UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 12, Page 7                       
November 19, 1992                                      
Students, faculty discuss statement of principles      
                                                       
     At an open hearing on the creation of a philosophical statement
of ideals for the University community,  students and faculty debated
the composition of the writing committee and discussed the need for a
second public forum on the document before it is submitted to the 
University Faculty Senate.                                   
     Approximately 40 people attended the hearing, sponsored by the
senate's executive committee.                                
     Ken Lomax, president of the senate, announced that three writers
had been tentatively selected to produce by February a "statement of
principles to which we aspire."                              
     Lomax said the statement likely will include such key words as
"respect," "responsibility" and "tolerance" and would be in contrast
to "a code, rule or policy that sets the lower limits of behavior." He
said the opinions and comments from the hearing would be among the
ingredients that the committee will use to write the statement.
     Jason Halbert of the Student Environmental Action Committee
(SEAC) asked that the statement incorporate 10 "Valdez principles,"
which direct corporations to protect the environment. Many speakers,
however, were concerned about representation on the writing committee
and a need for "action" to support the ideals.               
     Chandra Reedy, art conservation, said perhaps the writing
committee could continue to exist and develop a plan of action.
     Pat Davis, Management Information Services, said the statement
should clearly apply to faculty, administration and staff, as well as
to students. Several of those  present urged backup of the proposed
statement by administrators and trustees, who could "set the tone" and
"act as examples."                                           
     David Smith, life and health sciences, told the audience that the
statement was not a replacement for a code of conduct. "It should 
appeal to our better natures," he said. "When we read it, we should
say, 'Yes, this is what I should do because it is the right thing to
do.'"                                                        
     Smith said that a trivial statement open to parody was worse than
no statement at all, and he urged a concise statement.       
     Russ Porter of Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress (DUSC)
said he thought students should be represented on the writing
committee, and he suggested that an additional open forum be held in
February on the actual statement, pushing back the senate presentation
to March.                                                    
     A discussion about the possible size and make-up of the writing
committee was followed by a suggestion from Bonnie Scott, English,
that groups represented send a statement of their thoughts to the 
committee, who are "good writers and good listeners."        
     Deploring the continuing discussion about enforcement, several
students suggested that the statement place the pursuit of education
"up front" and emphasize the rights of individuals. Other speakers
suggested that the document emphasize "listening," "respect" and "
individual responsibility."                                  
     Vice President for Student Life Stuart Sharkey, who introduced
the resolution before the senate, said he would endorse a    
representative advisory committee to the three writers.      
     Suggestions can be sent in care of the University Faculty Senate
office.