Main Campus Executive Faculty

MCEF Minutes 29 September 2017 5

Main Campus Executive Faculty

Minutes from September 29, 2017

Members present: Elham Atashi, Shweta Bansal, Daniel Blair, Roberto Bocci, Héctor Campos, Charlotte Cavaille, Bernie Cook, Wayne Davis, Mary Helen Dupree, Milla Fedorova, Robert Groves (Provost), Toshi Higuchi, Louise Hipwell, Meg Jones, Catherine Keesling, Miklos Kertesz, Matt Kroenig, Mark Lance, Mark Maloof, Judy Miller, Kathryn Olesko, You-Me Park, Gerrod Parrott, Robert Patterson (videoconferencing), Peter C. Pfeiffer (Chair), Ronda Rolfes, Clay Shields, Katrin Sieg, Chris Steck, Sarah Stiles, Kathryn Temple, Erin Twohig, Peng Wang, Krista A. White, Amir Zeldes

Guests present: Renee Agarwal, Associate Provost; Annemarie Bianco, Associate Vice President and University Registrar; Amynah Mithani, Deputy Registrar; David Edelstein, Associate Dean of the College; Todd Olson, Dean of Student Affairs; Erik Smulson, Vice President for Public Affairs.

Called to order 1:15 PM. Chair Peter Pfeiffer presiding.

1. Approval of minutes from May 5, 2017

Motion 1: Minutes approved. (28-0-5)

2. Words from MCEF Chair Peter Pfeiffer

Pfeiffer would like to encourage cycling new members through faculty governance positions, including those where MCEF as appointing powers. He hopes that the reconstituted MCEF Steering Committee can set an example.

Pfeiffer reviewed the main MCEF committees that should report back to the MCEF during the academic year. They are:

·  Intellectual Life Committee. Chair, Paul Roepe. Kathy Olesko reported on the status of the Intellectual Life Committee. In contrast to the two prior reports of 1997 and 2007, this 2017 report will deal only briefly with undergraduate intellectual life. It will broaden out to cover topics not previously considered including graduate intellectual life and interaction between the campuses.

·  MCEF Constitution Committee. Chair, Clay Shields. This committee will revisit how the membership to the MCEF is determined.

·  Merit Review Policy Committee. Chair, Robert Cumby.

·  Access to Faculty Records Committee. Chair Aviel Roshwald

·  Provostial Committee on NTL Governance. Chair: Kirsten Anderson and Hans Engler.

·  Main Campus Code of Professional Conduct. Chair, Kathryn Olesko. Committee is being formed.

·  Main Campus Core Curriculum Committee. Chair, Randy Bass. The MCEF review of the core science requirement is back in the hands of the committee.

2. Introduction to the Steering Committee

Members of the steering committee are: Peter Pfeiffer, Chair; Clay Shields, First Vice Chair; Kathryn Olesko, Second Vice Chair; Shweta Bansal, Ananya Chakravarti, Lioumila Fedorova; Meg Jones, W. Gerrod Parrot, Sarah Stiles, Jason Schloetzer.

Motion 2: Motion to approve the membership of the Steering Committee. Approved. (31-0-2)

3. New Speech and Expression Policy

·  Robert Groves, Provost

o  New generations of students are arriving which have not seen models of civil discourse. Groves stressed the importance of teaching students how to conduct civil exchanges of different points of view.

·  Erik Smulson, VP for Public Affairs

o  Distributed a “Tool Kit for Managing a High Profile Speaker on Campus” [Appendix 1 to these minutes]

§  Guided by new Speech and Expression Policy (https://facultyhandbook.georgetown.edu/toc/section4#12)

§  The “Tool Kit” is a summary of best practices.

o  Smulson emphasized that Georgetown is dedicated to finding secure spaces for controversial speeches and to find a way to handle protest in such a way that allows the speaker to speak.

o  Smulson and Todd Olson, Dean of Student Affairs, have held a training session for handling events on campus.

o  Georgetown has a commitment to free speech.

o  Georgetown also has a commitment to engage.

o  Smulson gave a debrief on the recent talk by Jeffrey Sessions, Attorney General of the United States, at the Georgetown University Law Center.

·  Discussion

o  Mark Lance, Department of Philosophy: Raised question about being respectful toward speakers who challenge fundamental norms of respect, equality, etc. Lance wants to teach his students how to resist points of view that challenge fundamental principles of American democracy (e.g., to resist fascism). Lance would like some specification of where the lines are, especially on issues like racial purity.

o  Smulson responded: When a member of the university community invites a speaker, the University is committed to let that person speak unless there are questions about the safety for members of the community. We need to protect the speaker and also the protesters.

·  Todd Olson, Dean of Student Affairs

o  Olson chairs a speech and expression committee that convenes around these issues, addresses policy issues, etc. He emphasized that there is not a more contested issue in American higher education than the free speech issue. Georgetown is committed to being open and civil.

§  Discussion:

·  Are there penalties for students for the disruption of free speech on campus? Olson said this is very complex territory. There are penalties only when there is ongoing disruption or physical altercations within the event itself. Then it becomes a student conduct issue (failure to comply). The penalty involves a warning or probationary status, a paper, or sometimes volunteer work. Some faculty object to any penalty being rendered for any protest.

·  Discussion on policies on campus: where does the First Amendment begin and end on a private campus?

