Rumor versus the Truth at Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Rumor The Faculty Senate at A&M-Kingsville was a good example of shared governance.
The Truth Some colleges and departments had multiple representatives, and some had none. Almost half of the members—15 of 33—were elected at large, leading to domination by certain larger departments. When university officials attended Senate meetings, they were not allowed to speak, even when they had information pertinent to the topic at hand.
Rumor The Faculty Senate represented the interests of all faculty.
The Truth To cite just a single case in which this was not true, one senator was shouted down by other members when she tried to speak. Her previous attempts to make the Faculty Senate more inclusive of all faculty were rebuffed twice: when her proposed amendment to the constitution on this topic was not seconded, and when the petition she organized, signed by 53 members of the general faculty, was tabled.
Rumor The current situation is a reflection of poor leadership by President Juarez.
The Truth This problem has existed for decades and was the reason for the resignation of at least one previous president.
Rumor President Juarez turned down all of the recommendations for tenure in spring 2003, which prompted the no-confidence vote.
The Truth In Spring 2003, President Juarez turned down only one out of 16 tenure recommendations. He did deny promotions to 15 out of 20 faculty members, but many of them were later promoted.
Rumor The no-confidence vote was representative of the entire faculty.
The Truth Only about a third of the total faculty voted no confidence.
Rumor President Juarez asked the chancellor to fill the External Review Committee with like-minded A&M System administrators.
The Truth He did not ask that the committee include a regent, the chancellor or any other administrator. He specifically requested a committee of faculty senate leaders.
Rumor Members of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee are ineligible for election to the new Faculty Senate.
The Truth Those who served on the Faculty Senate Executive Committee at any time since fall 2003 are ineligible to serve on the Constitutional Task Force only. (The External Review Committee recommended that all members of the Faculty Senate be excluded.)
Rumor The A&M-Kingsville Faculty Senate operated according to A&M System policy.
The Truth A&M System policy 12.04 states that “There may be created in each component university and the health science center an academic council and/or a faculty senate. These bodies, if established, shall serve in an advisory capacity to the president.” There is no policy requiring that a president’s decisions be approved by the Faculty Senate.