1) MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of April 11, 2006 were approved.

2) ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements.

3) GUESTS

Vice-Chancellor Streeter and Chief Marzian addressed the members on the proposed use of tasers received from the Mt. Pleasant police (free) when they up-graded their own tasers. They wished to address concerns over what they are, when they are used, how they are used and why they are used.

Chief Marzion spoke about the legal advantage of the police in a confrontation to use force to overcome resistance. Tasers would provide one more step between the lowest level of force: presence and the highest level of force: firearms. He described the functioning of the tasers and noted that they cause confusion and muscle spasms, not pain. The contact is 5 seconds long and cannot be made longer, although successive shocks can be made. The effect of pepper spray is much longer, and can affect other people.

Members asked how often pepper spray had been used. Chief Marzion thought that it was once in five years, twice in seven years. Members asked whether, then, another device was really needed. Chief Marzion reiterated that it would be good to add another option to what officers can call upon. He also noted that considerable training is necessary. Whether the tasers would be worn or not would depend on the event; they would be held in reserve as another option. Most of the members continued to express strong reservations about the use of the tasers.

Members asked about the frequency of problems and were told that there are a lot of student on student fights and some batteries that are pretty serious.

Members also asked about the gender mix on the force and whether the make up on the force reflects the diversity mix on campus. There is currently one full-time female office (of eight) and 3 part-time females of 6 part-time officers, as well as one Native American male.

The guests left the meeting at 4:05 P.M.

4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a)Sabbatical Review Committee: will be postponed until after the all-faculty election.

b) Administrator Evaluations: there is some difficulty in locating the numbers for Teaching Academic Staff. The Committee also discussed how the results should be distributed. Anne Statham and Dennis Rome will prepare something for the Committee to look at for the next meeting.

5) NEW BUSINESS:

a) Suggestions were proposed for appointment to the six faculty committees whose members are appointed. The Secretary of the Faculty will contact these individuals to secure their consent to serve.

b) The question of the Graduation/Commencement Marshall Coordinator was raised, now that Prof. Gellott does not wish to continue in this role. The possibility of this responsibility being assigned to the Awards and Ceremonies Committee was raised. However, since the issue is not pressing at the moment, further discussion was postponed.

5) ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 4:52 P.M.

Submitted by Evelyn Zepp, Secretary of the Faculty