 "Photo:")
A student rally against class cuts and an improvised march on the superintendent's office has escalated to near open warfare between the faculty and Southwestern College Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra, who ordered four faculty members placed on administrative leave pending a hearing to consider "criminal charges."
Associated Student Organization President Chris Debauche and members of the student government organized the Oct. 22 rally to protest a 26 percent cut in classes ordered by Chopra for the spring semester. More than 300 showed up for the rally, scheduled for 11 a.m. to noon at the campus free speech area adjacent to the cafeteria. At noon about 50 students marched towards Chopra's office, where they were met by about 10 campus police officers who blocked all four of the sidewalks leading to the superintendent's office. For 15-20 minutes students called for Chopra to come out and speak with them. Chopra had left campus earlier to avoid the rally.
Protestors, joined briefly by English Professor Phil Lopez, asked campus police to allow them to pass. When police refused to budge two or three students became loud and taunted police officers for a few minutes, but no arrests were made.
Bryon Pavlacka, 22, an astronomy major, said students wanted a peaceful and meaningful way to express their frustration over ruinous class cuts, which will top 40 percent over one year.
"People wanted a chance to speak which is why we had this rally," said Pavlacka. "But they put the rally in the free speech zone where we're apparently allowed to talk and they limit how long we can amplify our voices. We have an hour to talk and that's not right, nobody hears us over there."
Former ASO member Jovan Pulido said things need to change.
"This administration is not listening to the students. We need our classes for next semester," he said. "We may not run Southwestern College, we do not run it. But we do make Southwestern College run and we need our voices heard now."
Student collected signatures on a petition to save classes. Students will not be able to present the petition to Chopra for at least three weeks as he is on vacation in India.
ASO leaders said they are planning another campus rally for November, but did not yet have a date.
DeBauche said he was summoned by college administrators and questioned about his role. He accused Chopra and other administrators of attempting to silence him.
Scores of college employees have implored the board to reverse the administrative leaves and end the controversy. Dozens have called for Chopra's immediate termination for violations of federal free speech laws and use of intimidation tactics against faculty, classified employees and students.
Be the first to comment on this article!