printable versionBlowin' away: Senate pays tribute to outgoing chair Eric Roberts
BY RAY DELGADO
As chair of the 38th Senate of the Academic Council, computer science Professor Eric Roberts was a model of parliamentary efficiency, and his colleagues recognized that skill, and others, with a prolonged round of applause Thursday at the senate's final meeting of the year.
Senate Vice Chair Al Camarillo led the tribute to Roberts by praising the "great care and expediency" with which he led senate proceedings. Camarillo noted that Roberts, in an effort to streamline procedures, adopted parliamentary rules that few senate chairs before him had thought to use, and he also recognized Roberts for implementing time limits for various reports and discussions to make sure that no subject got too much or too little attention.
"You did all of this and more with a smile on your face and with wit and charm," Camarillo said. "And for this, we thank you for your able leadership of this august body."
Sheri Sheppard, professor of mechanical engineering, has been elected chair of the 39th Senate.
Camarillo remarked that he thought that the pony-tailed and laid-back Roberts was one of the coolest people he first met when he arrived at Stanford many years ago, and so he adapted the song "Blowin' in the Wind," by Bob Dylan, to pay tribute to him:
How many times did we hear him say unanimous consent is the way? /And how many times did he limit reports, report after boring report? / The answer, my senators, is sitting in this chair; the answer is Eric, our dear chair. / How many times did he lead us upstairs—he thought executive sessions were such fun? / And how many meetings did he end right on time? He kept a tight rein on us all. / The answer, my colleagues, is sitting in this chair; the answer is our distinguished senate chair.
Camarillo then presented Roberts with the gift of a gavel, while senators and guests gave him a boisterous round of applause. Roberts thanked his fellow senators and various committee leaders and then quickly got the meeting back on track with the business at hand.