ALUW Fall Quarter Meeting, December 10, 2003

The meeting was called to order by ALUW President Dottie Smith at 3:15, Wednesday, December 10, 2003.

Fall Quarter Business Meeting

Introduction of New ALUW Board Members (Dottie Smith)

Treasurer's Report (Alan Grosenheider):   Total ALUW Treasury: $4,245.33

            Legislative Fund:                                   Operating Fund:

                        $2,191.64                                            $2,053.69                   

Legislative Committee Report (Joe Kiegel):

Joe reviewed two issues that might become pertinent to the libraries—“Harmful to Minors” – designed to protect minors from sexually explicit materials but provides for no library exemption.  Also, there may be a state mandate to filter all publically-accessible computers.

Fund Review Committee (Dottie Smith):

An ALUW representative was needed on this committee.  Dottie will be that member and will assist in reviewing the performance of retirement plans.  The group will evaluate each plan and make recommendations to add or remove plans, as necessary.

Reports from Faculty Councils and Committees:

Faculty Council on Student Affairs (Jill McKinstry):  The group reviewed the following issues:

Addition of a student representative on the council.

A class C resolution involving a pamphlet on what it means to be an athlete at UW; Bill 5135 – pressures undergraduates to declare a major at a certain point & finish by a certain time.

Exploration of a new “course fee.”

Complaints from TA's and the student evaluation process.

Faculty Council on Academic Standards (Louise Richards): Two new programs were reviewed and approved by the group:

A proposal by the College Forest Resources that involves the elimination of five majors and would retain the Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Resources with a new major in Environmental Science and Resource Management. 

The other program reviewed was the addition of a Digital Arts BFA.

Suggestions for Future Programs (Dottie Smith):

Steve Duncan – ALUW Lobbyist

Catharine Beyer UW SOUL Project Director – study on undergraduate learning

Unionization issue

Announcements of Future Staff Development Programs (Elaine Jennerich)

Autumn Quarter Meeting Program: Race and Drug Law Enforcement in Seattle (Katherine Beckett, Sociology Department):

The context of Dr. Beckett's study is based on the fact that there are more blacks and Latinos in jail for drug-related charges than white, indicating evidence of racial discrimination in local courts.  The focus of her study is to target the police department and review its record for arrests.  The central question posed by the study: are blacks more likely to be arrested for drug sale/possession than whites?  Results of the study indicate that the majority of frequent and recent users of drugs are white.  Further, white “deliverers” of drugs outnumber blacks/Hispanics.  However, more blacks/Hispanics are arrested than whites (63% black versus 19% white).  The study tries to determine why more blacks are arrested than whites.

Submitted by Faye Christenberry, March 17, 2004