Senator Pickett has produced evidence that she has been attending the meetings of the University Senate but has neglected to sign- in. Thus she is not expelled from the University Senate.

CALL TO ORDER/APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Senate President Michael Hibbard called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. The Senate immediately resolved into an Executive Session and all those not members of the Senate were asked to leave.

At 3:58 p.m. the Senate came back into regular session. The minutes of the February 9 and March 10, 1993 meetings of the University Senate were approved with an amendment from the Secretary concerning Senator Pickett.

OLD BUSINESS

Senator Kahle, Chair of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee, was recognized to formally place the following resolution before the Senate:

"Be it resolved that the University Senate endorses the policy recommendations contained in the document 'Gender Equity Policy Statement for the University of Oregon: Recommendations from the 1992-1993 Intercollegiate Athletic Committee'"

"The University of Oregon is an educational institution committed to non-discrimination, the appreciation of diversity, and gender equity. Men and women deserve an equal chance to participate in and benefit from all activities at the University of Oregon. Especially with such highly visible activities as intercollegiate athletics, the University ought to provide exemplary opportunities that make manifest the University's opposition to discrimination. The educational goals and policies of intercollegiate athletics, including its gender equity, must be consistent with the policies and goals of the university.

"True equity occurs when men's and women's athletics have equal numbers and qualities of scholarships, participation slots, facilities, and coaches. Both men's and women's athletics would have comparable budgets for coaching salaries, recruitment, scholarships and other student support, services (academic, medical, independent counseling by qualified professionals, training), and programs (sports information, promotions, travel, clerical support, equipment, fund raising). Open positions in coaching and administration would be filled by public processes similar to those processes in other units within the institution, in which both men and women would be given equal and genuine opportunities to compete and succeed.

"Several principles ought to guide the efforts to attain gender equity: 1) Funding ought not come from money currently allocated to academic programs. 2) Long-term equity will require significant restructuring of the financial side of intercollegiate athletics, including obtaining additional revenue. 3) All intercollegiate sports should be included in any equity formula.

"Currently intercollegiate athletics fall far short of this intent. Nationally, 29 % of intercollegiate scholarship athletes are women, and at the University of Oregon 35 % of scholarships for intercollegiate athletes are held by women. Some view the current situation as equitable because it approaches equity when the revenue-generating sports of football and men's basketball are excluded from the formula. Our Conference, the PAC-10, has shown interest in the issue of gender equity. Our closest comparator conference, the Big 10, however has taken the leadership in efforts to move toward equity by agreeing that member schools will provide at least 40 % of athletic opportunities to women by 1997. Although the University of Oregon is apparently in compliance with existing legislation on gender equity, it currently falls short of true equity.

"As a 5-year goal, the University of Oregon will seek to provide an additional intercollegiate women's team aimed at national competitiveness. The addition of approximately 25 woman athletes on scholarship would allow the University of Oregon to take an important step down the path toward true equity. Criteria for selecting additional sport would include popularity among students in Oregon's primary and secondary public schools, accessibility to people from all economic levels, adequacy of local facilities, interest among other PAC-10 institutions, and consistency with the strategic goals of the University of Oregon. This program should be funded by a more aggressive efforts at private fund-raising and by a special allocation from the Oregon Legislature aimed at demonstrating support for the public-policy objective of equity and at avoiding costly litigation, as has occurred in Washington State and California.

"As a 10-year goal, the University of Oregon will continue to aim for true equity. Discussions regarding restructuring of intercollegiate athletics for any purpose, but especially for purposes of gender equity, ought to occur with the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. Efforts to restructure intercollegiate athletics must occur within the context of the educational goals and policies of the entire institution. The Director of Intercollegiate Athletics should supply periodic progress reports to the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. The most plausible way to create the financial restructuring necessary to achieve gender equity in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Oregon is to eliminate athletic scholarships for students who have no financial need. A transfer to need-based scholarships would free a substantial amount of money to re-allocate to under-funded women's athletic programs. Any policy favoring need-based scholarships would have to be pursued vigorously initially at the Conference level and ultimately implemented at the NCAA level, to avoid radically upsetting competitive parity among institutions. The Faculty Athletic Representative is directed to strive to pass the legislation necessary to implement this goal.

"The University of Oregon and the PAC-10 must use this opportunity to provide leadership in achieving true gender equity in intercollegiate athletics as well as in all other aspects of university life. Our actions must be consistent with our anti- discrimination policies and ideals. The goals of the above policy take precedence over the implementation mechanisms. If the suggested approaches to meeting the goals cannot be realized, alternative must be found. The educational instruments from intercollegiate athletic must play in harmony with the entire academic orchestra."

