Comments on: Editorial: Southwestern College community wants answers!

By: Ramin Moshiri

Ramin Moshiri — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:50:27 +0000

As a long time resident of Chula Vista, and someone who taught and studied at Southwestern College in 2009, UCSD Extension and other institutions of higher education, I was deeply saddened but not surprised to learn that Southwestern College is placed on probation. Four (4) of the ten (10) issues date back to the 1996 and 2003 accreditation reviews.

According to the trustee handbook from Community College League of California, “The ultimate criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the board and the CEO are how well the institution is meeting its goals and fulfilling its mission. If the institution is not succeeding in educating students, the board and the CEO must look at their own performance as the leadership team of the district. Positive assessments of board and CEO performance mean little if their colleges are in trouble.”

I look forward to La Prensa San Diego’s quality investigative reports on Southwestern College governance as time is running out and a quick turn-around is in order. The only positive thing about SWC being placed on probation is that hopefully be our rock bottom and the end of being in denial. The consequences for not doing so is grave for the community, specially the students that have and are taking classes that need to be transferred to a 4-year school of their choice.

You might be interested to learn that community members like me are stepping forward to challenge the SWC board incumbents. Please visit my blog at http://raminmoshiri.com/swc and let’s begin a dialogue about the direction you believe SWC should be headed in.

By: chula vista mother of 3

chula vista mother of 3 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:21:54 +0000

Why on earth has no one heard from the very absent Supt/Pres of Southwestern College in these times of crisis? Where on GOOGLE-EARTH is he that he has not responded by blackberry, email, voicemail, twitter, fax, letter or telephone?

How could he possibly make the claim that he is concerned about either students, faculty, or the community after obviously avoiding any contact?

This is very irresponsible.

By: Francesca

Francesca — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:10:12 +0000

the link was lost: http://students.berkeley.edu/uga/pc626.stm

By: Francesca

Francesca — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:09:33 +0000

The letter delivered to the three teachers from the campus citied Penal Code 626.4a, described below:

“Basis for Exclusion. Under Section 626.4, a student, University employee, or member of the public may be excluded from the campus where there is reasonable cause to believe that the individual has engaged in an activity which (1) willfully disrupts the orderly operation of the campus and (2) is illegal under criminal statutes other than Section 626.4. More specifically, the State Supreme Court has determined that the individual’s conduct or words must “. . . constitute, or incite to, a substantial and material physical disruption incompatible with the peaceful functioning of the academic institution and of those upon its campus.” Thus, individuals may be excluded from the campus under Section 626.4 for the following types of behavior when it has resulted in a substantial and material physical disruption: assault, battery, physical disruption of buildings, destruction of property, and physical intimidation of students or employees” (taken from ).

In short, suspension of the campus professors is an unusually harsh punishment for participation in a peaceful protest.

Why hasn’t the administration prioritized the needs of students–their professors–at such a crucial point in the semester? What is the purpose of a public university? Why is Southwestern College being governed by fear when we all have our rights to free speech and assembly?

By: Concerned citizen

Concerned citizen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:25:40 +0000

More and more, SWC administration acts like most governments in corrupted third-world countries. They put their needs first (the president get a raise), and they forget about the people they are supposed to serve (cut not 10% but 25% of classes). They enrich themselves and help all they pals (hire more administrators) in the backs on their constituents (our students). As citizens of the South Bay, we most protect the only institution of Higher Ed in our area.
This is the only place where most of our young people can afford to attend after HS. The place where so many learn English so they can be productive citizens of this country and pursue their dreams. A place where so many students get inspired, motivated and supported in their educational goals. It is a shame that SWC, a place that brings us pride because of the outstanding faculty members who teach, do research, publish books at the National level, create innovative programs, get grants and nation wide prizes, is ran by a president who has lost sight of the mission of the college and has spread a culture of fear and retaliation.
When will the Board wake up to this reality? Maybe not until next elections when our community will send them a huge “NO TO INCUMBENTS @ SWC Board” message.

By: Save Our Southwestern College

Save Our Southwestern College — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:32:50 +0000

Thank you, La Prensa!

