SENATE From the Senate Office
Senate
Executive Committee Actions
Wednesday,
November 19, 2003
1.
Chair's Report. Senate
Chair Lance Donaldson-Evans reported that he had, as agreed
upon by SEC last month, sent a letter
to the Daily
Pennsylvanian (published October
24) on behalf of SEC. The letter called for an in-depth
and impartial review of the events of October 11 involving
Rui DaSilva, and expressed support of Ann Farnsworth-Alvear
and Rui DaSilva's request that the police department's policy
regarding profiling and race-based stops be made public.
In response to this letter, President Judith Rodin has asked
that the Public Safety Advisory Board, chaired by Professor
Dennis Culhane, convene a subcommittee to consider these
issues. The subcommittee includes, along with several students
and administrators, five members of the faculty (Drs. Culhane,
Elijiah Anderson, William Baxt, Sean Kennedy, and David Mandell).
2.
Past Chair's Report on Academic Planning and Budget and Capital
Council. Past
Chair Mitchell Marcus reported that since the last SEC meeting
Capital Council had met once, though
he was unable to attend; and that the Academic Planning and
Budget Committee had met twice. The Trustees Budget
and Finance Committee had reviewed the financial status of
the Health System. Recent years have shown improving financial
conditions, although concerns remain (e.g., uncertainties
about future income from Medicare/Medicaid and Blue Cross/Blue
Shield).
3.
Campus Security Update from Maureen Rush, Vice President
for Public Safety. Vice
President Rush provided an overview of recent trends in security
on campus and in adjoining areas.
She reported a slight decrease in overall crime from 2001
to 2002, with a larger decrease from January to October 2003.
2003 YTD figures reveal an increase in some types of crimes
(notably, robberies and thefts from autos), and decreases
in others (e.g., aggravated assaults and other thefts). Meanwhile,
calls to Penn Public Safety have taken a large jump, as have
walking escorts provided free to callers of 8-WALK. Following
the presentation, SEC members discussed a number of topics
with the Vice President, including which aspects of Penn's
crime-prevention programs seem most effective and the work
to be undertaken by the newly formed subcommittee of the
Public Safety Advisory Board examining issues surrounding
events of October 11. Assurances were made that the subcommittee
would be given full access to information in carrying out
its study.
4.
Senate Committee on the Faculty Report on School of Medicine
proposal for Academic Clinicians. SEC
discussed a report of the Senate Committee on the Faculty
reviewing and recommending
approval of the SOM's request for a new Academic Clinician
(AC) track within the Associated Faculty. Joining SEC for
this discussion were Dr. Arthur Rubenstein, Dean of the School
of Medicine, and Dr. Alan Wasserstein, chair of the SOM Faculty
Track Review Committee, which had developed the proposal. Discussion
focused on of a number of aspects of the proposal, including
the proposed cap on AC at 20% of the standing faculty in
the SOM; likely numbers of tenure-track, Clinician-Educator,
and Academic Clinician faculty in the coming years; functional
impact upon Clinician Educators; possible impact on tenured
faculty in the School; conditions of employment for ACs,
and both short- and long-term effects envisioned on research,
teaching, and clinical care. Following discussion, SEC unanimously
voted its approval of the proposal.
5.
Election of Faculty Representatives to the Penn Social Responsibility
Advisory Committee. Elections
were held for faculty representatives to the Penn SRAC, which
is to advise the University Trustees
and make recommendations to the Trustee Proxy Voting Subcommittee
of the Executive Committee concerning decisions on proxy
voting. Professors Betsy Bailey (Wharton), Art Caplan
(Medicine), Helen Davies (Medicine), and Jerry Porter (SAS)
were elected to one-year terms.
6.
New Business. SEC
discussed the November 5, 2003 letter to the faculty from
James Riepe, Chairman of the Board of
Trustees and of the Consultative Committee for the Selection
of a President, providing an update on the presidential search
and outlining characteristics sought in a new president.
Discussion focused on whether the Consultative Committee's
outline, in not highlighting the need for a president who
would consult the faculty and pay close attention to its
concerns, adequately conveyed the importance placed by many
faculty on consultation. It was agreed that the Senate Chair
would send a letter to Chairman Riepe on behalf of SEC, underscoring
the importance of giving this factor due weight in considering
presidential candidates.