·  Olson: Take swastikas as an example. GU has banned them. But at a public university they are part of free speech and expression.

·  Olson: GU has decided not to create a stricter environment for free speech and expression.

·  Question raised about gender violence, sexual violence, and misogyny accompanying these recent swastika incidents. Olson explained that in his experience with these incidents, they have been reported as misogynistic.

·  Question raised about speakers who represent values that are fundamentally against what this university stands for and the need for more intellectual work to be pursued on these issues. Olson agreed for a deeper examination of these matters. Members pointed out that CNDLS examines some of these matters.

4. Approval of SCS representative

·  Responding to a question by Pfeiffer, Wayne Davis clarified that the SCS constitution specifies that MCEF has appointment power of two members of SCS ExCo.

5. Report on Enhanced Grade Distribution Reports

·  University Registrar Annamarie Bianco and Amynah Mithani, Deputy Registrar

o  Bianco and Mithani reviewed a new dashboard accessible through COGNOS that provide enhanced Grade Analysis Reports for individual classes but also across academic units, course levels, course sizes etc. Bianco clarified that chairs, DUSs, and DGSs as well as deans have access to these data through COGNOS. If they do not, they should request access.

o  Clay Shields explained that MCEF has been looking into grading, and passed a resolution a few years ago concerning grade distributions that can be distributed to departments so that departments can have a conversation on grade distributions. The Registrar’s development of the new dashboard is the response to that request. The idea was that departments would get the data, including comparison data.

o  Discussion

§  This is a way to address the problem of grade inflation.

§  Question of breadth of access: Bianco explained that this is GU data, and goes only to certain individuals, such as deans and chairs.

§  Pfeiffer recommended that we have a discussion on who should or could have access.

Motion 3: Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 2:41 PM. (19-0-14)

Respectfully submitted,

Kathryn M. Olesko

Second Vice Chair

MCEF

Sept. 29, 2017 Appendix 1: Event Safety Management Toolkit

Appendix 1: Event Safety Management Toolkit

TOOL KIT FOR MANAGING A HIGH-PROFILE SPEAKER ON CAMPUS

The following issues should be taken in to consideration for hosting a high-profile or controversial speaker on campus to help manage the event and consider safety concerns:

1. Pre-Event Planning

·  For events involving high profile or controversial speakers, heads of state/government, cabinet members, international leaders, celebrities, and other individuals with a security detail contact the Office of Protocol and Events to begin the process of event planning. Be sure to do research on potential speakers to be aware of any issues or possible concerns before invitations are extended. Once an invitation is extended it is very difficult to rescind it.

2. Event Space

·  Does the space match the event in terms of number of attendees, security, entry and egress of guests, potential disruptions to campus?

3. Communications

·  Have you notified the Office of Public Affairs and Office of Communications about the event?

·  Is the event open to the media?

o  If yes, have you informed your A/V vendor?

o  Please note, a “public” event means media can attend.

·  Will the event be recorded? Will it be broadcast publicly?

o  If yes, has the speaker signed a waiver? Has notice been posted that the event will be recorded?

4. Invite List

·  Who will be invited? Georgetown community only (students, faculty, and staff)? Open to Public? Invite Only?

o  Please note that opening an event to the public means media can attend.

·  How will invitations be communicated? How will the event be publicized?

·  Does the notice include how to request accommodations for disabilities?

·  Will you take RSVPs? Will you allow walk-ins to the event?

5. Event Security

·  GUPD is available to consult and help with event security.

·  Has GUPD determined if it is necessary for GUPD Officers to be present or in the area?

·  Will IDs be checked and by whom?

·  Are any items prohibited? How will that be enforced?

o  Are backpacks permitted? Students attending events during the day often have backpacks and often need to bring them to events between classes.

·  Is the speaker bringing security? Are they coordinated with GUPD and the Office of Protocol and Events?

·  What entrance are the speakers arriving in and how will they leave?

·  Does MPD need to be notified of the event? Are MPD reimbursable detail necessary?

·  How will vehicles arrive and drop off guests?

·  Are barricades needed for protests?

·  How will entry and exit of guests be managed?

6. Speech and Expression

·  What format of questions will the speaker take?

·  Have you prepared for disruptions?

o  Have you reviewed the Speech and Expression policy?

o  Do you have the standardized language to establish expectations and address problems in the event?

o  What happens if someone stands up, rolls out a sign, screams, pulls a fire alarm?

o  Is there a designated speech and expression representative who will be at the event? Will they give an introduction/warning at the start of the event?

o  Who is the point person for determining whether an attendee must be removed?

·  Is there a designated protest area?

·  Have you thought about adding an additional speaker to offering differing views at the event? Have you thought about having a second event to address other views?

CONTACT

Office of Student Engagement: Erika Cohen Derr, Assistant Dean of Student Engagement – , Ext. 7-3704, Cell: 202-302-1981

Amanda Carlton, Director of the Center for Student Engagement - , Ext. 7-3704

Division of Student Affairs: Todd A. Olson, Ph.D. , Ext. 7-4056, Cell: 202.528.8164

Protocol and Events: Mary Haines , Ext. 7-4434, Cell: 202-480-7883
Geoff Bible , Ext. 7-4326, Cell:202-365-7028

GUPD: Jay Gruber , Ext. 7-8219, Cell: 202-500-8647

Strategic Communications: Meghan Dubyak , Ext. 7-8586, Cell:607-592-3169