Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1968 [PAGE 521]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1967]

U N I V E R S I T Y OF I L L I N O I S

469

CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF WATER MAIN TO SERVE ORCHARD APARTMENTS, PHASE 4 , URBANA (28) The Director of the Physical Plant and the Vice-President and Comptroller recommend award of a contract for $18,430 to Cross Construction, Inc., Urbana, the lowest bidder, for the construction of a twelve-inch water main, east from Lincoln Avenue to the site of the Orchard Apartments, Phase 4. Funds will be available from the proceeds of revenue bonds being sold today. I concur.

On motion of Mr. Jones, this contract was awarded by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Clement, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Jones, Mr. Pogue, Mr. Swain, Dr. Weatherly; no, none; absent, Governor Kerner, Mr. Page.

DISCUSSIONS WITH INTERCOLLEGIATE CONFERENCE

President H e n r y reported on the status of the University's discussions with the Intercollegiate Conference concerning penalties issued by that Conference pertaining to three coaches and certain student athletes. Mr. Page returned to the meeting.

REPORTS OF GENERAL POLICY COMMITTEE At t h i s p o i n t , t h e B o a r d u n d e r t o o k t o r e c e i v e r e p o r t s a n d h e a r t e s t i m o n y in t h e f o l l o w i n g m a t t e r s a n d t h e n t o o k t h e a c t i o n s i n d i c a t e d . Consideration of H o u s e Bill 711 ( t h e C l a b a u g h A c t ) T h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t of t h e G e n e r a l P o l i c y C o m m i t t e e w a s p r e s e n t e d and read by the Secretary. The General Policy Committee has been directed by the Board of Trustees to give consideration to the several petitions received by the Board requesting that an institutional position be defined with reference to House Bill 711, popularly known as the Clabaugh Act. Most of the resolutions from faculty and student groups have urged that the Trustees support the repeal of the law while most of the other communications have asked the Trustees either to take no action or to indicate support for the law. House Bill 711 was enacted in 1947 and has been in force since that time. Insofar as the Committee has been able to determine, it has only been during the past year that the existence of the law has been seriously challenged as being inimical to the welfare or effectiveness of the University of Illinois. Therefore, the Committee has not felt the same degree of urgency about the importance of taking an institutional position as has been expressed by faculty and student groups. Furthermore, the Committee has been mindful that the constitutionality of House Bill 711 has been attacked in litigation and that the Board of Trustees is a defendant in that action now before the Court. The Committee's deliberations have also taken into account the fact that at the March 14 meeting of the Board new Trustees would assume office and that the Committees will be reorganized. The new General Policy Committee should be given the opportunity to participate in the study of the questions raised. In the discussions of this subject by the Committee on General Policy, two issues have emerged: 1. Will the continuance of House Bill 711 be harmful to the University of Illinois, as alleged? 2. Apart from the arguments pro or con on the foregoing substantive question, is it wise and in the general interest of the University for the Board of Trustees to define an institutional position at this time ? While the General Policy Committee has not deemed it appropriate to make a recommendation on this subject to the Board of Trustees at this meeting, the Committee urges that an effort be made by the reconstituted Committee on General Policy to formulate a recommendation for the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, now scheduled for April 19. T h e following g r o u p s spoke to this question: A d hoc S t u d e n t