For up-to-date info about the SWC suspensions, class cuts, and budget news, please see our blog at http://saveourswc.blogspot.com and/or follow us on twitter (@saveourswc)

By: Philip Lopez

Philip Lopez — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:12:30 +0000

I’ve copied below my response to today’s editorial in the Union-Tribune. My letter does not speak to the suspensions at SWC (and I am one of the three who was suspended), but it does address the college budget.

Your editorial “Community colleges in a vise” omits some very important facts about Southwestern College.

First, no one is proposing that we “drain college reserves” to provide classes for students. At the most recent Governing Board meeting, the public was informed that saving 429 class sections would cost anywhere from $1.3 to $1.7 million. Our current unrestricted reserves are about $11.5 million.

The State Chancellor’s Office recommends a “prudent minimum reserve” of 5%. Reserves at Southwestern College are 11.6%. Simple arithmetic reveals that this is more than twice what is recommended.

Next, your editorial states that faculty could “volunteer to take a pay cut” to help balance the budget. In 2003, faculty voted to do exactly that. However, we were inspired by the leadership of then-President Norma Hernandez who, in another bad budget year, served as Superintendent/President while receiving a Vice President’s pay.

In contrast, our current President, Raj Chopra, got an 8% pay raise last year. No one else on campus received a raise, and, in a bad budget year, we weren’t looking for one. Chopra also gets a $20,000/year housing allowance. His total compensation–salary, housing allowance, car allowance, discretionary expense account, health benefits, and retirement—totals $250,000/year.

Finally, last Spring, the Governing Board filled two vacant administrative positions. If you look at the school website, you will find that the District plans to hire four more new administrators this semester.

While it is certainly true that community colleges are “in a vise,” it is not only “militants” who are suggesting that cuts should begin from the top down, that sacrifices should be shared, or that students—the very heart of our institution—should be the last to be cut.

Philip Lopez
President
Southwestern College Education Association

By: Coffee Girl

Coffee Girl — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:52:30 +0000

The suspension of these professors was an obvious act of retaliation and union-busting. What this article doesn’t say is that there was a fourth professor who was initially suspended, along with the three others. She was a former president of the teachers’ union. All four of these professors have been outspoken regarding Chopra’s inadequacies and disregard for the well-being of the students. After the suspensions were delivered, it was revealed that the fourth teacher suspended didn’t even attend the protest, so the suspension was rescinded.

Chopra had been waiting for his chance to retaliate against these professors. What he didn’t count on was this campus and surrounding community’s strength and commitment to doing what is right.

While he’s away on “vacation,” the campus community is strengthening its resolve and is determined, now more than ever, to toss Chopra out.

By: Jerry Williams

Jerry Williams — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:05:11 +0000

As a parent of a daughter that attends Southwestern College, I have been watching the workings of Raj Chopra very closely. In my opinion he has done a number of unforgivable actions. I am very happy to see that your paper is finally starting to see the real Raj in his true autocratic management style! I don’t know if you follow the UT articles about Raj, but it was very clear to me that Raj has or had friends in high places in the UT, which published their anonymous articles! Last week I was very pleased to see that a brave UT writer penned a factual article about Raj and put her name on it! He was caught lifting a message from an airline magazine and in my opinion has no experience or talent in running a college. Please continue to expose the true Raj to the people that really matter, the students, their families, and the voting public. I for one would like to see the college run by a professional with impeccable ethics and true leadership skills .

Thank you

Jerry

By: SWC Teacher

SWC Teacher — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:34:47 +0000

Thanks to La Prensa for seeing past the SWC administration’s claims that it is doing everything correctly in the light of funding cuts. The facts are that the unions brought the idea of a 2% pay cut to the table in order to save classes, which was rejected by the administration, as was a proposal to start spending some of the reserve millions as other community colleges are doing. Cuts range from 20% of class sections to over 29% in one department.

The teachers are fighting for our students–We believe that there are other ways to save the money than by such drastic cuts–more drastic than any other community college in San Diego County. We ask the community to stand with us and with our students and ask the board to replace Dr. Chopra and spend some of the reserve money to preserve more courses by opening sections when waiting lists fill up in Spring.

Our college student population is predominately latino. This should not be happening so much worse here than in other colleges. Call your congressman, call the school, email the board members, pray.

–SWC Teacher