The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

Senate considers faculty retirement, alcohol policy

At its monthly meeting held yesterday, the University Academic Senate approved the Benefits for Surrender of Tenure Policy, a new phase-out retirement plan for faculty. It also discussed a recent surge in alcohol-related incidents on campus.

The senate discussed the new plan, posed as an alternative to the current retirement plan, and some senate members raised concerns about the wording in the proposal.

Sharon Chubbuck, an elected faculty member from the College of Education, voiced concerns from the faculty present at the College of Education faculty meeting.

“We don’t support that we relinquish our tenure before our active time at Marquette (is over),” Chubbuck said.

Chubbuck then read a statement drafted by the College of Education faculty at the meeting that said it does not support the wording in the proposal that would require faculty to give up tenure before implementing the phase-out retirement plan. The statement cited the University of Minnesota’s phase-out retirement plan that allows faculty members to keep their tenure while in the phase-out process.

Provost John Pauly said he had not seen the University of Minnesota plan, but Marquette and Minnesota differ in the type of retirement they can offer faculty. Marquette’s is private whereas Minnesota’s is public, Pauly said.

Pauly said he wanted to emphasize that this plan is not a mandatory retirement option. Faculty can still utilize the retirement plan already in existence.

“In other words, nobody is required to accept this plan,” Pauly said.

James South, chair of the Academic Senate, said before the proposal went to vote he wanted to echo that sentiment.

“This is really quite a win,” South said. “I have been really pleased with this process … I think this is working how it’s supposed to work.”

The motion to approve the Benefits for Surrender of Tenure Policy passed. Chubbuck was the only opposing vote.

South said a question was raised during the last meeting about the number of crimes happening on campus. He then invited Chief Larry Rickard, director of DPS, and Cpt. Russell Shaw, associate director of DPS, to address the senate on campus crime.

“We had a tough first weekend,” Rickard said. “The last few weekends have been relatively good besides some spirited student behavior.”

Rickard said he contacted the Milwaukee County Police Department’s District 3 captain when crimes increased, and they worked together to create a strong presence on campus.

“Their response was notable and aggressive,” Rickard said.

Rickard said DPS has seen a rise in alcohol-related incidents this year.

Shaw said there have been about 30 cases of acute intoxication where students needed to go to the hospital.

Rickard said there have been about 15 cases of students vomiting in LIMOs. He said transporting students to the hospital takes DPS officers off of the streets, and the vomiting incidents in LIMOs take them out of commission, which causes delays in LIMO transportation.

The senate also approved several proposals from the University Board of Graduate Studies.

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