Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 571]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1996]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

559

announcing such recommendations do not put as much emphasis on the fact that these are recommendations. Several trustees stated that the matter concerns them, as it appears that these decisions are not really the trustees'. Chair Lamont suggested that in future, the board be notified of such matters by a call, in addition to the usual letter sent by the president concerning major administrative appointments. At that point Ms. Lopez said that she thought the board should discuss the matter of interim appointees for an administrative position being candidates for the permanent position. Next, Chancellor Aiken briefed the board on a request from the Graduate Employees Organization at Urbana for voluntary recognition from the University. He suggested that the board, or a university officer designated by the board, send a letter to the Graduate Employees Organization stating that the University is not permitted by law to grant voluntary recognition. At this point, President Stukel noted that it is important that all graduate students be permitted the opportunity to vote on this issue. Discussion ensued about the kind and extent of communication that had occurred between the campus administration and the Graduate Employees Organization. Dr. Aiken agreed to attempt to communicate with this group once again. He explained that one of the main issues presented was the need for salary increases for graduate students. The chancellor also explained that the campus had improved salaries and benefits in recent years, while recognizing that this compensation was not as attractive as the campus would prefer. President Stukel asked for clarification from the board at this point on the matter of voluntary recognition of the Graduate Employees Organization. By consensus, the board informed the president that they did not want to consider voluntary recognition of this group. There was also general agreement that more discussion with the Graduate Employees Organization would be desirable, if possible.

Fire Service Issues

In response to inquiries received by some board members about the status of fire services at the Urbana campus, Chancellor Aiken reported to the board that the campus was reviewing all matters related to the delivery of fire service protection for the campus. He described a study the campus had commissioned to determine what services were needed and the most effective way to deliver these. He noted that this was seen as timely because a decision must be made in the near future about the location of a fire station, since the current one is to be removed in order to complete the Engineering Quad. The chancellor referred to advice from some quarters suggesting various modes for sharing fire services with the two cities of Champaign and Urbana. Dr. Aiken apprised the trustees of potential difficulties in labor relations if this were to be a recommendation. He described these briefly and assured