Bloomington Faculty Council presents 2nd draft of Gen. Peter Pace resolution

At the Bloomington Faculty Council’s meeting Tuesday at the Indiana Memorial Union, the council discussed its resolution about General Peter Pace and how the Kelley School of Business invited him to speak and honored him with the Poling Chair of Business and Government in 2008.

The BFC Diversity and Affirmative Action Committee drafted the resolution proposing the BFC’s “regret that Gen. Pace was brought to campus in a way that was offensive to the gay and lesbian community.”

Controversy regarding the business school’s decision to honor Pace started as a result of Pace’s beliefs toward homosexuality and his support for the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibits openly homosexual citizens from serving in the military.

Alex Tanford, the chair of the committee, said the procedure the Kelley School of Business took to bring Pace to campus was not carried out well and that it was upsetting to the gay and lesbian community.

“Both the University policy and the mission of the Affirmative Action Committee is to worry about minority groups who face discrimination,” Tanford said.

The resolution presented Tuesday was the second draft of a proposal originally written in November. The committee received concerns and suggested changes. Tanford addressed these changes and answered questions from BFC members.

Some of the concerns included the question of whether the Pace controversy is actually a campus issue. Other arguments discussed whether the resolution would affect speakers brought to campus and also military recruitment.

The discussion was cut short to focus on other items on the agenda, but the issue will continue at the Feb. 17 meeting. The plan is to vote on the resolution.

BFC President Herb Terry said the council could either pass, table or amend the resolution at that meeting. But whatever the decision is, Terry said he is happy the issue is creating conversation on campus.

“This is more important than it first seems,” Terry said. “It involves freedom of speech, and it involves controversy.”