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As our nation and this campus continue to experience the aftereffects of the Sept. 11 tragedy, I think it is worth reviewing how the University is responding to the demands that these new times place on us. I am very proud of the work we have done over the last several weeks. We have continued to offer students the first-rate education and academic support services they came here to receive. We have worked hard and, I believe, effectively to keep communication flowing. And we have maintained the positive spirit in which we first came together after the attacks. Below you will find a much-abbreviated summary of the array of activities the University has undertaken to maintain an open, informed, safe environment for faculty, staff and students. You will also find information on practical matters such as handling of military duty. Once again, this campus is demonstrating how exceptionally well it comes together in times of crisis.
Robert A. Corrigan.
President
Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, we began an all-out effort to keep the campus well informed of our response to events as they unfolded. That evening I met with hundreds of residence hall students. Since that time members of the campus community have come together on numerous occasions. I have sent several messages directly to faculty, staff and students via e-mail. I have also used CampusMemo to share my thoughts and goals for the campus as we navigate this difficult time.
In addition, we used the Web as a central communications tool. By Sept. 12, the Communications Response Team created a special section on the UniversityÕs home page, titled ÒCampus Responds to National Tragedy,Ó to keep the campus updated and unified in the midst of the tragedy. The Web site has been updated regularly and now includes information on opportunities to help the recovery effort, upcoming events, campus resources, tips on safe mail handling procedures, my messages and faculty experts who are available to comment to the media. We will continue to use the Web to offer you the most up-to-date information we have available as world events unfold.
'Love' message helps unite campus
During the Sept. 14 memorial service in the Washington National Cathedral, I was struck by the words of The Right Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, bishop of Washington: "Love is stronger than hate." I found in those words a spirit that can sustain us in the days to come. We have placed that message on banners across campus, on T-shirts sold in the SFSU Bookstore, on my stationery, on SFSU's home page and in each issue of CampusMemo.
As many of you know, our campus too suffered losses in the attacks. Mauricio Gonzalez, son-in-law of Deborah vanDommelen, director of the Learning Assistance Center, was lost in the World Trade Center. Alumnus Gerald Fisher (B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science, '66), died in the attack on the Pentagon. Fisher, a consultant, was attending a conference at the Pentagon on ways to improve benefits to families of military personnel. New York firefighter Christian Regenhard, who studied art and writing at SFSU from 1998 to 1999, was still a probationary firefighter when he lost his life in the rescue efforts at the Twin Towers. Our deepest sympathies go out to all who knew and loved them.
The campus is engaging in fund-raising efforts for those most affected by the attacks:
- The Bookstore earmarked 10 percent of total sales from Oct. 11 through Oct. 18 for Sept. 11-related charities and raised $13,822. Food vendors from across campus also participated and raised more than $2,000. The Bookstore has sold 233 T-shirts emblazoned with the "Love is stronger than hate" design as of Oct. 30. Proceeds from the sales of the T-shirts will also be donated to charity.
- A special fund has been established to benefit Deborah vanDommelen's daughter Evan vanDommelen Gonzalez and 1-year-old granddaughter Nina. More than $5,500 has been collected for Evan and Nina. To make a donation, call Karen Wiederholt at ext. 8-1994 or Nathalie Destandau at ext. 8-7445.
- The Political Science Department raised $120 during a two-week period for the American Red Cross.
- Kappi Psi Epsilon, a sorority on campus, co-sponsored "Love Beats: A Hope for Humanity Concert" Nov. 1 in Jack Adams Hall. Donations of $8 for students and $10 for the general public were taken at the door and the money raised was given to the Intergroup Clearinghouse, a Bay Area nonprofit organization that works to prevent hate crimes and promote tolerance.
Despite a climate of apprehension throughout our country, I am pleased that we have continued to cherish free speech while maintaining respect for the views, feelings and human dignity of others.
