We commend the Faculty Senate Executive Committee's efforts in the groundbreaking "Faculty Code of Conduct" that's currently in first draft stages. But work needs to be done to clear up the grey area that exists between faculty and students.
The code was written in response to President Simpson's concern the university didn't have one document consolidating what constitutes the faculty code, but a patchwork of existing conduct codes. Clarification was in order to alleviate confusion.
It is, of course, only a first draft, but there are still problems that need to be addressed. Teaching assistants must know unequivocally where they stand. TAs are rarely much older than their students, and sometimes are in classes with the very students they instruct, so it is possible relationship situations can arise. The code strictly forbids sexual relations between faculty and students, so TAs must have a strict and clear code they can abide by as well. The issue is simple: TAs should not be involved with students they are responsible for grading, no matter if they are classmates in other classes or not.
The code should have explicit language that clarifies the issue beyond doubt, to avoid any future problems. If it becomes just another broad document espousing a vague university "mission" for faculty members, we will be right back where we started, staring at a policy full of holes.
New year, same problems
Twelve months later, little has changed in Washington
With 2005 coming to a close, the overriding problems afflicting our great nation today are the same ones that bedeviled us in the beginning of the year. In January, tax cuts ran up the deficit, war casualties racked Iraq efforts, and conservative corruption dominated the headlines. Now, in December, another round of tax cuts were passed, Iraq deaths are marching to 3,000, and, yep, another Republican congressman was busted for making money off the books.
Our nation's leaders tell us these problems will soon be fixed, yet troubles persist, or are made worse in many cases, leaving us where we are today. The Bush Administration and, by extension, the Republican-led Congress, has governed with reckless ideological blinders that have made them incapable of seeing their mistakes. The result is a country heading in the wrong direction.
On Thursday, Congress followed administration marching orders on tax cuts. Yet another round of fiscal insanity is in store, mainly by extending capital gains and investment dividend tax breaks. The only people who have capital gains and dividends are the people who need tax cuts least: the rich. Another decision made at the expense of everyone else is tragically irresponsible in light of the ballooning federal deficit and ever increasing war costs. Congress also just re-upped the controversial provisions of the Patriot Act that were set to expire, so no one should be surprised they follow their own flawed agenda at their constituents' expense.
There's been a lot of talk recently about pulling out of Iraq. But our Congress voted overwhelmingly to stay the course, because the White House steadfastly demands it. However, more Americans are being killed today then at any other point in the war. And our nation's leadership screams traitor at anyone who asks for withdrawal plans?
The only remaining "star in the administration," Condoleezza Rice, employs Clintonian language vagaries in defending current U.S. torture policies. However, unlike Clinton's squabbling over the meaning of the word "is," Rice is hedging on the meaning of torture. It is immoral to think Clinton's attempt to dodge a question about a personal affair is worse than Rice's evasive torture definition regarding people all over the world.
It's been the same story in politics for the past eight years, and one can only hope a new year will encourage a new outlook as the public gets fed up with their elected leaders.
