The Faculty Senate Executive Committee issued a memo to the Vanderbilt administration this past weekend condemning the HBO boxing special held at Memorial Gymnasium. "Although boxing - a form of spectator brutality that celebrates violence - remains legal and in some circles (a) popular activity, it is one with which we would think a university devoted to ideals of reason, compassion and humanity would elect not to associate," said the memo.

The committee said it believed Vanderbilt's status as an internationally renowned academic medical center disqualifies boxing events from coming to campus. They cite the official positions of several international and national medical associations, all of which call for the prohibition of boxing.

"The World Medical Association, for example, which represents physicians from dozens of countries, condemns boxing as an activity whose 'basic intent is to produce bodily harm in the opponent,' one that 'produces an alarming incidence of chronic brain injury,'" the memo said.

Additionally, the committee characterized Saturday's fight as contrary to the fundamental mission of the university.

"Vanderbilt University's mission statement avers that the institution puts paramount value on equality, compassion and excellence in all endeavors. As a blood sport that glorifies violence and invites paying spectators to do likewise boxing has no place in an institution that subscribes to these values," the memo said.

The Faculty Senate is comprised of 48 elected members, nine deans of the colleges and schools and 19 ex-officio members, including the chancellor. It is designed to oversee the governance of university affairs. The memo was drafted by the six-member Executive Committee and does not express the sentiment of the entire Faculty Senate.