MEChA, community discuss District diversity concerns

Marc Dean & Larry Gulliford,

Staff Reporters

The Voice

Dec. 11, 2003

MEChA students from across the district filled MCCD Governing Board meeting Tuesday in an attempt to seek resolution regarding two issues affecting Hispanic students at Glendale Community College and Phoenix College.

Yesenia Martinez, GCC MEChA spokesperson, addressed the governing board on how the students felt about “insensitive” remarks made by math professor Walter Kehowski in email on a district wide server list. “We are bringing this issue to the attention of the Governing Board” said, Martinez following her address to the board.

Other students from GCC told the board how they felt about Kehowski’s views expressed on a faculty website.

“It disrupts the education process,” said Gabriel Cruz GCC MEChA member, “If the District is not upholding its own policy, there is a loss of trust.”

“We understand that academic freedom stops at the classroom door,” said Johnny Ray Martinez Jr., GCC MEChA member. Martinez continued, “The misuse of public resources by professor Kehowski has disrupted the educational environment.”

Daniel Ortega, local activist lawyer, spoke in defense of Phoenix College President Dr. Corina Gardea, “It’s hard to believe but, there are members that are pressuring Dr. Glasper to find a way not to renew Dr. Gardea’s contract. We are here to talk about the hidden agenda.”

The alleged agenda Ortega referred to has been the purported mishandling of hiring Hispanic candidates at higher levels in the district.

These two issues have now received the attention of Rep. Steve Gallardo who said, “Board members Gene Eastin, Linda Rosenthal, and Nancy Stein have really put a lot of pressure on the Chancellor not to renew Corina’s contract.”

Rep. Gallardo is also concerned with student complaints about faculty emails.

“I’m going to ask officially of Glendale Community College to start enforcing their policy or introduce legislation to start an enforcement of current policy; possibly even make changes in policy.” said, Gallardo.

“The bottom line is that there are many issues facing the Latino community, it’s time for them (the District) to start paying attention to a lot of these issues that are sensitive,” said Gallardo.

GCC Associated Student Government also showed its solidarity with MEChA at the meeting and presented the board with a letter written by Associated Student Government.

“The letter was sent out in response to the issue of Kehowski, this is a letter the students made. It shows where we stand as students.” said John Misirlakis GCC student body president. Misirlakis continued, “You see how many people came today, how active the community is, we as students take action as a community together, as a college together.”