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inquirer Wednesday, Oct. 11 - Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017
Volume VII, No 4
Free speech comes at the cost of silence FRANK GUITRON Editor in chief
Freedom of speech is one of those topics that seems to constantly be brought up, whether it is through media, politics or even social discourse on campus. Faculty members have a fine line to ride when discussing their opinions on any given topic. When asked about faculty giving their opinion to students involving personal politics in the classroom, English professor Adam Bessie at Diablo Valley College stated, “If I gave a firm opinion on an issue it’s like clotting, stopping an issue in its place.” Bessie explained that if students knew his opinion then he feared they would write to his views for a better grade instead of exploring new ideas and emulating organically. To Bessie, his freedom of speech is not limited by potential student reactions or a need to be politically correct, but how he is “forwarding the learning of their students.” John Freytag, an oceanography and biological science professor at DVC stated, “I always tell my students that I will not get into politics in my classroom.” Freytag’s approach to dealing with his opinion on topics, is allowing the students to feel welcome by omitting them unless asked, “I would not want, for example, a student to feel that they cannot speak up
in my classroom because they feel that they might not agree with me on a certain topic.” “I try to always present the data and the facts around a topic and leave my opinion out of it. If I am asked directly for my opinion, I will provide it.” Some classes that cover politics however would require discussion of politics and views of various beliefs. Political science professor at DVC, Albert Ponce, believes, “people are just engaged at a level of opinion, rather than a level of factbased actual formulation of different ideas.” When dealing with controversial subject matter Ponce uses a “fact-based model” as opposed to an “opinion-based model,” encouraging critical thinking instead of building up preconceived ideas. “To engage them in the classroom, that’s our everyday task.” DVC interim-President Ted Wieden stated, “they (faculty) are not allowed to use their personal beliefs as the class material.” Wieden says that faculty members are still citizens, according to the board policies on academic freedom, and when they speak or write as citizens they shouldn’t be subjected to the policies of the institutions they work at. “Faculty have great degree of latitude in how they approach covering that material. The examples that they use can different from one faculty to another.”
FRANK GUITRON / The Inquirer
English professor Adam Bessie teaching his graphic novels as literature course. Wieden discussed how he would discuss his opinion when he was a teacher, “When someone asked my opinion, what I did was, I would move out and sit down in the classroom right with the students and give my opinion because my opinion is no better than anybody else’s opinion.” Contra Costa College Chancellor Fred
Wood mentioned that when he was attending DVC as a student there wasn’t as much polarization with students views. Students were encouraged to train themselves to see the other side, and that is where Wood noticed the greatest growth in classes occurred Continued on Page 2
Concord Vice Mayor discusses secrets of politics ISAAC NORMAN Online editor
mailers you need to send out, and each mailer costs 50 cents, your cost to send out one round of mailers is $10,000. Concord Vice Mayor Edi Birsan’s advice was blunt; politiBecause reaching voters costs money, politicians are seleccians are either listening to you or they are listening to some- tive with who they target. Do they want to send fliers to one else. people who are more likely to vote or less likely to vote? This was the core tenet of his “dirty secrets of politics” The third dirty secret was that when it comes to local elecworkshop about how tions most people are not voting on local elections work issues; they are voting on emotions, during the Oct. 5 so candidates focus on likability and Brown Bag Workshop name recognition. in the Student Union. Birsan also spoke about why people According to initially get into politics. Birsan, the first dirty According to him, people get insecret for local elecvolved because they are angry about tions is knowing who what is being done and want to change shows up to elections. it. To him, nobody starts in politics for Once you know who money, but it can potentially become a shows up you know factor later on. who matters because When discussing campaigning the people who show ISAAC NORMAN / The Inquirer Birsan explained a politician’s formula up are the ones who Vice Mayor Edi Birsan addresses students. as this: face to face beats money, and will actually vote. money beats silence. “The people who show up call the shots,” said Birsan. “SiWriting via email Birsan elaborated saying, “in a campaign lence never moved a politician.” when you are face to face with a potential voter it is the best Birsan’s next dirty secret was that money equals votes. possible chance to get someone to vote for you. Second to Birsan stressed that something as simple as producing that is the spending of money on direct mail pieces or signs leaflets and fliers for why people should vote for a certain or media. Money purchase of outreach is better than silence candidate costs money. For example, was if you have 20,000 or no outreach at all.” Copyright © 2017 The Inquirer - www.dvcinquirer.com
Aside from being invited by student life manager Todd Farr to talk to students, Birsan was motivated to close the gap between government and citizens by making himself more accessible. He wants to see citizens take greater involvement in government because he does not like the way things are going now. Despite Birsan’s interesting insights only six people attended the workshop. For Yuri Sushita, a 19-year-old nursing major, although the talk was interesting she was there to get the extra credit available for attending the workshop. For Gerardo De La Torre, a computer engineering major, the workshop was an inspiration for how to effect change. He learned that anyone can complain about a problem but it is what you do after, the constructive solutions you offer, that matters. He also felt Birsan showed the audience that if you want change, you can will it yourself but you cannot do it passively or give minimal effort, you must face the challenge head on. DVC’s Brown Bag workshops will continue every Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Student Union room 204 until Nov. 16. The next workshop will be Oct. 12 and will teach about the financial aid process and what students can receive. Contact ISAAC NORMAN at INorman@DVCInquirer.com