In the wake of the controversy surrounding the recent speech by Charlton Heston and the Great Issues Committee, the Student Government Association voted 26-4 last night to realign the committee to better provide a diverse program of speakers on relative and timely issues.
“I am glad it passed,” SGA President Jay Perry said. “It was a long time coming.
“Now, looking forward, we can confidently say that a balanced and diverse speakers series will be guaranteed.”
The bill, (SB) 0050-00, cited “serious and legitimate questions and concerns (which) have been raised in past years with regards to the committee’s make-up and actions, thus bringing the committee’s purpose itself into question.”
The questions and concerns stem from the number of conservative speakers brought to Saint Louis University over the past few years. These concerns led to the committee’s realignment.
Under the agreed-to bill, the Great Issues Committee would be comprised of the following:
One chair,
One representative of the Student Activities Board,
One representative of the International Student Federation,
One representative of the Black Student Alliance,
Six additional student members selected from the student population at-large,
Five ex-officio student members, and
Two non-voting faculty members selected by the president of the Faculty Senate.
“Faculty members are good resources,” Marguerite Hall Senator Nick Fagan said, “They don’t think like students do.”
Of the members of the Great Issues Committee, three of the appointed members must be returning members from the previous year. The stipulation that three appointed members must be returners was added as a friendly amendment to the bill.
Another friendly amendment stated that the committee would be required to come before the senate for approval to book any speaker who costs more than $8,500.
“The money issue is difficult to hammer down in one bill, as cost fluctuates year-to-year,” Perry said. “Future assemblies can change that amount as they see fit. For now, we can test out the amount of $8,500.”
Prior to the vote on the bill to realign the Great Issues Committee, Interim Provost Sandra Johnson addressed the senate regarding her responsibilities at the University and her role in Project SLU2000.
Johnson is responsible for all academic budgets, academic policy development, a multitude of accrediting agencies, appointment and tenure of faculty and research administration.
Other Business
The senate also approved a bill to conduct the spring elections online. By election time next February, students should have the ability to cast their vote for student government officials via the internet.
In an effort to reassess its approach to achieving a university-wide faculty course rating system, the student senate agreed to a bill confirming and seating an investigative task force for instruction assessment.
The task force will:
research and investigate all available options in standardized evaluations,
evaluate the cost of a University-wide standardized evaluation, and
pursue and establish a proposal for a standard form of evaluation to be presented to the administration of the University.
