The four Southwestern College faculty barred from campus after joining a student protest may now face criminal charges for walking outside the school’s designated “Free Speech Area.” Protests and similar events at the public community college are limited to a small “free speech” area and limited in duration to one hour.
A campus spokeswoman told reporters yesterday that the suspensions were related to an “incident” that occurred after the protest. As we reported, after the officially permitted rally, a number of students and faculty attempted to march to SWCC President Raj Chopra’s office to voice their concerns. They met a line of campus police officers barring their way, and were dispersed. Campus police allege that protestors engaged in “illegal activity” and are conducting an investigation.
Now, not only do we have faculty members being dismissed for political views and statements made outside their official duties and not only do we have another example of a speech zone so small it obviously curbs student speech on campus, but we have faculty placing disciplinary sanctions and possible criminal charges, for merely trying to walk across campus.