FACULTY SENATE MEETING
MINUTES
May 11, 2009
3:15 p.m., 601 Rudder Tower
http://facultysenate.tamu.edu

Present:     Louise Abbott, Derya Akleman, Carisa Armstrong, Karl Aufderheide, Wolfgang Bangerth, Guy Battle, Robert Bednarz, Michael Benedik, Tom Blasingame, Tahir Cagin, John Carhart, Joe Cerami, Keith Chaffin, Iftekharudd Choudhury, Louise Darcey, Walter Daugherity, John Fackler, Holly Gaede, Carlos Gonzalez, Melinda Grant, Michael Greenwald, Robert Griffin, Mike Hanik, James Heilman, Richard Hutchinson, Joe Jaros, Eluned Jones, Guido Kanschat, Larry Kelly, Andrew Klein, Ming-Han Li, Robyn Lints, Carol Loopstra, Patrick Louchouarn, Clinton Machann, Christopher Mathewson, Robert McGeachin, Kathryn McKenzie, Jeffrey Morris, Tim Murphy, Adam Myers, Ramona Paetzold, Frederic Pearl, Brian Perkins, Angie Hill Price, Dan Roelke, Lynn Ruoff, Roger Schultz, Douglas Slack, Robin Smith, Kathleen Speed, Susan Stabile, Richard Stadelmann, John Stallone, Robert Stewart, Bob Strawser, Ramesh Talreja, Elizabeth Tebeaux, Frank Thomas, Manuelita Ureta, John Van-Huyck, Tom Vogel, Shelley Wachsmann, Hank Walker, William West, Kirk Winemiller, Gary Wingenbach, Thomas Woodfin

Paul Parrish (Interim Dean of Faculties)

Absent:   Stephen Atkins, James Aune, Dragomir Bukur, Gwendolyn Carroll, Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Thomas DeWitt, Rainer Fink, Mariah Hahn, Gary Halter, Vikram Kinra, Rafael Lara-Alecio, Thomas Linton, R.N. Mahapatra, Sam Mannan, Lanny Martindale, Peter McIntyre, Michael Messina, Bo Norby, David Peterson, Weston Porter, Khalid Qaraqe, Jorge Seminario, Karen Snowden, Winfried Teizer, Hamid Toliyat, Jyotsna Vaid, Robert Warden, Gwendolyn Webb-Johnson, Thomas Welsh, Matthew Whiteacre, Debra Zoran

Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 3:15 by Speaker Clint Magill. Speaker Magill opened the meeting by welcoming guests and senators. There were two senators from Galveston present via videoconferencing.

Speaker Comments:
Speaker Magill first presented the Aggie Spirit Award to Kristina Yancey and read Professor John Poston's letter that was sent with the nomination form to the Faculty Senate office. It read:
" Ms. Yancey does not know the meaning of “disability” or limitation.” Although she comes to class in an electric wheel-chair, she is always smiling and she always has a kind word for her fellow students. As a second semester junior in nuclear engineering, she has a perfect record academically. She has a 4.0 GPR and is involved in the University Honors Program. Besides being a good student, she is active in many campus organizations, especially the Student Branch of the American Nuclear Society. But what is most amazing is the list of her activities – most of which would not be attempted by an individual with or without her restrictions. She participated in the Brazil Engineering Study Abroad Program in the summer of 2007. She had a summer experience in 2008 working at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, IL. She has continued to work with accelerators and currently works with Dr. Kin Shao in our department in his accelerator facility. She will be involved in the Undergraduate Summer Research program this coming summer continuing to do research with Dr. Shao. In addition, she gives of herself to help others. She has tutored a middle school student in math through the Help One Student To Succeed (HOSTS) Program. She has worked in the Dakota Woodlands Women’s Shelter and she has been involved in fund-raising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. As far as she is concerned there is really nothing she can’t do and she does not let her situation hold her back. She exemplifies the Aggie “can do” spirit in every way. She is truly a perfect example of the type of student who should be recognized through the Aggie Spirit Award. She is truly an outstanding young woman who will make all Aggies very proud."

Speaker Magill then congratulated Senator Antonio Cepeda-Benito, who was selected to serve as our next Dean of Faculties. He also gave a belated congratulations to Senator Sam Mannan who became a Regents scholar and was named recipient of the Norton H. Walton/ Russell L. Miller Award for 2009 in recognition of his outstanding chemical engineering contributions and achievements in the fields of loss prevention, safety and health.

Speaker Magill then gave the tally on the survey that was sent to all faculty asking if they favored or opposed the law being considered by state legislators in Austin to allow licensed concealed gun carriers to carry them anyplace on a college or University campus. The results were out of 1,052 replies from faculty, 145 (13.8%) supported the legislation, 878 (83.5%) opposed the legislation and 29 (2.8%) were indifferent.

Magill reminded the senators to fill out an inactive status form if they plan on missing any of the summer meetings. He also congratulated and welcomed the newly elected senators who were at the meeting. Magill reminded everyone of the reception after the meeting in the University Club being hosted by the Provost.

Installation of New Senators:
Speaker Magill officially installed two new senators: John Carhart from Galveston and Shelley Wachsmann from Liberal Arts.