A policy statement addressing controversial remarks made by Student Trustee Pat Kelly at a faculty association informational picket Monday, passed by a narrow margin at the Wednesday Graduate and Professional Student Council meeting.

Kelly told reporters from WPSD-TV (NBC) that SIUC students support the faculty union. He also handed out faculty association fliers at the informational picket.

GPSC President Tim Hoerman said Kelly breached his duty as a Board of Trustees member by going on record in support of the faculty union as a representative of student interests without consulting GPSC and USG.

Advertisement

Hoerman said though the timing of the statement is in response to Kelly’s remarks, GPSC would have addressed its position toward the union eventually.

The resolution passed 13-10.

The statement recognizes the faculty association’s right to strike, but GPSC expressed its preference for the faculty and the administration to seek binding arbitration rather than a strike during the spring ’98 semester.

Council members in favor of the resolution expressed concerns over the effects of a strike on students.

Vice President for Graduate School Affairs Steve Etcheson said it is essential the faculty association not hurt the students by striking this semester.

Airline pilots, when they go on strike, finish the flight, Etcheson said.

Hoerman said the policy statement will be sent to the Board of Trustees, administration and faculty association.

Advertisement*

Among other business, GPSC voted to approve a number of fee increases, including an increase the administration has recommended be postponed.

The GPSC approved a temporary $6 increase in the campus recreation fee to pay for a proposed lighted outdoor recreation complex.

GPSC and USG voted to approve the project and the two fee increases accompanying the project last year.

The fee, now $4, will rise to $8 for fiscal year 1999. The proposed increase for fiscal year 2000 would raise the fee to $14. However, under the recommendation of President Ted Sanders, the board is likely to postpone the increase another year because it would break its self-imposed 3-percent cap on fee increases.

GPSC urged the board to vote to raise the fee to complete the project on schedule while trying to remain within the 3-percent cap. However, if they were unable to do so with the cap, GPSC recommended they invoke an exception to the cap for capital projects despite recommendations from the administration.

GPSC member Michael Speck said this is something the council wanted, and in light of the controversy over the athletic fee increase, they should set a precedent to show that the students will pay for something they want.

The administration shoved this athletic fee down our throats, but this is something we want and are willing to pay for, Speck said.

The Campus Recreation Fee would decrease to $4 again in fiscal year 2001.

The GPSC also approved resolutions supporting a $2 mass transit fee increase, a $7 primary care health fee and a $2 Student Center fee.

Wednesday marked first round of nominations for GPSC officers. Council members nominated Michael Speck and Amy Sileven for president; Ed Ford for vice president of Graduate School Affairs; and no nominations for vice president of Administrative Affairs.