The SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT —
"[The] blog he developed was something that made the district better." - Tim Jemal, SOCCCD BoT President, 7/24/23
It's all Pride rainbows. Some will tell you that the administrators so present at today's event did not attend IVC's first ever Pride in 2018 when this photo was taken. Yes, that's Rebel Girl in green on the left, with the big chip on her shoulder.
LAST year during August FLEXweek, IVC denizens who showed up to the President's Welcome were treated to information about the dangers of texting while driving and advised how they too could sign up for the services offered by the Automobile Club of America, aka Triple A, a favorite organization of Rebel Girl who still can't change a tire on her own but not what she, or many others expected from FLEX week. You can read all about last year here: Flex Week Follies. This year was a very different story.
Gone was the usual triumphal braggadocio. In its place, the college president offered personal testimony about how he understood his place of privilege and shared his own story of encountering diversity and that of his wife. This was followed by two noted equity in education activists - The Campaign for College Opportunity's Audrey Dow and USC's Dr. Shaun Harper - who notably did not ask us to sign up for Triple A insurance plans but instead challenged us to do better. They were great. Unsparing. Direct. Pie charts. Data. They called out institutional racism and the white supremacy and the failure of our educational leader to address it. It's not enough to hang well-intentioned banners, Mr. President. Funny too.
Some say this is Glenn's doing. Many claim it is the influence of the new chancellor. After all, so many of us have seen what Glenn's priorities have been for nearly two decades. Equity assessment that looks at how institutions perpetuate racism and sexism instead of combat it have never ranked this high before. For example, just take a look at the college website page for DACA students which continues to languish. We are beginning to lose a generation of students here who are too afraid to enroll at community college once they graduate high school, so worried are they that doing so will risk themselves, their families. So what has changed? And why? You tell us.
Then everyone else in the room, which was pretty full. It took a while.
Lots of applause.
Board Prez Prendergast speaks
Blah, blah, blah
New budget from governor.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you” to everyone
"Have a great start of the year"
IVC Prez Roquemore (Good Lord!) comes up to introduce new hires, I guess
Blah blah blah
Saddleback Prez Elliot Stern is next. (I like him, so far.)
Bah blah blah
Again, lots of applause
Vice Chancellor (HR), Dr. Cindy Vyskocil, comes up for district services. Seems like a good egg.
Chancellor’s remarks
My notes:
Slide show accompanied by Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Laughter in response to clever fortuities. Applause.
75th Anniversary of D-day. I love travelling. Been to Normandy beaches. Life-altering experience.
My father is an immigrant. Immigration in the news these days. Immigrants make a tremendous contribution!
50 years ago: the moon landing.
Day after moon landing, “Abbey Road” recorded. Last album recorded by Beatles together. “Come together.”
Woodstock.
Something about a “Mindset List.”
GUN VIOLENCE. 254 victims as of August 8 – gun violence, mass shootings. (Anything involving 4 victims or more.)
Naturally, we’re concerned, afraid. I’ll do everything I can to support you, she said. Inclusivity. Her theme. Talked about the current student generation’s assumptions, notions (based on surveys and such).
1995-2012 generation: “iGen” or “plurals”
Inclusivity (diversity, etc.) is appealing to this gen
Poll taken: they value it, man
Ideal: equal attention paid to students by professors
Protect students from attack, harassment
Student’s job to be open and respectful
Social segregation a hindrance
Characteristics of this gen:
Diverse, driven, open-minded, altruistic, creative problem-solvers
High levels of anxiety and depression (!)
What has influenced these characteristics? Over-parenting, etc.
Students think professors should protect their comfort. “This feels uncomfortable, so something must be wrong.”
Faculty (in the classroom, and elsewhere): two faculty recently lost. She honors mentor lost.
He's taken some bows.
New slide show. Plays Queen’s “We are the Champions,” a much misunderstood song, she said. (Yeah, I guess it champions the underdog, like Freddie, not the “winners.”)
During the part of the slide show that shows IVC’s Prez Roquemore, we hear Freddie sing: “I’ve taken my bows.” — Ha ha ha. (See Let’s compare IVC’s Prez Roquemore with Saddleback’s Prez Stern!)
Very nice [END]
Musical offerings: Saddleback College “Chamber Singers”
“I’m the one who can make the difference.”
“Against all odds,” etc. Pretty professional.
Keynote speaker: Michelle Deutchman: “free speech on campus: new challenges”
Iconic pic: Berkeley free speech, 1964? Berkeley 2016: “out of Berkeley, Nazi sum!” (Oops)
Today’s challenge on campus:
Polarization, lack of civic knowledge, increased use of heckler’s veto, misunderstandings about hate speech, impact of anti-bullying campaigns….
Polarized incoming class
Most politically polarized group in the 51 year history of the survey
Can you name specific freedoms that are protected by First Amendment? Few can.
Heckler’s veto is not protected speech; it infringes on the rights of speakers and of the audience
Protest and disruption: where do you draw the line?
Hate speech IS free speech
48% of students think the 1st Amendment should not protect hate speech!
Voltaire’s famous remark: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it
Many Americans think defending hater’s free speech is contrary to free speech. Nope
Those targeted by white supremacist groups, which are on the rise,
Highest number of incidents are in Cal
Impact of social media.
Free speech Is not free. Marginalized communities pay a high price
What can we do?
Education!
Historical context, etc.
Cleveland State U flier. Encouraging members of the LGBT community to commit suicide!
Yes, but: protected speech!
Can’t stop that speech. But you can speak out against it. (Not against right of speaker; against content of speech)
You have a right not to speak, too.
Speech codes have been struck down; counterproductive
Policy making:
Create, review and update policies, include feedback by campus stakeholders
Make sure people are aware
Institute clear, time place and manner policies and permitting requirements
Amplified sound is permitted in designated campus outdoor locations from noon to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday
Where do we go from here ? [END]
NEXT came what I like to call the annual pinning of the tail to the donkey—i.e., the distribution of service pins.
C’mon, man. Ray got the biggest one. The biggest pin for the biggest asshole.
I noticed that, once again, my service (I was hired in the middle of the Reagan years: 1986) was not listed in the program.
What’s up with that, Glenn?
I booked
Overall, it was a fine opening session. Notably absent were descents into anti-intellectualism and patriotism (leaving aside that pledge thing) or any reference to idiotic buzz words and harebrained initiatives.
