Faculty Council Moves On From Sanctions Discussion

In a stark change of pace, the Faculty Council did not discuss the College’s controversial social policy at their biweekly meeting last Wednesday, according to Council member David L. Howell.

This was the first meeting of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ highest governing body since the November meeting of the full Faculty, where professors voted down a motion intended to counter the policy—130 votes to 90. This vote was the culmination of over a year’s worth of Faculty discussion since the College announced it would begin penalizing members of single-gender final clubs and Greek organizations.

However, professors will vote on another sanctions-related motion, introduced by Howell, at the December Faculty meeting. It moves that the Faculty recognize that basic rights and freedoms may come into conflict with each other at Harvard, and in these cases “it is the responsibility of the faculty and administration of Harvard College to establish policies that protect individual freedoms and rights while upholding the educational mission of the College.”

Howell said that the Council did not discuss his motion, which they have discussed previously, at the meeting. Instead, he said the Council discussed “a variety of issues regarding the University as a whole” with Provost Alan M. Garber ’76.

They also heard a report from a task force on climate change about the University’s attempt to reduce its fossil fuel usage. Finally, the Council discussed various Master’s programs in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

The next meeting of the full Faculty will be held on Tuesday, December 5.

—Staff writer Mia C. Karr can be reached at mia.karr@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @miackarr.