Text read by Senate Chair, John Delano, at the SEC meeting
on Monday, 26 January 2009
Note appended by Chair Delano following SEC meeting: Although this text was originally intended as an addendum to the Senate
Chair’s Report, all SEC members ultimately agreed that this text (a) would be distributed at Senator Range’s request, but (b) not
included within the official SEC Minutes. The SEC members also agreed that a special meeting devoted to this matter would be
scheduled during the week of February 9.
I object to much of the tone and content of Senator Range’s January 25th memo. I believe that
that memo (and other documents that he has widely distributed during the last several weeks;
and other activities during the previous semester) display a pattern of poor judgment,
administrative recklessness, and possible malice that have all been cloaked under a guise of
concern for the institution.
I further believe that any one (and certainly any combination) of these characteristics call into
question Professor Range’s suitability to become the next Senate Chair.
Please consider the following proposal:
(a) I suggest that the Senate Executive Committee conduct a vote by secret ballot today
agreeing (or not) to hold a special meeting this coming Friday afternoon (January 30)
when this matter would be discussed. By voting ‘yes’ today, you are not making any
judgment either-for-or-against Senator Range, either-for-or-against me; rather you are
agreeing to discuss and assess the merits of my concern.
(b)If the majority of us this afternoon vote ‘yes’ for scheduling this special SEC meeting,
Senator Range’s actions and my concerns would constitute the entire agenda of that
meeting.
(c) At the end of that special meeting, a vote by secret ballot could be conducted on whether
(or not) this matter should be considered by the full Senate on Monday, February 9.
In conclusion, those of you who know my work ethic, understand that I take honor and integrity
seriously. I have not raised this matter today lightly, nor have I reached this level of concern
quickly. During the last several months, I have become increasingly concerned that Senator
Range’s pattern of poor judgment warrants a thoughtful discussion by the SEC.
