An Antiquated Faculty Code?
Excuse me while I blow the dust off of dear Whitman's Faculty Code.
Gesundheit.
Now that the actual text of the code has been exposed, it's easy to see that it's badly in need of a general update. What's that the code implicitly says? It's OK for campus organizations to discriminate against sexual orientation and still remain recognized by the college? Special weight is to be given to members of Greek organizations on the hugely important Student Life Committee?
Well, I can understand why the Faculty Code would mandate that at least 1/3 of the members of the Student Life Committee should be Greek members: about 33% of the student body belongs to a fraternity or sorority. If these numbers change, then it's a discussion to be had at that time to modify representation issues.
But how many on our campus would describe themselves as 'non-heterosexual'? Certainly enough to warrant protection for this minority from discriminating clubs and organizations. The Faculty Code makes an effort to end organizational discrimination based on national origin, race and religion, but why stop there? In all fairness, the Faculty Code should extend to the bounds set by the more inclusive Bill of Rights in the ASWC Constitution, which includes all four demographics mentioned above plus veterans status, marital status, socioeconomic status, HIV/AIDS status, sex or gender identity, ethnicity, age, and disability status.
So let's all urge those with a seat on the Student Life Committee, Faculty Policy Committee and the ASWC Senate to speak up to the Faculty and Administration about this serious gap in anti-discrimination policy between our student government and our school rules for organizations. There's absolutely no compelling reason why the college should recognize those groups that students have deemed intolerably discriminatory. Either way, student funds are used to supplement the budgets of groups.
Achoo?
Gesundheit.
Now that the actual text of the code has been exposed, it's easy to see that it's badly in need of a general update. What's that the code implicitly says? It's OK for campus organizations to discriminate against sexual orientation and still remain recognized by the college? Special weight is to be given to members of Greek organizations on the hugely important Student Life Committee?
Well, I can understand why the Faculty Code would mandate that at least 1/3 of the members of the Student Life Committee should be Greek members: about 33% of the student body belongs to a fraternity or sorority. If these numbers change, then it's a discussion to be had at that time to modify representation issues.
But how many on our campus would describe themselves as 'non-heterosexual'? Certainly enough to warrant protection for this minority from discriminating clubs and organizations. The Faculty Code makes an effort to end organizational discrimination based on national origin, race and religion, but why stop there? In all fairness, the Faculty Code should extend to the bounds set by the more inclusive Bill of Rights in the ASWC Constitution, which includes all four demographics mentioned above plus veterans status, marital status, socioeconomic status, HIV/AIDS status, sex or gender identity, ethnicity, age, and disability status.
So let's all urge those with a seat on the Student Life Committee, Faculty Policy Committee and the ASWC Senate to speak up to the Faculty and Administration about this serious gap in anti-discrimination policy between our student government and our school rules for organizations. There's absolutely no compelling reason why the college should recognize those groups that students have deemed intolerably discriminatory. Either way, student funds are used to supplement the budgets of groups.
Achoo?
posted by tom at
2:25 PM
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