Ohio University Student Senate opposed a proposed bill that would prohibit professors from discussing controversial issues with students, expressed support for OU's attempts to fix the Tier III problem and discussed the planning of the new student center at its meeting last night.
Ohio Senate Bill 24, introduced by State Sen. Larry Mumper, R-Marion, is designed to prevent professors at public institutions of higher learning in Ohio from pushing an ideological or political view in their classes. Some senators said the bill would curb all discussion of controversial issues, eliminating some of the more vibrant debates in their classes.
Anything anyone believes to be controversial would be illegal to discuss in the classroom
said Commissioner of International Affairs Joey Gibson. The classroom would be absent of any opinion at all.
Another concern brought up by Gibson and Mark Mecum, state and federal affairs commissioner and primary sponsor of the resolution opposing the bill, is the effect Senate Bill 24 would have on professors' First Amendment rights.
The state legislature should not be able to limit a professor's First Amendment rights. The bill's language is saying that legislature can dictate what constitutes free speech Gibson said.
Senate also passed a resolution endorsing University College's efforts to provide enough spots in Tier III classes for seniors to graduate on time. For Spring Quarter, four seats will be saved in each Tier III class, allowing 90 students who are graduating this spring to fulfill their Tier III requirement.
However, senate passed another resolution urging the University Curriculum Council to allow final synthesis courses, called Capstones, to be temporarily considered Tier III classes. Senate said approving temporary Tier III status for these courses would help graduating seniors fulfill that requirement. Chris Downey, interim senator for the College of Education and director of media relations, said the 90 extra seats is a step in the right direction, but is not enough.
It's only a first step not a permanent solution to the problem
he said.
Richard Carpinelli, associate vice president of student affairs, spoke to senate about the progress of the new university center. He said the construction is three weeks ahead of schedule and is still on track to open between October 2006 and January 2007.
Carpinelli, the director of the new Baker Center, showed floor plans, concept drawings and fly-through movies of the new center.
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