Harassment code on Council slate

Part II of the Racial Harassment Policy is one of the issues that will be discussed today during University Council's first meeting of the academic year. While Council will not officially vote on whether to suspend the so-called "speech code," Interim President Claire Fagin said last night she will be listening carefully and taking notes. "Despite what many people think, I'm not moving on this issue tomorrow," she said. "I'm hoping by the end of October that I'll have a decision." Fagin said her tight schedule – which is loaded with meetings and conferences over the next week – makes it difficult for her to set an official deadline. She added, however, that she wants to leave enough time to meet with all groups on campus before taking action. So far, Fagin said, student groups generally have been against the elimination of Part II, while individual students – or students not affiliated with any specific constituency – have been in favor of abolishing the code. Part II – which forbids any "verbal or symbolic behavior?[that] insults or demeans a person?on the basis of his or her race, color, ethnicity, or national origin" – gained national notoriety following the highly-publicized case of student Eden Jacobowitz, who was charged under the code with racial harassment last January for calling five black female students "water buffalo." Another topic for discussion during tomorrow's meeting will be academic integrity, housing and the use of Locust Walk. Faculty Senate Chairperson Gerald Porter said last night that Council will choose which issues they will address during the year. "[It will be a] discussion for setting agenda for the year," Porter said. "[The issues] are up for grabs. The focus of Council activities will be on undergraduate issues."