The Academic Senate met Friday to discuss university issues that affect faculty members. I was the body's first meeting since April, when 700 senate members convened for the first time in eight years.
The Senate failed to reach a quorum, making it impossible for anything beyond discussion to take place. The body addressed issues such as MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon's "Realizing the Vision" proposal, the College of Human Medicine's expansion to Grand Rapids and the creation of an arts and humanities residential college.
But regardless of topics covered, the senate meeting represents an important melding of minds that has the opportunity to profoundly affect university decisions.
Every semester, it seems that faculty members voice concerns with administrators. This university is fragmented and the Academic Senate is a wonderful chance to make decisions or voice opinions about the things that affect the faculty directly.
Without a quorum present, however, the assembly is rendered powerless to act. A quorum for the Academic Senate is defined by MSU's Academic Governance system as 10 percent of the senate membership. It is required for any senate action to take place. As it did Friday, the senate still can discuss issues and topics of concern if a quorum is not met.
It is difficult to get faculty members to find a common time to gather, but this is their opportunity to talk about problems and concerns they have with the university. Faculty members screamed for their voice to be heard in April, and they were accommodated. Now, they have the microphone, and participation is lacking.
The faculty must make the Academic Senate a regular occurrence. To not make the senate significant, is to give up an important chance to voice opinions and take action. The senate should begin to meet at least once an academic year, if not once a semester.
It's a fact of life that problems do not magically go away. Nor do they cease to spring up. The faculty should take advantage of the opportunity to make this university a better place.
