(Part 2)

An informed student body
is a respected student body.

Can dysfunctional schools teach us anything
about what's missing between the budgets?

Creating Web pages is one approach students can use to address concerns that have not been responded to appropriately at lower administrative levels. Preferably, my concerns would have been addressed at the site level, in my case by the site managers at West City Center, within the San Diego Community College District Continuing Education Program. However, if the site managers are unresponsive, and higher level administrators do not respond appropriately, it may be worthwhile to address concerns to the top administrator who bears ultimate responsibility for what occurs under his or her authority granted by the board of trustees of the local college district. Check out the trail of correspondance BELOW.

5 April 2000

Augustine P. Gallego, Chancellor
San Diego Community College District
3375 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108-3883

Augustine P. Gallego, Chancellor:

Subject: Problem solution vs. "problem maintenance"

Due to the District's poor response to the serious issues I've raised, I'm very concerned that my health and educational progress will continue to be seriously affected.

I face the prospect of having to take more formal action to address the lack of leadership initiative and responsiveness to numerous code violations and other serious matters affecting educational quality and student well being. While perhaps I am only one of a relative few who choose to address such a broad range of issues, I believe other students suffer similarly; however I believe they feel powerless within the current situation to do anything about such issues. For many students, other personal interests and day-today survival leave little time to write letters and consult with site and District administrators, particularly ones who prefer to be inaccessible, hostile, and unapproachable, such as Associate Dean Lyon. Consider Mr. Lyon's effect on students, saying such things to me as:

"If you don't like it here — don't come!"

"If you speak to anyone who works here you will be immediately removed."

"You are completely in the wrong."

"Get your shit out of here!" (Referring to my school supplies)

"I don't have to do anything."

"Nothing you say to me matters."

"I don't have to be courteous to you."

"I don't give a God damn what you think."

"Nothing you say to me has any validity."

Dean St. John's attitude has been: "There's nothing I can do, he's the Associate Dean. Mr. Otis Williams , a custodian, also seems to have remarkable power within the West City Center administration. He seems to be able to manipulate both deans in carrying out his long-standing grudge against me for protesting his rude treatment of instructors. If the custodian, Mr. Otis Williams, can yell "I don't give a damn!" in the hallways and parking lot, and get away with calling me "Stupe," and continually try to intimidate me with his swaggering and "stink-eye" glares — then I'm led to believe that such employees at West City Center feel they can act with impunity. Grudges by both Associate Dean Lyon and this custodian have been ongoing for nearly two years, and I believe the Dean accepts such behavior by Associate Dean Lyon because it coincides with his own treatment of students as an underclass. Your silence regarding such student issues suggests that you see students as an underclass as well. Does such treatment have your tacit approval — particularly for students who dare to complain?

Of my three previous letters to you, only the first (17 April 1999) was answered (on 8 June 1999). One of the problems I addressed in these letters was poor response protocol. At West City Center, as with you, this is a continuing stumbling block to progress. this is a continuing stumbling block to progress. Why is this? Other poor responders include Assistant Chancellor of Student Services, Lynn Neault; President of Continuing Education, Bobby Wilson; Vice President of Instructional Services, Jim Smith; Associate Dean, Bill Grimes, and others, including the site managers and staff at West City Center. Can it be that neglect trickles down?

Neither the United Students Council, mentioned in you first letter, nor the ASB at WCC has proven effective in responding to my concerns. I have ample reason to believe that indifference and denial are a large part of the problem from the top down. It will reflect even more poorly on the District if the issues I've raised continue to go unresolved and retaliation for my outspokenness continues.

Please consider these facts: (1) I've tried to address issues at the lowest administrative level first; (2) I've tried to avoid unnecessarily taking up other people's time — frequently to my own detriment; (3) I've suffered all kinds of abuse and retaliation by those who do not want to address the issues I've raised; and (4) I have been injured by all this — and the repercussions continue. I am now seeking a wider audience in hope of a far more open airing of these issues that have been submerged in denial and fear for so long. I urge your participation as part of the solution rather than allowing a festering situation at West City Center to further undermine District credibility.

