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DOUGLAS CCLLEG

COLLEGE ASSEMBLY ARCHIVES

 

College Assembly has a role to fulfill at Douglas, and I feel that
from time to time that role should be reaffirmed or redirected.

Some positions re: the present role of college assembly that seem to
exist, based on private conversations; college assembly is a legal body
that has power if the faculty would only attend and use that power,
college assembly is a sounding board for administration moves, college
assembly is a giant bitch session for some faculty members, college
assembly is representative of faculty with strong views and therefore
doesn't represent the faculty really, some people never participate
anyway so it is representative of the faculty, college assembly is an
information exchange forum and thats all.

I think that creeping paranoia accounts for the attitude that one might
infer exists from some of the postions stated above. I further suggest
that this occurs either because there is sound basis for the paranoia

or that as a result of other (probably unrelated), interaction individuals
and groups have generalized an attitude to include their position in
regard to college assembly. This I suggest includes faculty, staff and
administrators alike, but not all inclusive no doubt. Needless to say,

I am sure there are other views on what and why college assembly exists
and many different reasons for peoples attitudes concerning them as well
as those I suggest here.

I would like to propose my view - it does include most of the positions

stated above, but in a very different vein which is important I feel in

order for college assembly to be worthwhile in terms of our interest and
time.

I would suggest that apparent apathy at the last session over electing
officers was for good reason and thus not apathetic and is indicative of
why we need to clarify and reaffirm college assemblies role.

"College Assembly is a forum wherein the collective faculty and staff of
the college meets periodically to discuss issues of interest to the
assembly. (I do not limit 'issues of interest' to immediate college wide
business, it could include discussion re: international politics or what-
ever as well)." I think many things are of interest and effect our
members from time to time.

The assembly should convene when and as often as the assemblage dictates.
The assembly should have a convenor or president to moderate assembly
sessions, and prepare an agenda sheet to be distributed well in advance

of assemblies. If issues are presented and debate ensues then the assembly
May take a vote re: its collective wish on the issues, or it may simply set
a time limit for debate, at the end of which, the issue is set aside or

do both. No record of these proceedings is necessary, hence no secretary
is needed, nor shall the assembly be viewed as a legal and/or ligitimate
arena to force decisions that involved faculty and staff. Yet it certainly
is an arena for discussion of issues that may effect. faculty and staff in
some other context of college operations.