REGULAR MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE
OCTOBER 7, 1996
MINUTES
Senators excused were: Gina Bryant, Pamela Cummings, Jack Gallagher,
Larry Kalkstein, Edward Kerner, Francis Kwansa,
Tommy Richardson, Carolyn Thoroughgood
Senators absent were: Joseph Glutting, Shawn Phillips
I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was adopted as submitted.
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of the September 9, 1996 meeting were approved as
distributed.
III. REMARKS BY PROVOST SCHIAVELLI
The Provost had no remarks.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Palley announced two open hearings to discuss the
reorganization and merger of the Colleges of Physical Education,
Athletics and Recreation, and Nursing; and the reorganization and
merger of the Colleges of Education, Human Resources, and Urban
Affairs and Public Policy.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Recommendation from the Committee on Student Life (R.
Bennett, Chairperson '95-96) to rescind the implementation
of the no pledging policy. This item was originally
introduced at the September 9, 1996 Faculty Senate meeting
but deferred for the purpose of giving Senators additional
time to review the "University of Delaware Greek System FIVE
STAR Chapter Evaluation."
Senator W. Marshall claimed a lack of adequate consultation
with the Black student groups. After considerable
discussion, a request was made that the original resolution
pertaining to pledging, adopted by the Faculty Senate in May
1992 be read. Since the Committee on Student Life had not
endorsed the proposed evaluation system, and after Senator
J. Olson had reminded the Faculty Senate of its powers on
matters governing student life, Secretary F. Dilley proposed
to amend the recommendation by deleting the two AWhereas@
clauses which made specific reference to that evaluation
system, and to shorten the text of the "Resolved" section so
that it would end after the words "1998-1999." The
amendment was seconded by Senator J. Hildebrandt, and failed
by a vote of 27 to 25.
The original resolution, listed below, was adopted by a
vote of 49 to 6.
WHEREAS, the University of Delaware Faculty
Senate in May 1992 passed a resolution
eliminating the Greek Pledging Process
by 1997-1998, and
WHEREAS, the University of Delaware Faculty
Senate in May 1992 called for a new
Greek Task Force for the academic year
of 1997-1998 to re-evaluate the status
of Greek life, and
WHEREAS, the Office of Student Life has developed
a Greek Organization Accreditation
Process, effective in the academic year
1996-1997, and
WHEREAS, this Greek Organization Accreditation
Process will be a thorough review and
evaluation of each Greek organization in
the areas of academic progress,
financial management,
university/community/relations and
service, campus involvement, and
membership intake, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the imposition of the Ano pledging@
resolution be postponed until 1998-1999
to allow the University to evaluate the
progress made through the Accreditation
Process.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Senator A. McNeil introduced the following resolution:
WHEREAS, a student's first-semester is the most
critical period in the transition to
college life, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that, beginning 1997-1998, only a
fraternity or sorority with a current
Five-Star rating in the Greek
Organization Accreditation Process, as
approved by the Faculty Senate, be
permitted to rush first-semester
students.
President Palley indicated that the resolution would be
forwarded to the appropriate Faculty Senate committee.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
at 5:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Dilley
Secretary
University Faculty Senate
FD/rg