The Commission Report

A look at the recommendations which could reshape the culture and policies of the University and BETH TRITTER For the members of the Commission on Strengthening the Community, drafting their report is only half the battle. The long process of implementing the Commission's 50-page report begins today, as the document is unveiled for the entire University community to see and critique. The Commission, according to Chairperson Gloria Twine Chisum, will hold two open forums to solicit feedback on the recommendations presented in the report. A final draft of the plan will be presented in March, after suggestions gleaned from the forums are considered. Recommendations of the Commission which are "non-controversial" will begin to be implemented immediately, said Chisum, who is also vice chairperson of the University Board of Trustees. "The two issues I would see as most controversial are areas dealing with housing and with curriculum issues and faculty," Interim President Claire Fagin said yesterday. The implementation of issues such as these will undoubtedly be delayed to allow for "fine tuning," Fagin added. Linda Hyatt, executive director of the president's office, along with a Trustee's overseers' committee, will be in charge of supervising the implementation. Specific portions of the report will be relegated to pertinent University committees, who will continue the implementation process, Fagin and Chisum explained. "I'm very excited about the prospect of working to implement Commission findings as a full-time member of the University community," said Hyatt, who lives and works on campus. Although she is not exactly sure what her role will entail, Hyatt said she has already begun discussing possibilities with Fagin. Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson said he is optimistic that, for the most part, the Commission's recommendations will be implemented. "I think many of the things we can implement and all of the things in that report are worth talking about and coming to some decisions about," Lazerson said.