At a rare second meeting in one month, the University Senate passed two motions, heard the usual updates and witnessed a showdown of sorts between Student Sen. Nate Gulley and mathematics professor Peter Gilkey on Wednesday.
When Gulley announced he planned to call a motion to question, Gilkey thought Gulley had actually called it to question. A brief argument ensued when Gulley tried to comment after calling the motion to question, which is not permitted. After the two exchanged words, Gulley won out, made his comments and then called the motion to question.
The motion was one to “abolish” some standing University committees that are not currently staffed. The argument centered on whether the senate should attempt to find senators to staff the committees, rather than eliminate them for the present time. Gulley and psychology professor Bertram Malle led the opposition, but the motion passed 18-7.
Senate President Gordon Sayre updated the group on the formation of the ad-hoc committee charged with reviewing the questions and implementation of online course evaluations. The committee will begin work and report back to the senate in January.
The senate also passed a motion urging the University administration to work with the Oregon University System to look into restoring recently diminished benefits for Tier 3 employees – those hired in 2003 or later – to their previous level.
As the University prepares to open up shop at downtown Portland’s White Stag building in the spring, Provost Linda Brady made a presentation about the University’s presence in Portland. It will consist mainly of graduate programs.
“Our goal for Portland is to ensure that we engage a world class university with the needs of a global city,” Brady said, “that the University of Oregon presence in Portland will indeed be a catalyst for creativity.”
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