MINUTES ORGANIZATIONAL Meeting of the Villanova University Senate for
Academic Year 2005-2006 in the East Lounge of Dougherty Hall on Friday, MAY 6,
2005 at 3:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Professor Michael Mulroney, Parliamentarian;
Mr. Jonathan T. Ambrose; Ms. Renna Antonio; Dr. Debra Arvanites; Mr. Robert J.
Capone ‘62; Dr. Sohail C. Chaudhry; Mr. Richard F. Cullen; Mr. Ashish Desai; Dr.
M. Louise Fitzpatrick; Mr. Jason M. Ferreira; Ms. Kerry V. Halleran; Fr. Richard
M. Jacobs, OSA; Dr. Helen K. Lafferty; Dr. Susan Mackey-Kallis; Fr. William
McGuire, OSA; Dr. Emmet McLaughlin; Ms. Dorothy A. Malloy Esq.; Mr. Christopher
J. Meehan; Mr. Brian M. Murray; Mrs. Mary C. Quilter; Mr. Patrick M. Sheldrake;
Fr. John P. Stack, OSA; Dr. Robert Styer; Mr. John Sylvia; Ms. Eileen
Thomasmeyer; Mr. Gavin W. Tully; Dr. Joyce S. Willens; Mrs. Selma Koury
Wunderlich (non-voting, representing the Alumni Association President);
Mrs. Carolyn C. Lea, Recording Secretary.
ABSENT: (Notified In Advance Unable to Attend); Mr. John M. Elizandro; Fr. Kail
C. Ellis, OSA (NIA); Fr. John J. Farrell(NIA); Dr. John R. Johannes (NIA); Dr.
Barry C. Johnson (NIA); Dr. Frank I. Klassner; Dr. Gerald M. Long (NIA); Dr.
Edward J. Mathis; Mrs. Sandra Toslosky Patterer ’93; Dr. Carmen Peraita (NIA);
Dr. James Peyton-Jones; Mark A. Sargent, Esq.; Ms. Dana Vellios; Dr. Barbara
Wall; Dr. Anthony Zygmont (NIA).
________________________________________________________________________
AGENDA:
Invocation - Senator Helen Lafferty
I TRADITIONAL TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON - Senator Jonathan Ambrose, SGA President -
INTRODUCTION OF NEW STUDENT SENATORS
II ELECTION OF A CHAIRPERSON FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-2006
III ELECTION OF AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-2006
IV ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE FOR THE ACADEMIC
YEAR 2005-2006
A. TWO ADMINISTRATORS
B. TWO FACULTY MEMBERS
C. TWO STUDENT MEMBERS
V CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES OF APRIL 15, 2005
VI LISTING OF APPROVED MEETING DATES at 3:30 P.M. FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-06 in
BARTLEY 1010
2005 2006
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 FRIDAY, FEB. 3 OR 10 - BUDGET
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 FRIDAY, MARCH 17
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 OR DEC. 2 FRIDAY, APRIL 21
(Depending on President's Schedule)
VII SHALL US 7879-2-4 AGAIN BE ADOPTED AS AN OPERATING RULE FOR THE COMING YEAR?
"THAT new Agenda items may not be introduced in the Senate after 6:00 P.M.; no
Senate debate will take place beyond 6:30 P.M. These rules may be overturned by
a majority of those present and voting."
________________________________________________________________________
I TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON
The Temporary Chairperson for today's meeting, Senator Jonathan Ambrose, 2005-06
Student Body President of Villanova University, called the meeting to order. He
requested that Senator Helen Lafferty offer an Invocation for the new Academic
Year.
INVOCATION
Let us pray, Lord God, today we gather to conclude the work of the University
Senate. We ask Your blessings on our new student, staff and faculty members –
and we thank the members of the Senate who will be leaving as they have served
us to well. Grace us with Your vision to realize that we are called together not
so much to be perfect but to be wise. Keep us mindful that as members of the
University Senate, our commitment to serve is on behalf of all the members of
the Villanova community. Let each of us take into our work and our lives the
assurance that You are present in what we do. Let us approach each day with
dreams of possibilities and promises. We recall the words of Augustine: let our
searching be such that we can be sure of finding; let our finding be such that
we may go on searching.
