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Vol. 47, No.8
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\) Big Apple
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Serving San Jose City College
More than swift kicks Page 7
Thursday, May 20, 1993
Meinhold addresses military's harassment of homosexuals -
by Julie Galvan Managing Editor
Navy petty officer Keith Meinhold shared his military experinces. Jay Cantu/ The Times
Navy petty officer Keith Meinhold told a crowd of 150 people at San Jose City College that the military is kicking people out not because of what they do, but because of what they are. People keep telling me that gays and lesbians just don't belong in the military. We're already there. There are gay and lesbian admirals and generals and airmen. We just want to go about doing our jobs," Meinhold said. Meinhold's visit to City College on May 11 was sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Faculty and Staff Association of the San Jose/Evergreen Valley College District "It's great for the students to have well-known and controversial speakers talk to them about the issues of today," said Kenneth Yeager, Ph. D ., a board trustee and member of the association.
Faculty Association, district reach contract agreement by Christopher Geer Editor-in-Chief
After two years of contract negotiations, the Faculty Association has reached an agreement with the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District for the 1991-92 and 1992-93 school years. The agreement, which bas yet to be ratified by the members of the FA, gives the faculty a 2%, one time payment off the salary schedule for the the current school year. The FA failed to receive the 2% permanent salary increase it bad sought when this began. Faculty Association President Fran McBrien said that this was" ... the best contract that could benegotiated under the cicumstances." The gains for the FA according to McBrien include new guidelines for what the district must do before starting Reduction in Force proceedings for faculty, and the option for those faculty members employed before March, 1986 to select Medicare as their health insurance carrier. The FA will bold question and answer sessions for faculty members at San Jose City College on Wednesday, May 10 from 1 until 2:30 p.m. in room GE 101 and Tuesday, May 25 from 1 p.m. to
2:30 p.m. in room U 200. The meetings will be on the Evergreen Campus from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 20 in AF-141 and Mon., May 24 in the Gallery. Ballots for the ratifacation of the faculty ' s contract must be
'(This is) the best contract that could be negotiated under the circumstances.' Fran McBrien FA President turned in no later than 3 p.m. on May 25. The ballot boxes are located in front of the library at City College and in the reprographics office on the Evergreen campus. With the contract out of the way, the FA can now focus on its internal problems which have plaugued it since last semester. On Friday, May 15, the executive board of the FA counted and conftrmed the 213 signatures on a
I think it's great to have him on campus," said Student Trustee Doug Cortney. "We're here for more than just getting an education. He's giving students a wide perspective of what's happening off campus." Meinhold joined the Navy in 1980 and was discharged on August 12, 1992, after announcing his homosexuality on television. A federal judge ordered the Navy to reinstate him. I've been back for six months now ... with little or no interference from my co-workers," said Meinhold. "It has renewed my faith in the American people, my faith in the American system of justice and my faith in the American Constitution." While in the Navy, Meinhold graduated at the topofhisclassand was made an instructor. "As a leader in the military, I had to set the example. There are people who will deny you your civil rights if you let them ... gays and lesbians let them by staying in the closet," Meinhold said. The military's discrimination against gays began during World War II and became policy in the late 50s. In 1982, gays and lesbians were declared "incompatible to the service," as military leaders believe the troops couldn't do their jobs effectively in the presence of openly gay and lesbian people.
petition, which was circulated by Pat Butler earlier in the semester, to change the FA into an open shop for part-time instructors. Butler needed to obtain one-third of the entire faculty's signature before presenting the petition to the executive council and succeeded by collecting 38% of them. The count conflfD1ed that Butby Christopher Geer ler bad indeed collected the necEditor-in-Chief essary signatures to hold an elecSan Jose Mayor Susan Hamtion on the issue. However, mer will keynote the graduation McBrien, who is opposed to the commencement at San Jos~ City measure, said that no election College. The ceremony will bewould take place until after the gin at 6:30p.m. on Wednesday, contract bas been ratified by the June 2 in the quad area of the faculty. Martin Luther King Jr. Building. McBrien's objections deal with More than 200 students will the legality of the petition's proreceive their diplomas alongside posal and she describes it as "a of special guests U.S. Congressrenegade approach by people who man Norm Mineta and U.S. have not been elected by the facOlympic Medalist Millard F. ulty and seem to have personal Hampton, who will both receive motives guiding them ." "The friend of the College Butler said his petition would Award." benefit the FA and that "it is more Hampton, who is currently a of a petition (to prevent) a takeover San Jose Patrol Officer, received than it is anything else and the , his Associate in Degree in 1976 (executive board) knows that." and until recently was the coButler's petition would not remove owner the Buffalo Soldier. anyone from the FA who does not The commencement will be wish to be so. It's focus is to allow preceded by a continental breakpart-time faculty the option of fast for graduates on Tuesday, working at S1£CC District withJune 1 at 10:15 am. in the Colout being a member of the FA.
'They act like we take showers all day long. A military shower lasts about two minutes. I've never attacked anybody, I've never stared at anybody; I think a lot of people flatter themselves." Meinhold pointed out that admitting gays and lesbians in the military would be beneficial. "Career pressure would be removed and the highest quality of people would be made available," Meinhold said. "There might be an initial increase in gay bashing, but I think gays and lesbians are willing to take these chances if that's the price of freedom ." Meinhold said that college students can help by speaking out in their classes and to their friends and relatives. After Meinhold's speacb, Edgar San Diego, a computer science major, said, "I feel proud of who I am and more excited about being a homosexual ... it feels good to know that there is someone trying to change the system." "This has been very educational," said Dorothy Musima, a child development major. "There are a lot of issues students don't like todiscussordon't understand." "Gay and Lesbians will consider this the gay 90s," said Meinhold. "We will prove to you as get to know us that we are true American citizens, just like everyone else."
Graduation ceremony scheduled for June 2
lege Union. The breakfast is sponsored by City College staff and administrators to pay tribute to the students' hard work. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremonies on Wednesday and a reception will be held for graduates at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2 in the Community Room of the College Union.