Report on meeting of Executive Committee, Sept. 30, 2003

The AAUP executive committee met this morning to discuss several issues, including the following:

(1) Blocking confirmation of the nominees for AU Board of Trustees:

On Thursday, September 25, the Alabama Legislature's Senate Confirmations Committee, chaired by Sen. McClain, failed to act in approving the three nominees whose names had been put forth by the AU Board of Trustees Selection Committee. The reason was the failure of seven committee members to show up for the meeting, effectively blocking the confirmations for lack of a quorum. As expressed publicly by individuals close to the process, Lowell Barron (AU trustee) and company worked behind the scenes to prevent the Confirmations Committee from meeting, in the process once again delaying selection of his replacement as a member of the AU Board of Trustees. Andy Hornsby, vice-president of the Auburn Alumni Association and a member of the Board of Trustees Selection Committee, minced no words on behalf of the alumni in saying that "It was by design," noting that it was "Sen. Barron's forces . . . who didn't show up." Sen. Ted Little, member of the Senate Confirmations Committee, likewise expressed his position in no uncertain terms by saying, "There is no question in my mind that the lack of a quorum was orchestrated." He subsequently filibustered on the Senate floor in a statement of protest over this deliberate effort to prevent the Confirmations Committee from doing its job. The Auburn Plainsman has clearly made its position on this issue known, anticipating Barron's doing everything in his power to prevent the new nominees from being confirmed during this year's legislative session, holding onto his seat a full year after his term will have expired.

Whereas the voices of the alumni, students, and our senator in Montgomery have been willing to speak out in protest of Lowell Barron's actions in delaying the trustee selection process for which the alumni in particular have fought so long and hard, the faculty voice has remained largely mute.

(2) Response from Senate Chair to request for special meeting of University Senate:

On September 25, an e-message (see below) was sent to John Mouton, Chair of the University Senate on behalf of the AAUP urging him to take immediate steps to call a special session of the Senate to address the above interference in the confirmation of new members to the Board of Trustees. The request also asked that the senate leadership draft a resolution for that meeting condemning Barron's action and calling for his immediate resignation from the Board of Trustees. Furthermore, in order to make all Senate members aware of this request and the importance of providing a prompt and strong faculty response to this latest transgression, Paula Sullenger was asked to copy the message to all members of the University Senate via the Senate listserv.

This request was echoed in messages to John Mouton by at least six other faculty members, including three other senators, two members of the Senate Rules Committee, and a member of the Senate Steering Committee.

To date, the only response I have received from John Mouton is the following two sentences, the FULL TEXT of the message he sent on the afternoon of the aborted Confirmations Committee meeting in Montgomery:

"I have heard a few different versions and takes on the circumstances of this AM. If you have any factual information, please forward it to me as soon as convenient." (9/25/2003)

Not only did the response disregard the request for a special meeting of the Senate, but also it provided no indication that the faculty was to be given any chance to express its voice on this issue. Nor was the Senate membership informed of this request by the Senate Secretary.

Original message to John Mouton:

John,

I urge you on behalf of the Auburn University Faculty to issue an immediate public statement condemning Lowell Barron's action today in thwarting confirmation of the three nominees for seats on the AU Board of Trustees. He is a disgrace to the University and every student, faculty member, alumna, alumnus, and supporter of this institution. I

also ask that you: (1) take immediate measures to call a special meeting of the University Senate as early as possible this coming week to address this issue; and (2) that you direct the Senate Executive Committee or the Senate Steering Committee to draft a resolution for the special called meeting of the Senate condemning Barron's action and calling for his immediate resignation from the Board of Trustees.

By way of copy of this letter, I ask Paula Sullenger as Secretary of the University Senate to send this communication to all members of the University Senate via the Senate listserv.

Gary Mullen

Member, Senate Rules Committee, and

President, Auburn Chapter, American Association of University

Professors