Faculty Senate chews over particulars

"I wish we could just go over the issues, discuss the ideas and then get some work done," Associated Students President Gilbert Davidson said after the two-hour meeting.

"We went over issues discussed in detail in other meetings - we should not have to discuss every minute detail," he added.

Davidson, who said the two-hour meeting could have been shortened, added the senators should have welcomed Likins by discussing larger issues rather than arguing the particulars.

Senators spent about an hour considering particulars within the Teaching Incentive Program, a salary-increase plan for University of Arizona employees, and debating the necessity of two- and three-word phrase changes to the UA's Sexual Harassment Policy.

Within the last ten minutes, however, the Senate pushed through an endorsement of a federal proposal designed to combat copyright laws that potentially restrict the university's access to some Internet information.

Faculty senators, restless in their seats, agreed to endorse the National Humanities Alliance Basic Principles for Managing Intellectual Property in the Digital Environment.

Library Dean Carla Stoffle said these principles support a balance between those who own information that circulates on the Internet and those who learn from it, by ensuring the free or close-to-free exchange of information.

She said the library would not be able to afford some electronic resources if an opposing copyright proposal backed by President Clinton's administration is approved.

The Senate tabled three related proposals for later discussion.

During the meeting, Provost Paul Sypherd also explained the ins and outs of the Teaching Incentive Program, on which the Senate has waffled in the past.

Sypherd answered questions from skeptical senators, leary about how the program applies to instructors on sabbatical, who would not benefit from the $4 million statewide incentive program.

Others asked him about the fairness of a flat 2 percent increase for faculty regardless of their base salaries.

"I echo him (Sypherd)," said Senate Chair Jerry Hogle, who said measures should be taken to eliminate the program in future years. "I hate TIP."

In 1997, the Legislature gave Arizona's state universities about $4 million to be distributed among assistant, associate and full professors who teach more than six credit hours in the fall semester.

The UA also has appropriated a $1 million pool to be distributed, based upon merit, to faculty not qualifying under the minimum-credit-hour rule.

In other business, senators told Janie Nuöez of the Affirmative Action Office that some items in the newly-revised UA Sexual Harassment Policy were too vague.

Sen. Eugene Levy, College of Science dean, said he thought the phrase "... who learns of or suspects a possible violation ... " on page one of the six-page document, was not specific enough.

Associate Vice President Nuöez said she hopes the revised document, which began to change in 1993 to improve its clarity in accordance with legislative standards, will be solidified at the Senate's November meeting.