 |
|
Inquiries made into construction, Business
Affairs
|
by David
Forbes
Staff Writer
|
Faculty Senate
passed a resolution Monday calling on the office of Business
Affairs to work with faculty members about their concerns
with construction on campus.
Senators expressed their disappointment with Business Affairs’
previous behavior in the discussion surrounding the resolution.
“Most of the information here is flowing from the top
down, and I don’t like that sort of attitude,”
Dr. Andrew M. Koch, associate professor in the department
of political science, said. “I had a request to fix
a bathroom and what I got back was a lengthy explanation
about how the pipe had been broken. It was all very rational,
but it wasn’t to the point. Whether the concern is
students sliding in gravel or faculty needing private space,
it really doesn’t seem to matter.”
Senators said they believed there was an unreceptive attitude
on the part of Business Affairs, and Vice Chancellor for
Business Affairs Jane P. Helm
Department of history professor Dr. Jeffrey L. Bortz said
there’s a feeling that the only information relayed
from Business Affairs is goals.
“A lot of faculty are outraged about the increase in
health insurance, the perceived blundering on parking planning,
I would like to congratulate Helm’s office on treating
everyone with equal disdain,” Bortz said.
Other senators felt the problems ran deeper than just Business
Affairs’ behavior.
“This is an institutional problem, our system for handling
these interactions is not adequate. It is as piecemeal as
it gets, we need a formal system of communication,”
said Douglas A. Waring, associate professor in the department
of psychology.
“[We] had a meeting with [Helm] that was very cordial,
and we asked about problems we’d raised previously,
and she said the policy of her office was better communication,”
said Dr. Kathleen M. Simon, associate professor in the department
of criminal justice, who heads the committee.
Simon said sand on the walkways, leaking sandbags, rocks
on the steps and flimsy barriers near construction sites
were main concerns.
“I brought these areas to [Helm’s] attention
and she said someone would look into it,” Simon said.
“They weren’t looked into, they were worse, and
then they basically said it was our problem. I don’t
like that, and it’s still like that.”
The resolution calls on the provost and the chancellor to
ensure that Business Affairs co-operates with faculty, including
establishing committees and liaisons in the buildings undergoing
renovation.
Faculty Senate hopes to air their concerns during an Oct.
21 forum with Business Affairs from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the
Linville Falls Room of Plemmons Student Union.
|
|
 |
 |
