PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 21, No. 6, Sept. 20, 2001

Senate passes resolutions on flier distribution, lecture note sales and parental notification

By Sharita Forrest, Assistant Editor
(217) 244-1072; slforres@illinois.edu

At its first meeting chaired by new Chancellor Nancy Cantor, the Urbana-Champaign Senate passed resolutions regarding the distribution of leaflets and similar materials as well as the sale of lecture notes and parental notification when students fail to complete mandatory drug and alcohol assessments. They met in Foellinger Auditorium Sept. 17.

The Senate supported a proposal by Allan H. Levy, professor in medical information science, amending the current rule regarding distribution of handouts inside university buildings. Under the new provision, the office responsible for facility management can specify areas inside campus buildings where materials cannot be distributed because of safety, privacy or other concerns.

Speaking in support of Levy’s proposal, Stephen Kaufman, professor of cell and structural biology, said that he believed the existing rule invoked pre-clearance, allowing university administration to regulate the content of materials and restrict the flow of information.

"Without free flow of information, we should close the doors to the University of Illinois," Kaufman said.

Nicholas C. Burbules, chair of the Conference on Conduct Governance, responded that the present rule neither regulates content of materials nor requires pre-authorization; it only governs access to campus buildings.

An initial voice vote on the proposed amendment was indistinguishable, so Cantor called for a second vote by a show of hands. The Senate passed the proposed amendment by a vote of 72-33.

The Senate also unanimously passed a resolution allowing parental notification when a student fails to complete a mandatory drug and alcohol assessment upon being taken to the hospital.

The Senate also passed a proposal making the sale of lecture notes or handouts to commercial note-taking services without the instructor’s permission a form of academic misconduct. After discussion, Senate members agreed to amend the proposal to include the stipulation that instructors must notify students in writing if they do not want lecture notes or other materials disseminated to commercial services.

In other business, the Senate also passed a proposal creating a minor in technical systems management in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences effective this semester.

In introducing the new chancellor to the Senate, university President James J. Stukel commended Cantor for the sensitivity she displayed in handling campus events related to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon the previous week.

"How could anyone not be impressed?" Stukel said of Cantor’s handling of the week’s events.

The Senate meeting was followed immediately by the annual meeting of the faculty. In his remarks, Stukel referred to the many changes the university has undergone during the past year, including many new leaders and the largest tuition increase in its history. Cantor also addressed the group and emphasized that the success of the university will depend upon the fostering of a sense of unity and common goals among the various disciplines.