Tag Archives: Southwestern College

San Diego: SWC Professors Won’t Face Charges Over Campus Rally

10news.com: SWC Professors Won’t Face Charges Over Campus Rally

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Criminal charges will not be filed against three Southwestern College professors involved in a recent on-campus rally, 10News reported

On Friday, about 300 students and faculty members rallied in protest of the school’s free speech rules.

“I think we’re all here because we love this college,” said Rep. Bob Filner, who joined the rally against Southwestern College’s rules regarding when and where students can gather to protest.

When Is a Suspension Not a Suspension?

Inside Higher Ed: When Is a Suspension Not a Suspension?

Officials at Southwestern College, a community college outside San Diego, moved Friday to explain why three faculty members have been barred from teaching or stepping foot on the campus for more than a week, but the answers aren’t quelling faculty anger.

The college has been facing scrutiny over its action against four professors (one of whom was soon permitted to resume teaching) the day after a student-organized campus protest against budget cuts, and about how the administration has responded to them. While the college didn’t explain why it barred the professors — including the president of the faculty union — from the campus, officials denied that the move had anything to do with the protest.

More Anger After College Statement on Suspension of 4 Profs

Inside Higher Ed: More Anger After College Statement on Suspension of 4 Profs

Southwestern College, a community college outside San Diego, has been under fire since last week’s suspension of four faculty members, following a protest that criticized the administration. With professors saying that they are being punished for expressing their views, the college late Monday issued a new statement — but that statement (while noting that one suspension has been lifted) only further angered the professors. The statement says: “Four faculty members were placed on paid administrative leave on Thursday, October 22, 2009, and three faculty members remain on paid administrative leave at this time, pending the outcome of the investigation. Please understand that no formal charges or allegations have been made against any College faculty member or employee at this time. The student rally held between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on October 22, 2009, is not the focus of the investigation. The college is investigating safety and security issues that arose after the approved organized student rally. The college respects, values and is committed to lawful free expression and the student rally provided an opportunity for our students to voice their concerns and to underscore the challenges that all community college students, and community colleges, are experiencing. The college is committed to maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff, which is the focus of the investigation.”

College officials did not respond to requests for clarifications on the statement. But Philip Lopez, an English professor who is president of the faculty union, said that the statement only added to the questions about the incident. If the college is now on record as saying that there are no charges or allegations, why is it appropriate to remove faculty members from their classes and ban them from campus, he asked. Lopez said this action violates basic due process rights. “If there are no charges, why were we placed on leave?,” he asked. “Rumor? Reputation? Union-busting? Poor personal hygiene?”

Can Free Speech Be Furloughed?

Inside Higher Ed: Can Free Speech Be Furloughed?

On Thursday, several hundred students at Southwestern College, a community college outside of San Diego, held a peaceful protest over budget cuts that are leading to the cancellation of more than 400 additional course sections next semester. On Friday, the students got a sign that someone was paying attention to the protest, but they didn’t get the response they wanted: Four faculty members were immediately suspended and barred from the campus or using the campus e-mail system.