FACULTY SENATE
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY SENATE RESOLUTION 02-04
Approved by the Faculty Senate
April 17, 2002
Resolution on Non-discrimination Statement
WHEREAS: Southeast Missouri State University claims to value diversity and to have a
commitment to fairness and equal treatment of all members of the University community, and
WHEREAS: Respect for the rights of all individuals forms one of the core values of higher
education, and
WHEREAS: All administrators, faculty, staff and students expect an atmosphere of tolerance
and freedom from prejudice, bigotry, discrimination and abuse, and
WHEREAS: The State of Missouri has recognized the importance of protecting its citizens by
the inclusion of "sexual orientation" in the Hate Crimes law, and
WHEREAS: Two public institutions of higher education in Missouri, Truman State University
and Central Missouri State University, have revised their official statements of nondiscrimination to include "sexual orientation", and
WHEREAS: Public entities of state and local government, including the cities of Kansas City,
St. Louis and Columbia, include the category of "sexual orientation" in non-discrimination
policies, and
WHEREAS: Governments, educational institutions and businesses across the country are
increasingly including "sexual orientation" in non-discrimination policies in order to promote
fair treatment of all and in order to attract and retain qualified employees, and
WHEREAS: The Faculty Senate of Southeast Missouri State University, in Faculty Senate Bills
01-A-02 and 01-A-03, has requested that "sexual orientation" be included in the university nondiscrimination policy, and
WHEREAS: The President of Southeast Missouri State University, citing the advice of the
University attorney, did not sign Faculty Senate Bills 01-A-02 and 01-A-03,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Faculty Senate of Southeast Missouri State
University declares that students, faculty, and staff of the University should be free from
discrimination based upon sexual orientation, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: Based upon the evidence gathered by its Ad-Hoc
Committee on Sexual Orientation, the Faculty Senate finds the proffered argument used by the
administration in its rejection of Faculty Senate Bills 01-A-02 and 01-A-03 to be invalid, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Faculty Senate of Southeast Missouri State
University calls upon the President to reverse his decision and to sign Faculty Senate Bills 01-A02 and 01-A-03, and to thereby help realize the declared university ideals of fairness and equal
protection for all students, faculty, and staff.
MEM ORANDUM
TO:
Kenneth Dobbins, President
Southeast Missouri State University
FROM:
William R. Eddleman, Chairperson
Faculty Senate
DATE:
April 23, 2002
RE:
Resolution 2-04
The Faculty Senate approved the attached resolution concerning a Non-Discrimination
Statement. We submit it to you for your information. Thank you.
WRE:pc
Enclosure
CC: Jane Stephens