We ask Your special blessings on Carolyn Lea—a person who has served Villanova
and the University Senate for 30 years. She is wise and has brought her wisdom
to each of us. Keep her in the palm of Your hand and may Your divine providence
continue to guide her life in the next phase of her life’s journey. She is a
truly special, splendid person whom we will miss. Give her both good health and
great happiness in her retirement. May she always know that Villanova is a
better place because she has been here. Let her searching and finding bring her
Your peace. We ask all these blessings in Your name. Amen.
Senator Ambrose commented that his administration welcomed the opportunity to
continue working very closely with members of the university administration and
the University Senate. He introduced the new student Senators to the assembly
and asked that each student Senator stand as his/her name was called.
ARTS COMMERCE & FINANCE
Mr. Brian M. Murray ‘08 Ms. Renna L. Antonio ‘06
Ms. Eileen M. Thomasmeyer ’08 Mr. Jason M. Ferreira ‘08
Ms. Jennifer A. Woytovich ’06 Mr. John A. Sylvia ‘07
ENGINEERING NURSING
Mr. Gavin W. Tully ’07 Ms. Kerry V. Halleran ‘07
SCIENCES LAW SCHOOL
Christopher J. Meehan Mr. Patrick M. Sheldrake
GRADUATE PART-TIME STUDIES
Ms. Dana Vellios Mr. Richard M. Cullen
II ELECTION OF A CHAIRPERSON FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-2006
Senator Ambrose requested nominations from the floor for the office of 2005-2006
Senate Chairperson. Senator Arvanites nominated:
SENATOR SUSAN MACKEY-KALLIS
Seconded by Senator Sheldrake
There being no further nominations, Senator Ambrose declared nominations closed.
Senator Mackey-Kallis was elected as 2005-2006 Chairperson by unanimous vote.
Senator Mackey-Kallis took the Chairperson's seat with the congratulations of
the Temporary Chairperson and applause of the University Senate.
III ELECTION OF AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-2006
Nominations for an EXECUTIVE SECRETARY were opened. Senator Ambrose nominated:
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER J. MEEHAN
Seconded by Senator Tully
There being no further nominations, Chairperson Mackey-Kallis declared
nominations closed and announced Senator Meehan elected by unanimous vote.
Congratulations were offered to the 2005-06 Executive Secretary of the Senate.
IV EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
A. Administrative Members - The following names were put into nomination by
Senator Malloy:
SENATOR HELEN K. LAFFERTY (Seconded by Senator Sheldrake)
SENATOR JOHN P. STACK, OSA (Seconded by Senator Sheldrake)
There being no further nominations, the nominations for administrative members
of the Executive Committee were closed. Senators Lafferty and Stack were
declared elected to the Executive Committee by unanimous vote. The Chair thanked
these members for their willingness to serve.
B. Faculty Members - Senator Styer nominated:
SENATOR RICHARD M. JACOBS, OSA
Seconded by Senator McLaughlin
Senator Jacobs nominated:
SENATOR SOHAIL C. CHAUDHRY
Seconded by Senator Willens
There being no further nominations, the nominations for faculty members of the
Executive Committee were closed. Senators Chaudhry and Jacobs were declared
elected to the 2005-2006 Executive Committee by unanimous vote. The Chair
thanked these members for their willingness to serve.
C. Student Members – Senator Antonio nominated:
SENATOR JONATHAN T. AMBROSE
Seconded by Senator Murray
Senator Ambrose nominated:
SENATOR RENNA L. ANTONIO
Seconded by Senator Tully
There being no further nominations, the nominations for student members of the
Executive Committee were closed. Senator Ambrose and Senator Antonio were
declared elected to the Executive Committee by unanimous vote. The Chair
congratulated the elected student members.
V The MINUTES of the April 15, 2005 meeting were moved for approval by Senator
Mulroney; seconded by Senator Sheldrake. Senator Arvanites, Faculty Congress
Chair, wished to amend that portion of her REPORT TO UNIVERSITY SENATE FROM THE
FACULTY CONGRESS that appeared on p. 10, first paragraph. She has since
discovered that the course reduction was in effect for the Third Faculty
Congress Chair. With that change, the minutes were unanimously approved.
