Senate Minutes


April 9, 2007

I.  Approval of tentative agenda – approved

II.  Approval of Minutes from March 5, 2007 – approved

III.  Provost’s Report (R. McGrath)

  • Search for College of Business Dean is underway.  To date, twenty-four candidates are under consideration
  • Empire Innovation Program:  Stony Brook received $1.4 million towards attracting star faculty
  • Honors College Directorship:  Thanks to Dr. Daniel Davis for outstanding service as Director of the Honors College.  Nominations invited for a successor
  • Turkana Basin Institute has been established at Stony Brook dedicated to research and education in paleontology, archeology and geology in the Turkana Basin of East Africa
  • SUNY Nanjing University:  In March Stony Brook hosted a delegation from Nanjing University to finalize plans for a pilot project offering a dual bachelor degree program between the two institutions. 
  • Proposal submitted to Senate President and Capra on renaming Marines Sciences Research Center to the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.  This is strictly a name change only.

IV.  President’s Report (S. Kenny and D. Melucci)

  • 07/08 Base budget was preserved with no cuts
  • SUNY system received $10 million in additional operating support (for enrollment growth, full-time faculty, expansion opportunity and high need programs) of which Stony Brook received $1 million
  • $2 ½ - 3 million in additional state budget that is supported by our own tuition as a result of enrollment growth
  • Utilities – sizable increase in funding that resolved a serious and long-standing deficit
  • There will be 50 additional lines from the budget
  • Graduate Student stipends need to be addressed in terms of cost of living increase on Long Island
  • Dr. Srivastav inquired about the budget for Southampton.  D. Melucci stated that both Stony Brook and Southampton are included in one budget.  It is important not to drain resources from Stony Brook but also important not to totally segregate the two campuses

 

V.  Proposal on Smoking Ban (W. Dethlefs)

  • Campus Environment Committee approved and recommended this proposal in April 2006  
  • Asked to present this proposal (strictly informational only) to the University Senate in May 2006
  • The subcommittee was asked to modify the paragraph in italics (1) to address adding a component recognizing that smoking cessation would be available; (2) to draft a campus policy statement; and (3) to develop an intense media campaign
  • Subcommittee has 27 members including 12 students and 3 representatives from the community
  • A 20-page report was extensively emailed since the May 2006 meeting

Bill Dethlefs introduced Louis Esparza, Graduate Student Organization board member:

  • In September 2006 the GSO board introduced a resolution to the GSO Senate on the opposition of the smoking ban.  The resolution passed unopposed 20-0-3.  The same resolution was passed by the Undergraduate Student Organization  Senate by a wide majority, 14-2-0
  • Minority Report was developed in March 2007
  • Students (through talks with GSO and USG) have said (very strongly) that they are not in favor of a total smoking ban on campus.  This would cause undue hardship for students
  • GSO and the Smoking subcommittee do agree that smoking has adverse affects on health
  • A few people in the audience voiced their concern that the current policy (distance you can smoke in front of a building) is not being enforced

Floor was turned over to Essie Thompson from Student Health Services:

  • A petition was sent out to students asking for support of a smoking ban.  Received approximately 700 responses.  Fifty students did not support the ban
  • Many students have medical problems which make it difficult for them to be around students that smoke especially when they congregate outside of buildings
  • Students who do not smoke complained about sitting next to someone who just smoked and feeling ill from the smell
  • Student Health Services giving out free nicotine patches for those who want to quit.  They also offer education on the bad health effects of smoking

Bill Dethlefs opened the floor for questions/discussion.  The students are the largest constituency on campus and their input is crucial to this discussion both pro and against.

Points of discussion:

  • Are there any studies that are exclusive to the effects of second hand smoke when you are standing outside.  An Article from the Center for Disease Control states there is no minimum safe level of intake of second hand smoke
  • The Veterans Home received an exemption from the smoking ban since it is a permanent residence for some patients
  • There are other parts of the world that may not agree with a smoking ban.  The University hosts many foreign visitors and students who do smoke
  • We should create a culture over time to limit smoking
  • There is a total smoking ban in the Residence Halls on Campus as of July 07
  • BNL no smoking for 4 years
  • Many feel that is not enforceable.  It’s like trying to ban SUV’s
  • More than 40 Universities Colleges and campuses have already gone smoke-free with larger acreage than Stony Brook

Bill Dethlefs made an amendment to the final report of the smoking Ban committee to read:  Effective Fall 2007 (not 2006).  Voting sheet was passed to senators for their vote either for the smoking ban or against. 

16 for smoking ban, 17 against smoking ban and 2 abstentions.

VI.  Use of Library Space (C. Filstrup)

  • Moving print off campus
  • Library building is in good physical shape
  • Student use of the Library is booming
  • World Wide Web has had an enormous impact on academic libraries primarily in the kinds of resources used
  • We are rethinking Stacks space – moving materials that are used less often to a professional storage facility which has all the facilities for scanning, sending digital text, faxing so you can get materials back very quickly.  Facility is located in Dutchess County.  Materials are moved around by Federal Express
  • Developing policies which will try to place print material according to their use
  • Sending materials which have an electronic version (most journals)
  • Moving significant amounts of materials from the Stacks to open up more space for student reading room
  • Invested heavily on electronic resources.  Reading room is open until 2 a.m.
  • Policies are on the library Website

VII.  Senate President’s Report (B. Lane)

  • Nominations for Elections.  Please check Senate website for positions.
  • Committee briefs will be on the new Senate website

Meeting Ajourned at 5:15

Submitted by Laurie Theobalt
Secretary
University Senate