On the day following the attacks, I joined Academic Senate Chair Pamela Vaughn, Dean of Human Relations Ken Monteiro, Associated Students President Ronda Newt-Scott and others in speaking to several hundred members of the campus community at a rally in Malcolm X Plaza. Scores of students stepped forward over the next four hours to add their voices and feelings.
On that Thursday, members of the campus community turned out for a candlelight vigil in the courtyard of The Village at Centennial Square sponsored by Associated Students.
Working with our Office of Student Programs and Leadership Development, other groups have made their voices heard:
- Sept. 19: Associated Students Peace Rally
- Sept. 27: Muslim Student Association Unity and Global Peace Rally
- Oct. 8: Students for Peace Anti-War Rally
- Oct. 9: Muslim Student Association Unity and Global Peace Rally
Our faculty members have responded admirably to current events, showing sensitivity to the needs of their students and changing curriculum and conducting class discussions where appropriate:
- Some faculty members teaching international relations, philosophy and global peace studies have reported a sharp rise in enrollment and attendance since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
- Many faculty have incorporated world events into class lectures and discussions. For example, Jewish Studies Associate Professor Fred Astren has discussed the history of Islam and Judaism in relation to current events. Speech and Communication Studies Assistant Professor Rick Isaacson has discussed the government's use of propaganda. Ambassador David Fischer, professor of international relations, discussed the challenges of collecting information about terrorists in his class on intelligence gathering and intelligence agencies. Michelle Wolf, professor of broadcast and electronic communication arts, and her students have explored the media's coverage of the events as a form of propaganda. ¥ The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences has received approval from the University Curriculum Review Committee to offer an international relations course in spring 2002 on covert political warfare and terrorism, taught by David Fischer. The College also plans to hire a new faculty member whose area of expertise is history and/or international relations and the Middle East. Faculty members have also given generously of their time and expertise by participating in symposia and colloquia for the campus community: ¥ International Relations held a colloquium on terrorism Sept. 14 for an audience of nearly 100 graduate and undergraduate students. The event was broadcast in real time on the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Web site. An archived version of the symposium can be found at: bss.sfsu.edu/bss. ¥ The Asian American Studies Department, Philosophy Department and Radical Political Forum sponsored a teach-in on U.S. foreign policy and terrorism Oct. 10. ¥ More events are coming up or are in the planning stages. See the separate box titled ÒUpcoming eventsÓ on page one for more information.
The College of Education presents two events this week in its series on Social Justice and Equity Issues in Education. David Brightman, an editor with Jossey-Bass Publishing, will speak from noon to 2 p.m. Monday in the Cahill Laboratory, BH 321. He will discuss "Publishing As Your Contribution to the Educational Community."
Paulo Wangoola, president of Mpambo, the African Multiversity, will speak from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday on "Eurocentric Colonization and Indigenous Knowledges" in Rosa Parks Room A on the Lower Conference Level of the Cesar Chavez Student Union.
For details, call ext. 8-1497.
Propose multicultural teaching strategies
The due date for the request for proposals to enhance multicultural teaching strategies has been changed to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8. Proposals are due to the Office of the Provost, ADM 455. If you have any questions, contact Lisa White at lwhite@sfsu.edu or ext. 8-1778.
The Human Resources Department is now conducting its annual drive for donations of sick leave and/or vacation leave to be placed in a "bank" for use by staff and faculty who sustain a catastrophic illness or injury. The Catastrophic Leave Program (CLP) allows employees to donate 1 to 16 hours (32 CSEA and APC) of their vacation or sick-leave credits each fiscal year to other employees who have exhausted their accrued leave credits. The donated leave may also be used for the care of an employee's immedia te family.
Each employee (or representative) must conduct an individual solicitation campaign for CLP donations. Once the employee has exhausted these personal donations, the CLP bank can provide additional leave credits.
CLP pledge forms are being distributed to the campus community through campus mail. Pledge forms are also available in the Human Resources office, ADM 252, or on the Human Resources Web site at: www.sfsu.edu/~hrwww.
