Fac. Senate talks about funding

The Faculty Senate Executive Committee began their year last night with a reflective look back on continuing problems facing the University and an ambitious look forward to the future aims of the organization. SEC members also decided to hold an extra meeting in two weeks to discuss burgeoning health benefits costs and "how it impacts overall compensation," SEC Chairperson David Hildebrand said. Past Faculty Senate Chairperson Louise Shoemaker said this is a "very critical issue" and that the SEC does not "have many extra meetings." A major portion of the two-and-half hour meeting was spent discussing the status of the University's effort to regain funding from the Commonwealth with President Sheldon Hackney, Hildebrand said. Shoemaker said that during Hackney's presentation on the University's state budget woes, he had a "very serious tone." But, she added, compared to other universities, the University's "fiscal situation is pretty sound." Hildebrand said that "the clear sense of what President Hackney was saying was 'don't hold your breath waiting [for state funding]. This may be a long one.' " He added that having the president in the SEC meetings helps in "reducing an us versus them" attitude. In addition, Hackney discussed the current legal battle concerning the University's Mayor's Scholarships to Philadelphia students. The SEC then debated whether the Faculty Senate should focus on immediate problems or begin voicing its concerns about long-term issues. History Professor James Davis, who initiated the discussion, said he wants the body to look at issues that answer the question, "What kind of university we will be 25 years from now?" Davis brought up the possible purchase of the Civic Center for the Medical School and the future role of that school to the rest of the University. "It's very big and has ambitious plans for the future," said Hildebrand. "And something like one-half the faculty in the University are affiliated with the medical school." Other issues brought up by Davis included the status of Locust Walk and the huge start-up costs associated with adding new physical science faculty. But on the big question on what the focus of the Faculty Senate should be, leaders of the organization differed. "I don't think it's a particulary useful exercise to hope for a 25 year plan . . . but if people have the time to do it, it would be an interesting thing to do," Microbiology Professor Helen Davies said. Past-chair Shoemaker said that "it's a matter of balance" since some leaders "felt frustrated at not being able to get at some of the big issues." Hildebrand said he felt that looking at larger issues is important, but he wants to do it in "such a way that has an impact, not just windy generalities."

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