Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1988 [PAGE 271]

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1987]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

261

Codes of Campus Conduct, academic handbooks, and other appropriate campus codes and guidelines shall be modified as necessary to clarify this protection. When discrimination is perceived to have occurred, the remedy lies within the established grievance procedures within the University. I forward this clarifying statement to members of the Board of Trustees to inform the board as to the steps taken to make known, interpret, and enforce the 1978 policy of the board; and to general officers of the University to direct that steps necessary to the implementation and enforcement of this policy be taken in areas under their jurisdiction. Sincerely, / S / Stanley O. Ikenberry President

Mr. Howard had approved an appearance before the board by representatives of the Gay and Lesbian Illini (Urbana). He recognized Miss Kristina Boerger who distributed a statement (copy filed with the secretary of the board) and stated the organization's basic request, that the board act to initiate and approve a statement such as the following: It is the policy of the University of Illinois to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for all University of Illinois faculty, staff, and students. All University of Illinois written policies where nondiscrimination statements appear should specifically include a prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Miss Boerger asked Miss Jane Whicher, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, who stated her view that the board policy of 1978 did not provide adequate protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation — a view in contra-distinction to that of University Counsel Byron Higgins. Following discussion, Mr. Logan made the following motion: that the president's letter is the policy of the University as understood and supported by the Board of Trustees; and that the full text of the letter be incorporated into the minutes of the meeting of the board — and with the Board of Trustees' approval of the letter. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote.

REGULAR AGENDA

The board considered the following reports and recommendations from the president of the University. By consensus, the board agreed that one vote would be taken and considered the vote on each agenda item nos. 3 through 19 inclusive. The recommendations were individually discussed but acted upon at one time. (The record of board action appears at the end of each item.)