DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
.
?
Minutes of a meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on
Monday, February 5, 2001 at 5:30 pm in Room 3210 WMC
Open Session
Present: ?
Stevenson, Michael, Chair and President
Absent:
?
England, William
Andrews, Ian (representing R. Barrow)
Gerson, Carole
Atkins, Stella
Hill, Ross
Bawa, Parveen
Jones, John
Budra, Paul
Livadiotakis, Georgia
Chan, Albert
McArthur, James
Clayman, Bruce
McInnes, Dina
Cooper,
D, Auria,
Kait
John
-
,- ?
,
j
Naef, Barbara
Ogloff, James
Davidson, Willie
Paterson, David
Deigrande, James
Peters, Joseph
Dill, Larry
Sanghera, Balwant
Driver, Jon
Smith, Michael
Dunsterville, Valerie
Warsh, Michael
Finley, David
Wessel, Sylvia
Giffen, Ken
Wong, Milton
Gill, Alison
Grimmett, Peter
Gupte, Jaideep
Hold, Angela
Jackson, Margaret
•
Klymson, Sarah
LaRocque, Linda
Love, Ernie
Marteniuk, Ron
Mauser, Gary
McFetridge, Paul
Miralles-Sanchez, Veronika
Osborne, Judith
Percival, Paul
Pierce, John
Runyowa, Mac
Russell, Robert
Steinbach, Christopher
Stewart, Ryan
Waterhouse, John
Weldon, Larry
Wortis, Michael
Yau, David
Yerbury, Cohn
Zaichkowsky, Judith
Zazkis, Rina
Heath, Ron, Dean of Student Services and Registrar
• ?
Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat
Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary
S.M. 5 February 2001
Page 2
Approval of the Agenda
The Agenda was approved as distributed.
?
10
2.
Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of January 8, 2001
The Minutes were approved as distributed.
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
Senate was advised that the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules had
appointed Geoffrey Rosen as the undergraduate student on the Ad hoc Senate
Committee to Review and Develop the Undergraduate Curricula.
4.
Report of the Chair
i)
?
Paper S.01-12 - Response to Senator Finley's Questions
a)
Question 1
As a follow-up to the preliminary response summarized in the minutes of the
last meeting, and following consultation with SCAR, the Chair reiterated his
position that questions having to do with employment histories or other privacy
protected matters were not appropriate issues for Senate. Nevertheless, in order
to avoid possible concerns that these issues were being avoided on procedural
technicalities, the Chair indicated that he wished to elaborate on his previous
remarks. With respect to question 1(a) concerning mechanisms available to
faculty and staff who wish to bring grievances against administrators, the Chair
reiterated that the matter was covered by grievance and dispute procedures in
negotiated agreements with employee groups. With respect to question 1(b)
concerning the accountability of administrators, the Chair noted that there was
no requirement to respond to allegations by themselves except through normal
mechanisms which have been approved to investigate such complaints. He
further noted that administrators were not accountable to the public or to
possible victims of allegations. They were accountable to their immediate
supervisors and ultimately to the Board of Governors. If on investigation an
administrator was found to have acted inappropriately, the Board or their
immediate supervisor would take appropriate action if required.
b)
Question 2
With respect to question 2 which concerned issues about the Donnelly case, the
Chair advised that he was unable to answer the questions in full because they
involved privacy protected matters. However, as a general comment, the Chair
expressed his view that this was a tragic episode in the history of the university
and had resulted in a very detailed investigation and complicated legal
resolution. The case had exposed defects in the harassment procedure and as a
result the harassment policy had been revised. A mandated review of the new
policy following three years of operation would be initiated this Spring. The
Chair stressed that there had been a great deal of public information but that
details of private, personal matters and the legal agreements that settled the case
must remain private. He concluded by stating that he considered the matter
closed as he hoped Senate and the wider university community would consider
S.M. 5 February 2001
Page 3
• ?
it closed, and that the University should move on from this unfortunate incident
of the past.
5.
Question Period
A question relating to costs associated with an arbitrated dispute between the
Student Society and the University over maintenance costs on the rental
agreement for the Maggie Benston Centre had been received. The Chair reported
that the University's cost with respect to the arbitration process was
approximately $20,000 and the total cost in previous years as the dispute
developed would not have exceeded $5,000. In response to an inquiry as to
whether the issue was finalized, the Chair noted that the University believed that
the determination by the arbitrator was final and binding on both parties but it
was his understanding that the Student Society had served notice of its intent to
appeal the arbitrator's decision to the British Columbia Supreme Court so the
University would be required to answer to that process.
A question relating to the five year capital plan and the robotic book storage
system for the library was received from A. Chan. The University Librarian
provided background information with respect to plans for library expansion
and indicated that this issue had received detailed investigation over the past
several years. While the preference would be to expand by building
conventional library space which would allow users to browse shelves, the most
feasible option at this time was still the robotic storage facility.
The Chair suggested A. Chan consider whether all the matters had been covered
in response to the questions he had submitted, and indicated that additional
response would be provided if necessary.
6.
Reports of Committees
A) ?
Senate Nominating Committee
i)
?
Paper S.01-13 - Elections to Senate Committees
The following are the results of elections to Senate committees. There were
insufficient nominations to fill all positions; vacancies will be carried over and
brought forward to the next meeting of Senate.
Senate Committee on Continuing Studies (SCCS)
One Student Senator for term of office to May 31, 2002.
No nominations received
Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals (SCODA)
One Student Alternate (at-large) for term of office to May 31, 2001.
No nominations received
Senate Committee on University Honours (SCUH)
.
?
One Senator (at-large) for term of office to May 31, 2001.
Elected by acclamation:
?
Albert Chan
S.M. 5 February 2001
Page 4
7.
Other Business
There was no other business.
8.
Information
The next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday, March 5, 2001.
Open Session adjourned at 5:55 pm. Following a brief recess, Senate moved into Closed
Session.
Alison Watt
Director, University Secretariat
L
0