Approval of minutes. The minutes for the meeting of November 8, 2006, were approved as amended.

Remarks by the Secretary. Professor Ball reminded Council of the dinner meeting next Tuesday, December 5. Public Health, International Studies and Neuroscience, the interdepartmental majors in the Krieger School will be discussed. Their status and possible ways to improve them will be considered. Dr. Kelly Gebo, the current director of undergraduate Public Health studies, and Professor Steven David from Political Science will attend the meeting and Professor Ball will represent Neuroscience.

The promotion of Dr. Chikako Mese to Professor in the Department of Mathematics effective January 1, 2007 was approved.

It was reported that Dr. Arthur Molella as Senior Lecturer in History of Science and Technology for 1/1/07 - 5/31/07 was approved by the Appointments and Promotions subcommittee.

It was reported that Dr. Joseph Bates as Adjunct Research Scientist in Computer Science for 1/1/07 - 12/31/07 was approved by the Board of Review.

The Council members were notified that on December 13 they would be asked to elect a member to serve in place of Dr. Bill Leslie while he is on leave in Spring. It was pointed out that with Professor Leslie going on leave, there will be only one humanist left on Council. The Provost added for the benefit of the new Council members that Council uses these special elections as an opportunity to rebalance area representation with short-term replacements. A Council member reminded everyone to contact people in advance to see if they would be willing to serve.

Open discussion. The Council discussed diversity on campus and how Council could be involved in improving the campus climate for women and minorities. Provost Knapp reported that President Brody has asked two people to chair a commission on improving the campus climate. They are Charlene Hayes, the Vice President for Human Resources, and Mike Weisfeldt, Chair of the Department of Medicine in the School of Medicine. The commission will have participation by faculty, students and staff. The Council secretaries, Professors Greg Ball and Veena Das, will develop a plan for Council's further discussion of these issues.

Remarks by the Chair. Provost Knapp said that since the November 8 Council meeting, sanctions against the Sigma Chi fraternity have been announced. Disciplinary actions against individual students cannot be reported because the student privacy is legally protected. President Brody and Provost Knapp met with local NAACP representatives to discuss relations between the University and the surrounding community. University programs and other contributions to the surrounding community, include $160 million of uncompensated and unreimbursed medical care in East Baltimore, the participation of hundreds of Hopkins students in tutoring programs, and the Baltimore Scholars program, which has about forty students and expends about $1.5 million a year in general funds. One of the sanctions on the fraternity is that it is required to hold eight cultural events. Student Affairs will be working with the fraternity to make sure those events are educational. Provost Knapp said that Hopkins welcomed the input of the NAACP on those events.

The meeting adjourned at 4:28 p.m.

© 2007 The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, Maryland. All rights reserved.
Last updated 16Jan07 by dgips@jhu.edu