general
institutional, college and provost office budgets and state special
line funds.
                                        -Cornelia Weil