Students Protest Ongoing Racism and Discrimination Within the Maricopa County Community College District (Phoenix)

On October 12, 2004, one day before the presidential debates in Phoenix, concerned students, educators, parents and citizens will stage a public demonstration against discrimination and hate on the campus of Glendale Community College (GCC) in Glendale, Arizona

Phoenix, AZ ( PRWEB) October 11, 2004 -- Students will take matters into their own hands in protest of disparaging remarks toward ethnic minorities and lack of disciplinary action by community college administration to improve a growing climate of discrimination and fear within the ten campuses of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD).

For one solid year, ethnic minority students and educators have been the recipients of

disparaging remarks by GCC Math Professor, Walter Kehowski. Mr. Kehowski continues to send correspondence via college e-mail and maintains an MCCCD hosted website of white supremacy and hate.

You almost always have to [be a Marxist whore to get an Education, English or non technical degree nowadays," writes Professor Kehowski.

A separate transmission illustrates Mr. Kehowskis sentiments toward the ethnically diverse,

300,000 student body population within MCCCD:

La Raza, Muslims, Blacks, and other minorities: milking the white man for everything they

can get---with his willing help," writes Kehowski.

MCCCD policy for educator sponsored websites and e-mails does not coincide with this

continuing practice but has not enforced its own policies. The following excerpt was sent to

MCCCD faculty from a Faculty Executive Council Meeting:

It was stated that the current policies are not enforced because in the past, when an

attempt was made to enforce the policies, there was an outcry against the disciplinary action. Council discussed the recent faculty website that was viewed by some students as

racist and thus had created a hostile environment. Council was asked if it was willing to

support the enforcement of email/web use policies. The point was made that new policy

did not need to be created for an issue that happens about once a year."

Educators and students have repeatedly filed complaints and made public pleas to the

Governing Board with little or no response from MCCCD officials. Judy Poggi and David

Rodriguez, GCC faculty, have recently filed charges of retaliation after bringing the effects of the disparaging remarks to light. They claim their professional careers have been in

jeopardy as a result of speaking out.

This community college district (MCCCD) has created a hostile environment that is

damaging the teaching and learning for students, faculty, and staff," states Early Childhood

and Child Family Studies faculty, Judy Poggi.

Why are my tax dollars being used to host web pages and distribute e-mail messages

that attack Women, Gays, Blacks, Latinos, Chinese, and Muslims," asks David Rodriguez,

GCC faculty librarian.

The public demonstration will expose and illustrate the climate of fear, discrimination and lack of action to create an inclusive learning environment within MCCCD. The protest will begin

at 11:00 AM on the campus of GCC followed by a rally at 12:00 noon.

Los Angeles filmmaker and civil rights activist John Carlos Frey will be participating in the

demonstration amongst other community leaders.

Editors Note:

Press Inquiries:

John Carlos Frey

Gatekeeper Productions, LLC

johncfrey@aol.com

213-324-6101

David M. Rodriguez

GCCFaculty Librarian, Former Libary Department Chair

623-845-3125 Office

602-380-3821 Cell

david.m.rodriguez@gcmail.maricopa.edu

Judy Poggi

Early Childhood and Child Family Studies Faculty

602-377-114

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