Senator Kahle explained the background of the motion and its tie with Title XI. It is commonly agreed that football should be excluded from the gender equity rule, however, the IAC would prefer to see football being included in the rule. This would bring the apparent equitable situation--with football removed--to one that would not be equitable. The IAC is proposing that one more women's sport be added to the present line-up by 1997. This sport would have 25 women participants.

Senator Omogrosso asked if football and basketball are not presently operating at a deficit. Ms. Barbara Walker, Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, replied that both of these sports are the only ones that produce revenue.

Senator Soper inquired as to the method of getting the PAC-10 and the NCAA to go along with the need-based scholarships that the resolution proposes. University President Myles Brand in responding to this inquiry, stated that the PAC-10 is presently looking at the concept of need-based scholarships, but that the two private institutions in the PAC-10 do not stand in favor of the concept at this time. Around the nation much movement is taking place and it is entirely possible that within the next 5 years the NCAA will have to entertain motions on the subject.

Senator Rothbart asked if time should not be taken to look at the fiscal impact of adding another sport; to look at the question of what athletics bring to the University; and to ascertain the value of athletics at the University. She also asked if the IAC had looked at the feasiblity of shifting to Division II in an effort to save money? In conclusion Senator Rothbart asked if the budget figures for gender and sport are available and if these should not be presented to the Senate prior to any vote on the resolution?

Senator Kahle stated that the Committee did not look at any shift to Division II. The budgets are available by sport and by gender. Senator Rothbart then asked what the cost to the University was to have intercollegiate athletics. President Brand said that some state funds are used to cover some costs of intercollegiate athletics--but the costs are legitimate expenses. The expense of creating a new sport for women would be far beyond what could be found in the athletic budget and thus it might be necessary for the state legislature to face-up to the allocation of funds for women's athletics. The state of Washington has been forced to do this though the courts, and at present a lawsuit is in the California courts concerning gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.

Senator Rothbart moved to "Postpone the resolution to a Time Certain and that Time Certain being the May 13, 1993 meeting of the Senate." She explained that the resolution has implications that will commence a series of things. It would be best to get more information and to think more seriously about the implications before we move ahead she noted.

Senator Thomas said the delay of 5 years before anything happens allows time to re-visit the resolution if necessary. No budget changes will take place immediately, and, thus, no delay in the vote of the Senate on the resolution is necessary.

Ms. Walker, in reply to a question as to which sport would be created and what the cost would be for that sport, stated that the cost would be impossible to guess until the sport is decided upon. Some sports are less expensive than others and that very serious thought will be given to the costs as the decision is made. Senator Soper suggested that some report of financial responsibility should be forthcoming before the Senate endorses this resolution.

Vice President Williams stated that the athletic budget had to balance, that presently the budget is being reduced 1 % per year because the State Board of Higher Education has mandated such a reduction, and the debt of the Athletic Department is being reduced and will be paid off over the next few years. He did not see that a single sport would have a big impact on the budget.

The vote on the motion to Postpone to a Time Certain failed by a vote of 10 yes, 17 no and with 3 abstentions.

Senator Kahle, in response to a question on who will choose the sport, stated that the Athletic Department, in consultation with the IAC, would choose the sport. Senator Hall asked if the need-based scholarships would come out of the Office of Financial Aid? The need-based scholarships would be given by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics from funds generated by that Department, as the present scholarships are given, but that the new policy would require that each scholarship would be based on need.

The vote on the resolution was positive, 24 - 4 - 3.

COMMENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY SENATE PRESIDENT

President Hibbard stated that at this time he wanted to make some comments to the Senate. This was his next to last Senate meeting as President and that the past couple of weeks as well as the past year have pointed out that faculty governance on this campus is in trouble. Faculty members are reluctant to serve the institution through its committees. They will not volunteer to run for open positions on the various elected committees or councils. No one wants to serve.

Much more debate and discussion must take place on the subject of faculty governance. The low attendance at Assembly meetings indicates a disinterest in what is going on within the areas that the faculty has influence and power. If any Senators have any ideas of how to get people to serve please contact President Hibbard though campus mail or by telephone. The Senate of 1993-94 must undertake a study of governance and to get something to happen to shift the interest in faculty governance and the governing of the University in areas that the faculty have a legitimate interest back on track. The construction of faculty governance might have to be changed, but something must be done soon, he concluded.

NEW BUSINESS

Several motions were introduced and President Hibbard turned them over to Senator Harvey, Chair of the Senate Rules Committee. The Amendments will be on the floor of the Senate at the May 12, 1993 meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

The business of the Senate having concluded the meeting adjourned at 4:36 p.m.

 Keith Richard Secretary