Advertising policy sparks debate
Joshua Bourgeois
The Faculty Senate convened for the first time this academic year Tuesday night in the Center for Continuing Education discussing such topics as the University's ban on advertisements from Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College [GALA] in The Observer and past resolutions concerning the Woman's Resource Center.
Faculty Senate chair Professor Jean Porter stated in her chairperson's report that "she received a letter from Dr. John Blanford, chair of GALA, requesting the Senate to investigate the recently announced policy banning The Observer from accepting advertising from GALA."
Porter then cited further letters she received regarding the GALA issue from both Blanford and assistant to the President Chandra Johnson. With regard to the controversy, Porter approved of an investigation into the issue by the Committee on Student Affairs.
"After consulting with the Executive Committee, I have concluded that this policy does have many ramifications for the Notre Dame community as a whole, and I am accordingly asking the Committee on Student Affairs to investigate it, and to report back to the Faculty Senate at the earliest opportunity," Porter said.
During the committee report session, assistant dean Ava Preacher, chair of Committee on Student Affairs, discussed the committee's initial methods in investigating the situation.
"Our [the Committee on Student Affairs'] first approach is to look at the policies from other Catholic institutions, and then at Notre Dame's advertisement policies. We would like to have a resolution or conclusion by next month's meeting," Preacher said.
In her chairperson's report, Porter updated the Faculty Senate on the three resolutions passed by the Faculty Senate in the March 1999 meeting. She indicated that the resolutions have either been dismissed or referred to the Campus Life Council by the Academic Council.
Porter then stated that currently the Women's Resource Center is not under probation, but they are prohibited in providing any information on abortion.
During the meeting, the Faculty Senate passed four resolutions that were proposed by the Executive Committee.
One of the resolutions passed resolved that "the Faculty Senate sponsor the Notre Dame Forum on Academic Life for the academic year 1999-2000." The Notre Dame Forum began in the fall of 1994 and allows the Notre Dame community to discuss matters concerning the academic life of the University in an open forum.
The Faculty Senate also passed on a resolution that would "conduct a survey of faculty opinion during the 1999-2000 academic year on the performance of the current provost." Many members of the Faculty Senate stated that this resolution was necessary because Provost Nathan Hatch will be subject to formal review during the 2000-2001 academic year.
Two resolutions passed dealt with amending both the Statutes of the University and the Bylaws of the University. One resolution wanted to add to the statutes the statement, "The minutes of all meetings of the Fellows shall be published in a timely manner in the Notre Dame Report." The second resolution amends the Bylaws of the University. It states, "The minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees, including the meetings constituted only by voting members, shall be published in a timely manner in the Notre Dame Report."
All News Stories for Wednesday, September 8, 1999
