Penny Clay said her husband would have wanted the Faculty Senate to meet Tuesday.

Her husband, the late Luis Clay-Mendez, was commemorated by the senate in an official resolution written by English professors Anne Zahlan and Bonnie Irwin:

“… Whereas, his example of engagement and service inspired his students, colleagues and fellow citizens, and his generosity of spirit and love of life brought joy to all who knew him; therefore be it resolved, that the Faculty Senate of Eastern Illinois University hereby honors the life and legacy of Luis Clay-Mendez and deeply mourns his passing.”

Mr. Clay-Mendez died Friday at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital because of heart ailments. The senate meeting was cut short by an hour and a half to allow members to attend Clay-Mendez’s visitation and mass service at Newman Catholic Center that afternoon.

Casual wardrobe was replaced with formal wear, all in honor for Mr. Clay-Mendez, the senate’s recorder and the 2003 Distinguished Faculty Award winner. Psychology professor Steve Schrer thought a student scholarship and a distinguished service faculty award should be created in Mr. Clay-Mendez’s honor.

Senate Chair David Carpenter said the Spanish department is in the process of creating a student scholarship, but said establishing a faculty award was “an outstanding idea.”

A subcommittee consisting of eight senate members will work with the Student Senate to establish the guidelines for the faculty award.

“The more the merrier,” Schrer said.

The senate discussed two other matters, but suspended further action until a later date. Nominations for two faculty board positions were also accepted.

Business professor Matthew Monippallil said he will resign from the senate effective immediately, if possible, or at the end of the semester.

He brought up five points:

u his resignation.

u clarification that he believed he voted wrong last week for the resolution stating the search should end.

u he believes interim President Lou Hencken is a capable leader, but he did not believe Hencken could truly lead a university.

u Suggestions for reform to the senate’s format. He believes the senate should be more pro-action instead of reacting to campus events.

u He did not believe the Board of Trustees was qualified, as a group, to lead the university.

“There is a difference between industry and university,” Monippallil said.

Monippallil cited the issue of Hencken not having a doctoral or terminal degree, along with the the fact he had never been a full-time faculty member as reasons why he questioned Hencken’s leadership.

The Board of Trustees, who voted 6-1 to offer a contract extension to Hencken Sept. 30, said his rapport with state legislators along with his ability to raise private donations were his strong attributes.

Monippallil does not think the board members have enough time to dedicate themselves to the university, citing the “preemptive decision” in the presidential search and delayed or rushed board meetings as examples.

“When this university, a combination of students, faculty, staff and administrators are running this university at the highest caliber in the state,” he said. “You expect your president be at the highest level, you expect the Board of Trustees to be at the highest level.”

Numerous senators pleaded with Monippallil to reconsider his position.

In another issue, English professor John Allison said Mr. Clay-Mendez told him he would have motioned for a vote of confidence in the board.

Two faculty members, Joseph E.G. Williams, a psychology professor, was added to the Intercollegiate Athletic Board and Dawn Van Gunten, a secondary education professor, was added to the Record and Registration Advisory Committee.