The Office of Community Service Learning (OCSL) and the California Campus Compact will hold a workshop/conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, in Jack Adams Hall in the Student Center.
This one-day regional faculty institute will assist faculty in integrating service into an existing course or constructing a new course using service learning.
Lunch is included with the $12 registration fee. For details, contact Leisette Rodriguez at ext. 5-3809 or leis@sfsu.edu.
Students are invited to brush up on their note taking skills at "Taking Helpful Notes," an academic skills workshop that will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in BUS 202. The free workshop will cover listening, identifying important points and writing notes during lectures. No prior sign up is required.
The Office of Academic Affairs invites you to join a retirement celebration for Judy Ott, who has provided 37 years of dedicated service to SFSU, most recently as curriculum coordinator in Academic Affairs. A reception will be held in her honor from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in the University Club. Event coordinators request an RSVP and $5 donation to cover the cost of refreshments by Wednesday, Oct. 17 (checks payable and sent to Stephanie Schwartz, Provost's Office, ADM 455).
In lieu of gifts, Ott asks that donations be made to the Judith Anne Ott Scholarship for Graduate Students in the College of Humanities. Please make checks payable to the SFSU Foundation Inc. with a notation "Ott Scholarship," and send them to College of Humanities Dean Nancy McDermid.
Please submit written comments on Summer Semester to the Academic Senate office, ADM 551, per a memorandum and request for information sent to all campus units. Comments will be accepted through the fall semester and forwarded to the University Ad Hoc Committee on Summer Semester Review and Assessment for consideration in its assessment report and recommendations for future Summer Semesters.
The final faculty promotion meeting will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday in ADM 352. For details, call ext. 8-1264.
The Office of Community Service Learning reminds faculty of the availability of new funding for its Community Service Learning Curriculum Development Awards program. OCSL anticipates that 10 or more awards of up to $4,500 will be available for academic year 2001-2002. Faculty must submit applications by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. Guidelines are available at department offices and OCSL. For details, contact Perla Barrientos, OCSL director, at ext. 8-3282 or barrient@sfsu.e du.
CampusMemo ArchiveAnnouncements from Chair Pamela Vaughn:
Announcements from University Counsel Patricia Bartscher:
- Vaughn asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the events of Sept. 11.
- Summer Semester committee and the shared governance committee continue to meet.
- The vote on the change to the constitution will continue until a quorum is achieved.
- The election for faculty members to serve on the search committee for dean of faculty affairs has been completed.
Remarks from President Corrigan concerning events of Sept. 11:
- Requests from outside sources for information about faculty or staff must be referred to Denise Fox, director of human resources.
- Requests from outside sources for information about students must be referred to Susan Dmytrenko, University registrar.
A report from Provost Tom Labelle concerning SFSU as a "destination campus":
- He acknowledged students, staff and faculty for coming together during a very difficult period.
- He expressed his pride in the campus community and acknowledged there will be more challenges ahead as events unfold, especially in the Middle East.
- He indicated that SFSU may change from a commuter campus to a "destination campus."
- He concluded that statistics indicated that SFSU is now and has been a "destination campus."
- He recommended that SFSU needs to make a few changes in its mission statement and develop a project to support a campus community with more residential students, and less commuters.
A report from My Yarabinec speaking on behalf of Johnetta Richards and the Office of International Programs:
- He noted that SFSU is No. 1 among all CSUs for the number of students participating in exchange programs.
- The senate acknowledged the outstanding work and success of the Office of International Programs. A report from Dean of Human Relations Ken Monteiro:
The next Academic Senate meeting will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, Seven Hills Conference Center. All are welcome to attend.
- He gave a presentation on the history and development of the office.
- He outlined the importance of SFSU continuing to improve diversity in hiring. In the action part of the meeting, the senate:
- Elected Wei Ming Dariotis, Asian American Studies, to the G.E. Segment I Basic Subject Committee.
- Approved a resolution endorsing the guidelines for short-term study abroad programs.
- Accepted the report from the Committee on Committees.
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