By
Ryan Gabrielson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Fac senators debate about debate goes in circles
The charges against fired UA researcher Marguerite Kay will not be diverted away from the Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure, and will likely go before a third internal committee in January.
During a debate - which spawned a separate debate concerning whether to end debate on the issue - at yesterday's Faculty Senate meeting, a super-majority of the senators voted to terminate the proposal.
"Further deliberation on this topic is not really called for," said Sen. Don Davis, a hydrology and water resources professor, shortly after discussion of the proposal had begun.
Davis argued that since the Senate had already devoted a considerable amount of time to the issue during past meetings, discussion on the proposal was not necessary.
Sen. Marlys Witte, a surgery professor, immediately spoke out against Davis' proposal, arguing that it was a "hostile" motion - or, an attempt to restrict free debate.
"We are, in good faith, attempting to debate," she said.
Arguing against Davis' motion were Witte, Sen. Roy Spece, a law professor, and Sen. Peter Medine, an English professor.
"This is a most unfortunate part of our university's history," Medine said.
Spece said that he was surprised that members of the Senate would move to end discussion of the issue.
"I simply cannot believe what I am seeing," Spece said.
During the discussion concerning Davis' motion, much confusion arose, and arguing began.
"This is disgusting," Spece said about other senators' attempts to move Davis' proposal to a vote.
Other senators argued that the Faculty Senate was not the proper forum for these concerns to be heard.
"CAFT is the place where this case belongs," said Sen. Jerrold Hogle, faculty chair and an English professor.
As the discussion continued, a vote to end debate about whether to end debate concerning the original proposal to move the charges against Kay became necessary.
"The debate about stopping debate can be debated," said Sen. Jory Hancock, a dance professor, as he moderated the proceedings.
The Senate unanimously voted to end debate on the debate and then moved on to Davis' motion.
That motion required a super-majority, or two-thirds of the Senate, to pass. By a show of hands, 25 senators voted in favor of the motion and 11 against, with two abstaining.
With no further debate allowed, the Senate went immediately to a vote concerning the proposal to divert the charges against Kay. Witte requested that senators vote by secret ballot, and she was granted her request.
By a vote of 26 against the proposal, 11 in favor and three abstaining, the measure failed.
If the proposal had passed, it would have sent the charges to the University Committee on Ethics and Commitment, where their validity would have been examined.
"This case has had a very troubled history," Medine said.
Immediately following the announcement of the secret ballot vote results, the Faculty Senate adjourned. All other agenda items were tabled.
Ryan Gabrielson can be reaches at Ryan.Gabrielson@wildcat.arizona.edu.
