A controversial guest speaker brought out many harsh feelings among faculty and members of the Arts and Lectures Committee in the past weeks. Twenty staff members from the social sciences, culinary arts, sociology, behavioral sciences and other departments filed an impassioned response against the a proposal to allow Prop 209 champion Ward Connerly to speak at SRJC.
Prop 209 is a 15-year-old law that disbanded affirmative action in the University of California system. Prior to the law, minorities such as African Americans, Latino, Native Americans and others were given special consideration when applying to UC schools. In 1995, before the law passed, twice as many African American, Latino and Native American students are enrolled in UC Berkeley as compared to 2003, seven years after Prop 209.
Connerly became a polarizing figure among many staff and minority rights groups after crafting a career as a lobbyist against affirmative action, or what some would call minority rights.
The original proposal to allow Connerly to deliver his own lecture. This was met with much outrage by both faculty and students. Brenda Flyswithhawks of the behavioral sciences department alluded to many groups upset and willing to protest the speech. Among them were the United Farm Workers, Aztec Dancers and the Students for Human Rights.
The main controversy within the committee was the role of Arts and Lectures and the people they present. Should they be published artists, and if so, how does a political lobbyist speaking unopposed fit in?
“Avoiding controversy is nonsense. The way people feel is not a suitable reason to prevent a discussion,” said English instructor Marco Giordano. “Suppose we brought in a Black Panther representative and police and sheriffs said their feelings were hurt. Controversy wouldn’t matter, feelings of people involved matter, but are not a reason to restrict free speech…the committee needs to make a point on principle.”
An alternative solution was  proposed: a debate and question and answer session featuring Ward Connerly representing his position and Mills College’s Ajuan Mance taking the other side. Both will speak their own opinion and then participate in a moderated debate. Students will be able to ask questions.
The Arts and Lectures committee approved this debate compromise and sent the proposal forward for final consideration at its Oct 13 meeting with only one dissenting vote. “(I have a) gut feeling that with so many people upset and the possibility of protests…there are too many unknowns…somebody else would have to be responsible with coordinating ..all the (possible) reporters, protests etc.” said Betsy Roberts.
The debate is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 6, 2012 during Black History Month.