President Neil L. Rudenstine, chair of the meeting, initially hesitated before eventually recognizing Simons.
"The chair's response was quite deliberate," Fox says. "The dean's answer was also quite deliberate."
Simons, who had never attended a faculty meeting before last Tuesday, says he understands the basis for Knowles' response but says he feels justified in asking the Faculty for answers.
"It seemed that the Faculty Council's decision had been made with substantial misinformation," Simons says.
Other Undergraduate Council members present at the meeting say they support Simons' decision to confront the Faculty.
"I don't think he went too far," says council Treasurer Edward B. Smith III '97, who spoke at last month's Faculty meeting. "I think it was something we had to do."
Matthew W. Granade contributed to the reporting of this story.