Members of the University Senate were unable to reach a consensus about how to handle the hotly debated issue of Department of Defense research funding during Wednesday’s meeting.
Gina Psaki of the Romance Languages Department proposed a motion calling for several actions regarding University President Dave Frohnmayer’s role as representative of the University to the Association of American Universities, particularly his endorsement of the AAU’s lobbying of Congress for military research funding.
The motion, which will be further discussed and voted on at the body’s next meeting, prescribes that the Senate notify the president of the AAU that, in the absence of more discussion and a vote by the Senate, the University community does not necessarily support an increased DoD research budget.
The motion urges Frohnmayer to not sign AAU letters lobbying for DoD research funds unless the Senate approves support and to report to the Senate in writing on AAU lobbying activities regarding DoD-sponsored research. It also suggests that Frohnmayer “cease enlisting the support of the Oregon Congressional Delegation for the purpose of securing DoD funds for research unless and until the UO Senate proclaims its support for such lobbying.”
The actions come mostly in response to a May 2004 AAU letter signed by Frohnmayer and others on the AAU Executive Committee.
The motion sparked fervent debate among senators about the ability to measure the community’s opinion of military funding. That debate evolved into a discussion of the larger issue of supporting military research or “militarism.”
“I think there are a lot of us on this campus that don’t like the linkage between Department of Defense research and militarism,” biology professor Nathan Tublitz said.
Other Senate members raised concern that the motion could create a precedent that could lead to potential funding cuts in areas separate from the DoD.
“We have a lot to lose,” chemistry professor James Hutchison said. “In my view it really drives a wedge in our community of scholars.
“When I look at this, the question really is whether we want to discuss defense funding or whether we want to discuss militarism,” Hutchison said.
The meeting included an update on the sale of the Westmoreland Apartments complex. Vice President for Finance and Administration Frances Dyke discussed the progress of relocating tenants to other University housing, and said that no new purchase offers have been made. She said the University doesn’t expect to see any offers until closer to the May 8 deadline.
Senior Vice President and Provost John Moseley addressed the Oregon University System’s hopes to restructure the faculty benefits system, and said greater benefits could be achieved at a lower cost. Yet any significant moves by the OUS will take time, he said, because the issue must first be brought to the Oregon State Legislature.
Ron Severson, senior instructor of Business Communication and member of the Undergraduate Council, gave a brief presentation about grade inflation with the intent of “stimulating a conversation about this, especially within the departments.”
Severson said University students’ GPAs have risen by 5.1 percent from 1992 to 2004, enough of an increase to “warrant some concern.”
He suggested creating guidelines for distributing high grades within departments, or creating a standard for what each grade means.
Discussion about the Student Conduct Code was pushed to the May 10 meeting.
The Senate passed a motion allowing Emeritus faculty to propose legislation and a right to hold the floor during Senate meetings.
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