I request a written response to each of the previous two unanswered letters (27 June and 12 October, 1999) — and to this one. I had hoped to find role models within the Distrtict — but instead I have found an often hostile and unaccommodating environment. Confronted by such adversity, I had high hopes that at least the Assistant Chancellor of Student Services, Lynn Neault, would care — rather than have the attitude that accountability would be a problem.

So many other administrators have shown such blatant bias, their unprofessional efforts at problem resolution are better described as "problem maintenance." In order for others to join in a more candid and informed discussion of these issues, I am taking steps to improve more open access to my letters to you, in addition to supporting documents, for those most interested — including faculty and other students.

In my opinion, the most objectionable part of a second wave of false allegations and retaliation is about to occur at West City Center on Friday, 7 April 2000, unless someone from the District with sufficient authority intervenes. I request that you do not wait until more mistakes are made that will undoubtedly reflect badly on the District, and result in further violation of my rights as a student in good standing. I strongly urge you to take additional action to ensure that the formal proceeding that is scheduled reflect a district that is, as you say, serving the San Diego community "with excellence." I believe that I will not benefit from reforms underway at West City Center brought about by the faculty union's objections to intolerable conditions involving site management if the proceeding "proceeds" without first addressing alleged employee retaliation and violations of due process. Otherwise, it appears that further harm will be done to myself and the District's image and reputation which is likely to be very regrettable within the learning community.

May I please remind you that I submitted to Mr. Grimes much of the documented history regarding how I came to have these issues as a student at West City Center. If you would please refer to these documents and respond personally with direct and appropriate action, positive changes can and should result. I ask that you review all the evidence, including additional evidence submitted to the District today, and take further appropriate action with regard to the mismanagement at West City Center.

Please consider policy changes that may be necessary to accommodate greater acceptance of remediation and reform without all the grief entrenched managers tend to perpetuate. I believe any complacency on your part will continue to be reflected by others in your administration with whom I've interacted, from the President of Continuing Education down to the counselor level, with relatively little or no cooperation. Rather, I am experiencing a conspiracy of reverse racist retaliation and anti-student treatment that supports my contention that District students are "maintained" as an underclass, and discarded through unfair practices if they voice too many concerns embarrassing to management. Your leadership is needed, and if these troubling issues are resolved, including related faculty issues at West City Center, students and faculty will feel better about themselves and their educational investment in mutual service to the community.

Sincerely,

Tom Darling

cc: "Kenneth J. Moser" , "James B. Mack" ,"Maria Nieto Senour" , "Evonne Seron Schulze" , "Brian E. Olson" , "Augustine P. Gallego" ,"Bobby Wilson" , "W. Wayne Murphy" , "Lynn Neault" , "Larry Brown" "Bill Grimes" , "Fred Martin" (E-mail only)

As of 17 October 2001, I have yet to hear from Chancellor Gallego
regarding either of my three previous letters.

The San Diego Community College District has extended his contract (current annual salary is $176,000) through 2003. Chancellor Gallego, 57, presides over a district that has roughly 1000,000 students, has a budget of $366 million, and is the eighth-largest employer in San Diego County. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, 3 Feb, 2001:

"Gallego came to the district in 1976 as a member of the counseling faculty. He has served as associate dean of continuing education, provost of the district's educational cultural complex and districtwide director of instructional and student services. He became chancellor in 1990.

Four years ago, Gallego told the board he would leave the district after 2002. He said his newfound support on the board motivated him to stay one more year.

[Board President Marty] Block said the board approved the contract extension with the intent of putting politics aside so it could work on student and district issues. He said he is hopeful this vote symbolizes a frest start."

Unfortunately, it appears Chancellor Gallego has no intention of responding to the student concerns I have so carefully documented and which have never been adequately addressed. Until the SDCCD has a chancellor with a better grasp of student issues, and the management skills and dedication to adequately respond, San Diego will not have a SDCCD that consistently delivers on its stated educational goals.

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