It’s been a wild week. On Tuesday, I heard an amazing rumor about Irvine Valley College's Police Chief, and, after a brief investigative episode that had been inspired by a flash of common sense, I had verification. An hour later, I posted the story on the blog. Later, I filled it out a bit.The response has been amazing. All week, people kept coming up to me—to me and to my partner in crime, Reb—thanking us for keeping them informed.
It’s been weird, too. At one point, three or four college employees—new acquaintances for us, but long-time employees—were in our office, explaining about some new outrage on campus, the subject of a future blog posting. Somehow, they got the notion that my office mate could help them out. That’s why they were there.
One fellow did most of the talking. It suddenly occurred to him to mention something. In a hushed voice, he turned to us and said, “Have you read"—he looked over his shoulder, then turned back to us—"the blog?”
“The blog?” we asked.
“Yeah.” He briefly looked behind him again. “The one that explains about the Chief and all that kinda stuff.”
The fellow had the look of a guy who was admitting to owning a copy of The Secret Life of Gerbils.
After a few bewildered seconds, my office mate and I said, “We are the blog!”
Since Tuesday, about a dozen people with cocked eyebrows and knowing looks have stopped me to praise “the blog,” something they clearly enjoy or value.
Even some administrators and managers.
“I had no idea about that,” said one, referring to Tuesday's posting. “Nobody tells us anything.”
“This place is nuts,” he added.
One SC administrator told me that, on Tuesday, he was on the phone with someone about some pressing issue. But the two seemed not to be on the same page. The person on the phone finally suggested that he (the administrator) had better go find out “what’s going on.” She wasn’t about to say it herself. Not on a district phone line.
“Just, um, go to the faculty. They know” She seemed to be alluding to some specific source. But what?
It finally occurred to the administrator, he now told me, to read the blog. So he went there. Voila!
These encounters haven’t been entirely positive. Yesterday, I encountered a certain well-paid college employee who interrupted his conversation with his colleagues to scold me. Half-jokingly, he said, “Hey, you missed some really juicy stuff.”
“Like what?”
“You’ve heard about the credit card, I suppose?”
Yes, I had. Allegedly, a certain college official had been using the college credit card to pay for gas for his car.
“Scandal-wise, that’s strictly chump change around here,” I said. After a few seconds, I mentioned a rumor I had heard: “I guess I’ve heard something about pornography on computers. And not just at the library.”
The employee then explained that that same college official was in the habit of forwarding graphic and objectionable materials via email.
That wasn’t the only problem with that “official.” There’ve been lots of complaints about his conduct. Some of them formal. Evidently, former VPI Dennis White had long been trying to rein the guy in, for the college’s sake.
“So this stuff has been going on for a long time? Why didn’t Glenn (Roquemore, IVC’s President) just fire the guy? Why put up with all this crap?”
He looked disappointed. “Well, you know as well as I do how things work here. At a certain level in this district”—his body language made clear that he was referring to the highest level—“once you are accepted as part of that little culture up there, well, you know. You’re protected.”
Yes, I knew.
After a few seconds, he added, “Raghu hired him, you know.”
He didn’t need to say that. Everyone in the room knew.
We all know.
17 comments:
Everybody knows that the boat it leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody has got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died...
If anyone is at all surprised about this, will they raise hands?
I'm waiting.
ever hear of due process, chunky? don't crucify the poor guy just from what you hear from a bunch of paranoid ingrates. you certainly won't let anyone forget how you felt when you stood tall in front of el Cedric. boy, that experience sure made you whine. yet here you are doing the same thing using nothing but gossip in your indictment of a fellow who obviously has a lot of enemies. what-a-hypocrite!
"The fellow had the look of a guy who was admitting to owning a copy of The Secret Life of Gerbils."
LMAO!!!!!!
The Fifth Amendment of the U.S Constitution and section I.7 of the California Constitution guarantee due process only with regard to the operation of law. SOCCCD human resources policies and procedures do not have standing as law, although they must conform to law. Therefore, your assertion of "due process" is misplaced, especially because, as far as I know, no administrative proceeding is contemplated. The only court in operation is the court of public opinion. You could, Mr. Anonymous 3.19, bring contrary evidence to light.
Wow, must be Friday the 13th....BOO!
I love the Cohen brothers - Leonard and Jonathan!
read the ed code cohen. every employee group, including cops, are provided due process, even in administrative proceedings. and did you ever hear of government code section 3300 et al? you must have gone to the same law school gensler attended. get your money back.
I'm no lawyer, and neither are you, but your point is well taken. Nonetheless, Section 3300 of the Government Code is about procedural rights for peace officers and their administrators; where is the equivalent language in the Education Code for educators and their administrators?
Hint: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Here you are, cohen. read and learn.
EdCodeSection 88121. No person in the permanent classified service shall be demoted or removed except for reasonable cause designated by rule of the commission as detrimental to the efficiency of the service. This section shall not be construed to prevent layoffs for lack of work or lack of funds.
ALSO -
Public Employees Rights to Due Process: Skelly. The California Supreme Court has determined that public employees have certain due process protections on the job. In a landmark case, the Skelly case, the Court ruled that public employees are entitled to a "pre-disciplinary hearing."
This means that an employee must be given a written notice of proposed disciplinary action. The notice must include
a statement of the nature of the proposed discipline the effective date of the proposed discipline the reasons for the discipline the specific policy or rule violated
a statement advising the employee of the right to respond orally or in writing.
The blog reports -- it doesn't "crucify" - it doesn't have the power to do so. It doesn't have any power at all.
The people with the power need to follow the rules, observe due process, etc - not that they intend to - Wayne Ward case in point - why don't you take it up with him?
I’m taking it up with you, ginga, because "the blog" is nothing more than a liberal gossip colume that bottom feeds on discontent and innuendo.
ginga?
"ginga" is Japanese for galaxy. He's calling you a galaxy.
A little advice. Stop encouraging this guy. Just ignore him.
yes - don't feed the trolls! Let them live udner the bridge!
It's no troll - it's Patrick!
Post a Comment