(Mulroney/Sheldrake)
VI APPROVAL OF TENTATIVE MEETINGS DATES FOR COMING ACADEMIC YEAR
2005 2006
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 FRIDAY, FEB. 3 or 10 (Budget Mtg.)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 FRIDAY, MARCH 17
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 or FRIDAY, APRIL 21
(President's Address) DEC. 2
The planned dates were moved for approval; seconded and approved. Senators
expressed their approval of the Bartley 1010 venue. The meetings will be
scheduled for 3:30 P.M. in Room 1010 of Bartley Hall for next academic year.
VII The Operating Rule, US 7879-2-4 was considered by the Villanova University
Senate for the coming Academic Year 2005-06:
"That new Agenda items may not be introduced in the Senate after 6:00 P.M.; no
Senate debate will take place beyond 6:30 P.M. These rules may be overturned by
a majority of those present and voting."
The rule could still be overturned by a majority of those present and voting.
There being no objections, the operating rule was adopted for the next academic
year by unanimous vote.
The Chair called for any NEW BUSINESS and recognized Senator Debra Arvanites,
Chair of the Faculty Congress. Senator Arvanites made the following statement:
“The April 2005 edition of Blueprints ran an article about the parking permit
fee increases - it appeared on page 25 of the 28 page issue. Last Friday, The
Villanovan ran a cover story about a parking fee increase.
“Blueprints reported Jeffrey Horton's statement 'that after 14 years
faculty/staff parking permit fees will be increased to $125 for the 2005-2006
academic year and all VU hangtags will be raised to $150. Fees for faculty and
staff who purchase a main lot hang tag will not be increased.’ Rhetorically and
potentially facetiously I ask, will my 2005-2006 parking bill be $275 -- $125 to
park and $150 for the hang tag?
“Last Friday, April 29, The Villanovan reported the following parking fee
increases:
· Full time students to $100 from $75;
· Evening students to $50 from $40
· Faculty to $125 from $100
“Staff and administration were not mentioned specifically but are believed to be
included.
Jeffrey Horton was also quoted in The Villanovan article. There he was reported
as saying, ‘We even surveyed a bunch of competitors and we're still at the low
end of costs.’
“Competitors for a suburban academic institution like Villanova might mean
institutions like Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore, Eastern, Cabrini, Rosemont,
Arcadia, Ursinus, Widener and Immaculata. However, this ‘bunch’ of competitors
has no parking fees at all.
“In fairness, research completed by Rick Eckstein - did uncover a $90 fee for
"high paid" employees and $45 for "lower paid" employees at St. Joe's; and, a
flat $30 fee for all at West Chester University. Clearly, these fees are lower
than those reported to be inflicted on the Villanova community for the 2005-
2006 academic year.
“The ‘bunch’ of competitors who have higher fees according to Mr. Horton are
invisible to others researching the parking fee issue.
“All this leads me to my first two issues:
1. The communications vehicles that have been chosen to announce the salary
take-back and fee increase have reported inconsistently and unclearly.
2. The reports have failed to tell us who the ‘bunch’ of competitors are and
what their fees are.
“My third issue is the relatively stealth manner in which our ‘community’
communicates important information to its members. It has been my experience as
a student of management and leadership that participation in decision making
brings commitment from organizational members. This is an issue that impacts the
checkbook of every member of this community. In my opinion, it flies in the face
of community and of collegiality to be informed through the lowest level of
media richness - an impersonal static medium - a newspaper - that my raise is
being tapped to help the university meet its operational costs.
“Finally, while I am not a tax specialist - I have been informed by a tax
attorney - former University Senator and former Faculty Congress Chair Burke
Ward - that this particular method of raising revenue produces tax costs to the
university and its constituencies; and therefore does not make good financial
sense for the University. In a recent e-mail, Burke tells me that "over the
years administrators have agreed with my logic, but done nothing."
“With all of this said, I'd like to present the following motion:
US 0506-1-1: RESOLVED: That the University Senate makes the following three
recommendations regarding parking fees to Fr. Dobbin:
(1) that the appropriate administrative body be directed to convene a committee
including representatives from the faculty, staff, students, public safety,
administration and financial services to study the desirability/need for a
parking fee at Villanova University;
(2) that the convened committee provide a report of their conclusions to the
University Senate at a Spring 2006 meeting; and
(3) that there be no action taken on parking fees until the 2006-2007 academic
year.
Seconded by Senator Quilter
Senator Ambrose asked if there was a rationale for the 25% increase. It was
developed that the present fine to remove a “boot” placed on a car was $100.
