Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1988
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1987] UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 259 EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED The executive session was adjourned for meetings of the Committee on Buildings and Grounds and the quarterly meeting of the Committee on Finance and Audit. The board reconvened in regular session at 10:10 a.m. BUSINESS PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY President Ikenbeny recognized and introduced observers from the campus senates and from the University Senates Conference.1 Report on State Appropriations President Ikenbeny reported no consensus has emerged with regard to the governor's plan for increased taxes, noting that six weeks remain before adjournment of the General Assembly. He emphasized that there would be strong efforts to resolve the question constructively, but warned that if these are unsuccessful, the situation could become chaotic. (A fall session would require a 60 percent majority for appropriation bills.) He urged the board to continue to be involved as individuals, to write and call those whom they believe influential in helping to resolve the problem. He sensed an "unwarranted sense of complacency" throughout the State and expressed his view that vigorous efforts would be required if the University were not to be seriously affected financially. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS Discrimination on the Basis of "Sexual Orientation" (2) Mr. Howard asked President Ikenbeny to present a letter of May 6, 1987, which the president had sent to the Board of Trustees and to the general officers. The text is as follows. TO: Members of the Board of Trustees and General Officers FROM: Stanley O. Ikenbeny, President SUBJECT: University Policy on Discrimination, Whether or Not Protected by Law In recent months there has been a growing confusion regarding University policy and the recourse available to University employees and students who feel they have been discriminated against or harassed on the basis of their sexual orientation. Commitment by the University community to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity and human dignity requires that decisions regarding employees and students be based on individual merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms, whether or not specifically prohibited by law. Indeed, in 1978, the Board of Trustees restated this fundamental principle in the form of the following policy statement: Resolved by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois that it reaffirms its commitment and policy (a) to eradicate prohibited and 1 University Senates Conference: Charles L. Grader, professor and chairperson of the Department of Psychology, Chicago campus; UrbanarChampaigii Senate Council: Donald L. Uchtmann, professor of agricultural economics; Chicago campus Senate: Stanley K. Shapiro, professor oi biological sciences.
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