The new speaker of the A&M Faculty Senate came under fire for suggesting opening future meetings with what he called “a brief inspiring inclusive invocation” given by a chaplain.
Walter Daugherity compared it to what is done by the U.S., Texas, and A&M Student Senate’s; adding “a larger purpose is for us as Senators to model one of our core Aggie values, namely respect”.
Comments from Walter Daugherity.
Among the Senators opposed to an invocation, Tom Linton drew cheers and laughs when he said “To pattern our Faculty Senate like either one of the Senate’s that are in operation in either Austin or Washington now, if that’s the guiding light, then you’re going down the wrong path.”
Comments from Tom Linton.
Daugherity said he consulted with three former speakers. A fourth, Clint Magill, was opposed, saying “We’re here for serious business. We don’t have to have some religious of any presence of any sort as far as I am concerned.”
Comments from Clint Magill.
Supporters, who included Bedford Clark, said “I find in this room a palpable hostility to people like me, who would like the university to at least recognize the possibility of a higher being in a tentative way if nothing else.”
Comments from Bedford Clark.
Three days later there was an emergency meeting of the Senate’s executive committee, where it was announced there would be no chaplain.
Click HERE to read a statement issued by the Speaker to Senate members.