Each additional day resulted in an increase of $25 per day. Senator Stack
commented that the boot was used judiciously in cases of fire or safety issues
and when there was an excessive number of parking tickets outstanding for that
vehicle. Senator Jacobs commented that there was no line item in the FY/06
budget for increases in parking fees.
The Senate then voted upon the motion made by Senator Arvanites. The motion was
carried successfully by a vote of
All in Favor 22 Opposed 0 Abstain 4 + 1 (the Chair)
The resolution will be forwarded to Father President Dobbin for his
consideration.
TRIBUTES
Senator Helen Lafferty spoke of the long-time Recording Secretary of the Senate
as the repository of the University Senate archives and memories and her
impending retirement. She then presented a gift from the University. Another
gift was presented from the Faculty Congress in thanks for the fifteen years
Mrs. Lea had also served as secretary to the Faculty Council starting in 1982.
Senator Louise Fitzpatrick spoke of the many years she had known the Recording
Secretary, a graduate of Immaculata University who had previously worked in the
publishing field before coming to Villanova. The Dean of the College of Nursing
then presented an enrollment card in the Augustinian Seminary Guild to Carolyn
Lea.
The Senate Chair, Senator Susan Mackey-Kallis spoke:
“Thank you so much, Helen and Louise, for your kind tributes to Carolyn, but you
didn’t think that a Communication Professor would ever turn down the opportunity
to say and few words as well, did you?
“Unlike the two of you who have collectively known Carolyn for almost 45 years,
I have only had the privilege of knowing her since 1993 when I was first elected
to the Senate as an Arts Senator. Although I didn’t get to really know her until
I became chair in 1997, I always had the perception of her as a cool presence,
solid, immovable, even from a distance. And that assessment hasn’t changed, only
strengthened. It is no understatement to say that Carolyn Lea is a rock. Not
only is she the institutional memory of the Senate, she is the Senate’s very
foundation. Indeed she has served as Recording Secretary of the Senate for 29 of
its 35 years of existence.
“To say that she is a rock, always calm, always clearheaded, is best illustrated
by how I sometimes have felt as chair. When some motion is being debated, and
somebody is moving to table it, and somebody else is moving to amend it, and
somebody else wants to introduce an entirely new motion, and the Senate
parliamentarian isn’t present, and I’m feeling a bit panicky, and I turn to
Carolyn and say ‘Carolyn, what should I do?’ And she calmly says ‘Well, you
could do X’ and I do ‘X’ and everything seems to be alright, no one gets hurt,
no one even gets injured, life seems to go on and the work of the Senate seems
to proceed, somehow.
“But the big question seems to be, if Carolyn Lea is the rock, the foundation of
the Senate, how can the Senate ever proceed without her? What will we do without
Carolyn? This question seems to hit me on a daily basis when I think about what
next year might look like. But then it occurred to me, although Carolyn Lea may
be a rock, she is not the Senate’s foundation, rather she is its
foundation-builder. Her work, her dedication, her clearheaded insight has helped
to build a foundation so strong that only because of her work can and will the
Senate go on without her. If we truly learn to turn things around and take
ourselves out of the picture, what we must realize is that the greatest legacy
that any of us can leave to Villanova is that if we have truly done our jobs,
established our legacy and the mechanism by which it can continue, then we
should not be needed.
Missed yes, but hopefully never needed. An so Carolyn, our rock, our foundation
–builder, thank so much for your patience with me and thank you so much for your
never-ending love and respect for what the Senate has represented and can
represent at
Villanova, and thank you so much for your vision to create such a strong
foundation for us. Although you will be missed, we will see your work in every
stone that you have laid, in our hearts, in our Constitution, in our elections,
in our committees, in our speakers, and in our vision of a community dedicated
to thoughtful governance as we seek to fulfill the mission of Villanova
University. Thank you, you are truly a special lady!!” [Applause]
The Recording Secretary, at the bequest of Senator Cullen, said a few words of
thanks and appreciation for the gifts and the sentiments expressed regarding her
work over the years with the University Senate by Senators Lafferty, Fitzpatrick
and Mackey-Kallis.
There being no further business before the body, a motion was made To Adjourn
and seconded. Adjournment took place at 3:41 P.M. followed by a retirement party
arranged by Senator Lafferty and the Chair, Senator Mackey-Kallis and attended
by Mrs. Lea’s family.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher J. Meehan
Executive Secretary
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY SENATE
CJM/cl