Faculty Discusses Public Service

Questioning the ability of the Undergraduate Council to select members who are representative of the student body, the Faculty Council yesterday delayed a decision on whether the U.C. should select the student members of the Standing Committee on Public Service.

Four members of the U.C. presented a memo at the Faculty Council meeting requesting that the Faculty Council add two more students to the committee and allow the U.C. to pick the student representatives.

But Associate Professor of History Ellen Fitzpatrick asked how the U.C. could claim to be representative when the four members presenting the memo were all white males, according to U.C. President Robert M. Hyman '98-'97.

Fitzpatrick is a member of both the Faculty Council and the public service committee.

Hyman said he replied to Fitzpatrick's question by citing the fact that of all the students the U.C. selected to serve on faculty committees last semester, a majority were women.

"That trend has continued this semester," Hyman said.

Marco B. Simons '97, chair of the U.C.'s Student Affairs Committee, agreed that the council chooses a cross-section of the student body for its committees.

"Our process for selection is at least as inclusive and impartial and comprehensive as the Dean of the College's selection process," Simons said.

Hyman said he also cited the issues of concern to women that the U.C. has taken up this year, such as offering rape aggression defense classes.

The discussion of the diversity of the U.C. led some Faculty Council members to say that the discussion was fruitless.

"I don't have any comment on that," said Baird Professor of Physics Gary J. Feldman. "There was no discussion today in the Faculty Council of the substantive issues."

However, others said they thought the discussion was productive.

"I walked out very optimistic, very enthusiastic," Hyman said. "The questions that were asked suggested an understanding or agreement with our basic concerns."

"I thought in general they greeted us with an open mind," said U.C. Treasurer Edward B. Smith III '97, who is a Crimson editor.

Smith said members of the U.C., PBHA and HAND met with individual Faculty Council members before the meeting to discuss their concerns.

Simons said the U.C. members agreed at the meeting that PBHA and HAND should each have spots on the committee.

"The faculty seems receptive to the idea that the U.C. should select the students," he said.

"In general, I think we have something to look forward to," Hyman said. "More students and student-chosen students are essential for improving the prospects of the committee."

But some Faculty Council members said they did not agree with some of the requests made by the Undergraduate Council.

Professor of Sociology and Government Theda Skocpol, who is also a member of the Public Service Committee, said she did not want to increase the size of the committee by adding more student members.

"The present committee is not very large and I think that is a good thing because a smaller committee finds it easier to have all members attend meetings and to have a thorough discussion with eight or nine people in the room," she said.

Other Faculty Council members said that they did not think having the Undergraduate Council choose the representatives would be beneficial.

"My own feeling is that the student members would consider themselves to be representing their own constituencies," said Professor of Classics and history Christopher P. Jones.

"In other words, they would represent the view of particular groups and therefore would arrive with fixed opinions which to my mind would not be conducive to fruitful discussion of the kind of issues that might arrise," he said.

Jones also said that the committee is functioning well now and does not need to be altered.

"The point was in fact made today that the committee, as it is already constituted, is working well and gets opinions from a wide variety of student sources," he said. "I buy the argument that the proposed expansion would not help the committee deliberation."

One issue was resolved at the Faculty Council's meeting.

The Undergraduate Council representatives decided they would not pursue their request to alter the mandate of the public service committee, according to Hyman

"That trend has continued this semester," Hyman said.

Marco B. Simons '97, chair of the U.C.'s Student Affairs Committee, agreed that the council chooses a cross-section of the student body for its committees.

"Our process for selection is at least as inclusive and impartial and comprehensive as the Dean of the College's selection process," Simons said.

Hyman said he also cited the issues of concern to women that the U.C. has taken up this year, such as offering rape aggression defense classes.

The discussion of the diversity of the U.C. led some Faculty Council members to say that the discussion was fruitless.

"I don't have any comment on that," said Baird Professor of Physics Gary J. Feldman. "There was no discussion today in the Faculty Council of the substantive issues."

However, others said they thought the discussion was productive.

"I walked out very optimistic, very enthusiastic," Hyman said. "The questions that were asked suggested an understanding or agreement with our basic concerns."

"I thought in general they greeted us with an open mind," said U.C. Treasurer Edward B. Smith III '97, who is a Crimson editor.

Smith said members of the U.C., PBHA and HAND met with individual Faculty Council members before the meeting to discuss their concerns.

Simons said the U.C. members agreed at the meeting that PBHA and HAND should each have spots on the committee.

"The faculty seems receptive to the idea that the U.C. should select the students," he said.

"In general, I think we have something to look forward to," Hyman said. "More students and student-chosen students are essential for improving the prospects of the committee."

But some Faculty Council members said they did not agree with some of the requests made by the Undergraduate Council.

Professor of Sociology and Government Theda Skocpol, who is also a member of the Public Service Committee, said she did not want to increase the size of the committee by adding more student members.

"The present committee is not very large and I think that is a good thing because a smaller committee finds it easier to have all members attend meetings and to have a thorough discussion with eight or nine people in the room," she said.

Other Faculty Council members said that they did not think having the Undergraduate Council choose the representatives would be beneficial.

"My own feeling is that the student members would consider themselves to be representing their own constituencies," said Professor of Classics and history Christopher P. Jones.

"In other words, they would represent the view of particular groups and therefore would arrive with fixed opinions which to my mind would not be conducive to fruitful discussion of the kind of issues that might arrise," he said.

Jones also said that the committee is functioning well now and does not need to be altered.

"The point was in fact made today that the committee, as it is already constituted, is working well and gets opinions from a wide variety of student sources," he said. "I buy the argument that the proposed expansion would not help the committee deliberation."

One issue was resolved at the Faculty Council's meeting.

The Undergraduate Council representatives decided they would not pursue their request to alter the mandate of the public service committee, according to Hyman