2010-2011 Legislative Actions

The Faculty Senate instructs the Faculty Handbook Committee to clarify the terms “suspension” and “minor sanction” in the Handbook’s section on disciplinary procedures in order to ensure that it is not possible for a member of the faculty to be involuntarily relieved of all teaching duties, or publicly denounced by the University, without any right to appeal such actions.

• The Faculty Senate expresses its deep concern at the university’s treatment of Professor David Protess.
• We disagree with Provost Linzer’s characterization of the removal of David Protess from the classroom, removal from his research project, and denial of the right to enter his office or any Medill building, without the Dean’s permission as a simple administrative matter. These actions are in effect a suspension of his faculty role without due process.
• We are distressed that the administration publically attacked a faculty member through a highly negative press release.
• The Faculty Senate is also disappointed with the administration’s perfunctory response to our resolution concerning the David Protess case.
• We request a meeting between President Schapiro and Provost Linzer and the Faculty Senate’s Executive Committee to discuss these matters.

1. The Faculty Senate resolves that it is in the collective interest of the Northwestern community – administrators, faculty, staff, and students – to ensure a living wage for all of its workers, including subcontracted workers. A living wage allows workers to afford basic costs of housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care.
2. The Faculty Senate calls on the University administration to convene a committee composed of administrators, faculty, staff and students to create and implement a plan to ensure a living wage for all of Northwestern’s workers, including subcontracted workers.

Full report from the Social Responsibility Committee

The Faculty Senate affirmatively supports academic freedom and due process. The Senate notes with deep concern the possible violation of the due process rights of Prof. David Protess. We request and expect a prompt response to the substantive issues raised by the attached report of the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities committee.

Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee Protess Report