FSEC members asked the Academic Freedom Committee to present the resolution to the full senate at its Dec. 10 meeting if Ryan has not by then "fixed" the situation. At press time, no action had been taken by Ryan.

The resolution, adapted from one passed by the Faculty Senate at the College at Purchase, asks Ryan and the trustees "to stop the current attack on the College of New Paltz, which is an attack on the entire State University and on its faculty, and to reaffirm the core principles of academic freedom and free speech." It was introduced by senate Chair Peter Nickerson, professor of pathology, at the FSEC's Nov. 19 meeting in response to severe criticism of New Paltz President Roger Bowen and a controversial conference on sexuality held at New Paltz on Nov. 1.

SUNY Trustee Candace de Russy has called for Bowen's resignation because he allowed the Women's Studies Program at New Paltz to present a conference on women's sexuality that addressed such topics as sadomasochism, lesbianism and the use of sex toys.

Bowen has said that while he personally found some of the topics of the conference objectionable, it would have infringed upon constitutional rights to free expression if he had censored them.

Gov. George Pataki, who also has criticized the subject matter of the conference, has asked Ryan to investigate the issue. Ryan has said publicly that he supports Bowen.

Discussion of the resolution by FSEC members did not address the merits of the resolution, but rather procedural matters.

Nickerson said the FSEC had two options on the resolution: refer it to the Academic Freedom Committee or approve it itself, with the "expectation" that the resolution would be presented to the full Senate at its Dec. 10 meeting.

Jack Meacham, professor of psychology, suggested the FSEC could approve a resolution of its own, as well as refer this resolution to the Academic Freedom Committee for consideration by the full senate, "with two resolutions coming forward from our campus."

Maureen Jameson, associate professor of modern languages and literatures, advised committee members to move cautiously, noting that the FSEC "has very frequently come under fire for taking itself to be the senate and dashing off and seeming to speak for the senate."

James Faran, associate professor of mathematics, noted that Ryan has made a statement to the effect that "'I'm going to deal with this; please let me deal with this.' And it's not entirely clear to me that it would be appropriate for us to say 'go do such-and-such.'"

It might be more appropriate for the senate to let Ryan deal with the matter, Faran said. "Perhaps silence might be the best wayÉGive him a chance to fix it, which he should and I expect him to."

He amended a motion made to refer the resolution to the Academic Freedom Committee, asking the committee to present the resolution to the senate on Dec. 10 "if appropriate." The amended motion was approved unanimously.