To see an online version of the faculty senate resolution, click here.
A resolution sponsored by the Faculty Senate seeks to make Memorial Day, celebrated the last Monday of each May, an official University holiday. But the creation of this holiday would require the loss of one of the current 14 annual holidays allowed by the state, and that possible change has drawn a negative response from the Staff Senate.Faculty Senate Resolution 08-16, sponsored by Senator Edward Laws of the School of the Coast and Environment, cites the military service of University faculty, staff and students as reason to officially observe the holiday.”As a public institution heavily dependent on state and federal tax dollars, LSU should observe Memorial Day fully and annually,” the resolution explains.But the Staff Senate disagrees with this idea because of the logistical problems it would cause.University employees are allowed 14 holidays per year. The designation of Memorial Day as an official holiday would require one of the other holidays to become a regular work day.”Our holidays are locked in. We have a mandated number from the state,” said Patricia Beste, Staff Senate president.Beste stressed the staff isn’t against the celebration of Memorial Day but rather the choice that would have to be made regarding giving up a holiday.”We’re all in favor of paying tribute to our men and women in uniform,” Beste said. “But there’s not an easy way to make this choice with the locked in days that we have.”As both senior associate registrar and Staff Senate President, Beste has a unique perspective on the situation. She said a calendar change would be a serious decision and a hard choice to make.”The initial idea was that it would come from one of the Christmas holidays,” said Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope.University employees get seven days off for Christmas and the New Year. But Beste said there is not much leeway with those days, and giving up one of them would be difficult.Cope acknowledges it would be a tough decision and said the resolution has been revised.”The new version, after discussion, says that it would be up to the University to decide which day [would be given up],” Cope said.The resolution now directs the administration and registrar to consider what holiday would be appropriate to sacrifice, Cope said.Beste said it is appropriate that the staff be involved in exploring this idea because a Memorial Day holiday would affect all staff members but few faculty members, as it would take place during spring intersession when many faculty members are not on campus.”I’m very pleased that they recognized the role the staff plays in this decision-making process,” she said.To make time for discussion between the senates, the resolution was tabled at the faculty’s last meeting.”I think the faculty has decided, by tabling the motion, not to do anything at all until the conversation with the staff occurs,” Cope said. “The faculty is hesitant to make a bold move without consulting staff.”Cope said if talks between faculty and staff go well, the resolution will have its second formal reading and be held to a vote at the faculty meeting in February. If it passes, University administrators would then decide whether or not to implement the policy.
 
 
 
—-Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]