The Faculty Senate Executive Committee will begin its annual discussion about whether faculty should remain on University Council at its monthly meeting Wednesday. In accordance with a two-year old mandate, formal discussion begins this week, but Louise Shoemaker, Faculty Senate chairperson, said "I doubt there will be any definite action." According to the minutes from a SEC meeting last March, the committee "shall monitor the progress of the implementation of the revised Council Bylaws," which instituted a moderator to direct Council discussions. SEC Chairperson-elect David Hildebrand said the action will consider the "procedures and approaches the Council takes." "I'm hearing quite a bit more dissatisfaction with the politicization in Council. The words 'grandstand play' keep coming up," he said. "Its structure may encourage reasonable people to do unreasonable things." The proposal was first introduced by SEC member Anthony Tomazinis "because the University Council behaves like a circus or a zoo." "It is not a place where serious University matters are dicussed, [but rather it acts as a forum for] personal acts of one sort or another," he said yesterday. "[The Council] is evolving into a nothing. Some improvements must be introduced." Faculty attendance at Council meetings is down, Hildebrand said. "Faculty seem to be voting with their feet," said Hildebrand. "[There is] at least some strong opinion that faculty should not continue in Council." In accordance with the adopted motion, SEC must vote on the measure after March but before the academic year's end. "I don't want to prejudge [the outcome of SEC discussions,]" Shoemaker said. The vote is going to be as unpredictable as flipping a coin, Hildebrand said. "I wouldn't be surprised either way," he added.
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