Board of Curators conflicted over stem-cell resolution
Published Oct. 9, 2007
Audio: Discussion regarding stem cell resolution
The UM system Board of Curators adopted a resolution Friday to support interim UM system President Gordon Lamb's statement made regarding stem-cell research and academic freedom in Missouri's public universities.
In September, the UM system released the statement blasting a ballot initiative to ban somatic cell nuclear transfer, a type of stem-cell research.
Lamb penned the resolution at the request of Curator Bo Fraser.
Curator Judith Haggard presented the resolution, but it did not appear in the meeting's agenda. Some of the curators expressed displeasure with the manner in which the resolution was brought before the board.
"I don't have a copy of this resolution, and I've never seen a copy of this resolution," Curator David Wasinger said. "What disturbs me is you guys are too embarrassed to put this on the agenda."
Wasinger was not the only curator to voice concern.
"The important thing in the process is we should all do each other the courtesy of notice," Curator Warren Erdman said.
Tony Luetkemeyer, student representative to the Board of Curators, said he felt it was a problem that a copy of the resolution was not circulated to all members of the board before it was introduced in the meeting, which he said is standard procedure.
Some of the curators were also concerned about the university becoming involved in politics.
"We're interjecting this board in the middle of a political battle," Curator Doug Russell said. "I'm not sure that that's in the best interest of this board to get there."
He said he felt the board might be close to overstepping its bounds.
"This is a governing board that deals with governing this institution," he said. "We're not a legislative body."
Lamb said he did not feel that it was a political
statement.
"I see this as an issue that is fundamentally important to this university," he said. "I think we need to do what is right for the university. The politics of this, that's not an issue for me."
Wasinger said he was concerned that the resolution would be a concern in confirming future members to the board.
"We're going to throw ourselves into battle here," he said. "This is going to become a Litmus Test for every member that comes before the state senate to be confirmed for this board."
Wasinger said he was also concerned about passing a resolution regarding somatic cell nuclear transfer, which he said most of the curators were unfamiliar with.
"The vast majority of the board doesn't even know what somatic cell nuclear transfer is," Wasinger said.
Wasinger said he thinks the failure to place the resolution on the agenda was a violation of freedom of information laws.
Wasinger declined to comment further after the meeting.
Curator Marion Cairns said she didn't believe stem-cell research was the major issue in the resolution.
"This whole issue is about academic research," she said. "You can take the stem cells out of it. It's about backing our faculty on research."
Lamb said he did not think the lack of a unanimous vote weakened the resolution.
"I think it's clear the majority of the board of curators support academic freedom and freedom of inquiry and that's terribly important," he said.