A Kansas University governance group has given supporters of professor Dennis Dailey more ammunition as they meet today with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' staff.
University Council, which consists of faculty, staff and students, approved a resolution Thursday encouraging the governor to veto an amendment to the budget bill aimed at cutting funds to Dailey's human sexuality class and the School of Social Welfare.
"The University Council of the University of Kansas believes that the education of Kansans is enhanced when decisions regarding curricular matters, including methods and materials used in pedagogy, are made by the established authorities on the respective state campuses, subject to oversight by the Kansas Board of Regents," the resolution stated.
Several other groups also have denounced the budget amendment, which was inserted by Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, and perhaps could result in KU losing $3.1 million in funding. Wagle said a student complained about the class to her, saying it contained pornography. She would not identify the student.
The other groups opposing the amendment and calling for a veto include the Faculty Senate at Kansas State University, the Lawrence City Commission, KU's Student Senate and the Council of University Faculty Presidents, which consists of the six faculty presidents from state universities in Kansas.
Several KU students, including class member Jen Hein, a Topeka senior, are scheduled to meet this afternoon with Sebelius' staff to explain the quality of the class.
"This helps a lot," Hein said of the resolution. "Basically it's reinforcing the larger issue at hand, because this isn't just the misrepresentation of a professor in a class that's being taken out of context. It's more about academic freedom at the University of Kansas."
The council debated the wording of the resolution for 45 minutes, but focused on academic freedom -- the ability for KU to choose what it teaches in classrooms -- and not the content of Dailey's class.
Some council members, including Nancy Baym, associate professor of communication studies, urged stronger wording.
University Council resolution on sex-ed
6News video: Kansas Legislature puts amendment into budget bill (4-4-03)"This is as far as we're willing to go out on a limb?" she asked. "We're going to look like a bunch of wusses in the public eye."
But Larry Draper, professor of molecular biosciences, said he thought the resolution, which will be sent to Sebelius and legislators, should focus on the complaint process on campus that the student could have used instead of complaining to Wagle.
"The main issue is that there is a mechanism in place to handle these kinds of things," he said. "We didn't go into issues of micromanagement."
Mohamed El-Hodiri, professor of economics, agreed.
"It's about academic freedom," he said. "If it offends someone, there are avenues of complaint."
It's unlikely Sebelius would veto the amendment before the Legislature reconvenes for its wrap-up session, which begins April 30. While she has not indicated whether she will veto it, Sebelius has said she opposed the amendment as an attempt by the Legislature to micromanage higher education.
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