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Joe Quigley - NW Classen Update: August 23, 2002


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The following emails are from Joe Quigley
(Posted 8-23-02)

(8-22-02) I have been told that at NWClassen no individual or group is given an advantage over another. This has been repeated at the same time I am told that If GLBT Students want information they can go find places off campus, while their straight peers can find affirming information and resources for forming positive relationships in the school Library (I have checked and found numerous books on dating and the family, but they are hetrosexual in scope with one reference to a same sex parent family being prefaced by the definition of homosexuals as being people who prefer (choice) someone of the same sex, and a point/counterpoint book which, although very positive in both information, wording and treatment of the homosexual point contains some pretty nasty terminology in the anti-Gay counterpoint, but with no similar point/counter point treatment of heterosexuality)
     I have been told that students are not presented a steady diet of the heterosexual lifestyle even as I listen to announcements for choosing the homecoming king and queen.
    That being said:
On 08/21/02 I attempted to pass by the cafeteria at the beginning of lunch. It is usually congested because of the vending machines and the doors' opening out and partially blocking the hallway, but it was a little more congested than usual.
When I got to the door there was a man standing right at the doors distributing a pamhlet. He was not on the faculty, but was someone from off campus. He was RECRUITING for Campus Impact, the stealthily renamed Campus for Christ group.
     Students could not enter the cafeteria except by passing  him, so they were having the pamphlets shoved at them as they attempted to enter the caf.
     Although there are noncurricula clubs on campus, they are moderated by faculty members, and in spite of the procedure for establishing such a club calling for students to find someone willing to sponsor them and then following the school's procedure to continue the formation process, a representative from this group was allowed to speak at a faculty meeting last spring at which the representative said they really wanted to start a chapter on campus and asked if any of us would like to be the sponsor.
      This is not how it is supposed to be done.
I wrote the following memo to the principal:

(heading)
As you are aware, I am concerned that all students receive equal treatment here at NWClassen, and that no one receive any advantage, or be held at disadvantage because of any trait, characteristic, or difference.
On 8/21/02 when entering the cafeteria I observed someone from off campus distributing religiously based fliers to students
This person was not a member of the faculty or staff, and was not taking part in an organized meeting in an area designated for such, nor making a guest appearance. Rathrer, he was in public space outside the cafeteria extending his hand to all students passing by in an attempt to distribute his flier.
Students were not given the opportunity to choose to approach him, but had to pass him to get into the cafeteria.
The following questions come to mind:
     a) Was the person given permission to recruit people to his activity in so active and public a way?
     b) Are outside agents and organizers allowed such access? and
     c) Will this same courtesy be equally extended to others from off campus?
Health information booths, college recruiters and various branches of the armed forces set up by the library allowing students the option to voluntarily approach.
In this case students had no choice.

     Since the principal is always coming up with references to policies when it comes to finding ways to limit affirming information for GLBT students, certainly he could reference the applicable policy in this case.
     I received this written on the bottom of a COPY of my memo:

I will be happy to meet with interested students and parents about this situation. Please refer them to me so that I can address their concerns.
   
     And the policy is.....?
Where did the parents and students come into this? Why not address my concern as I expressed it as my concern and produce the policy.

Why this avoidance?

Later in the day I received a copy of a memo he sent to the chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee:

(heading)
Mr. Joe Quigley has given me his concern in a hand written memo about the distribution of literature to our students by outside agents and organizers. No student or parents have questioned the practice so I am suggesting that he take the opportunity to address the issue through his contractual rights. Although he raised the issue with me, I feel that his concerns should be given
to the appropriate group named in the teachers' contract.

Apparently only concerns of students and parents are given attention, but the concerns of a teacher can be disregarded. What is the relevance of "contractual rights" when I sought a reference to policy, and this situation is in now way related to the collective bargaining agreement that deals with hours, wages and conditions of employment, but to the adherence to or violation of District policy and procedure?
   Is it, perhaps, he has allowed for a violation of policy in favor of a particular group, one with which he identifies, and is now trying to avoid an indefensible response by bringing in students and parents as the only ones who can express a concern and have it addressed?
   If he has allowed this situation to occur, is it now permissible for other outside agents and groups to recruit members to their noncurricula clubs?
   Has it now been made possible for a teacher to advertise the possibilty of forming a Gay/Straight Alliance, volunteer to be the moderator and "recruit" members?
Or do we, indeed, give advantage to certain groups and individuals if we identify with them?

Joe Quigley

(8-23-02) My apologies that I am hitting you all with yet another email, probably of great length, but the week has ended, and there is a follow up to the business of the religious club organizer and my request for the policy and the answer to three logical questions.
   I know these tend to get a little long, but put it down to a need for purging especially as it is continuous and a little stressful.
   Although the principal is always throwing some policy at me no matter how tenuously connected to anything relevant, you may recall that he did not answer my questions concerning the off campus, non-faculty member forcing his religiously based recruitment fliers on students attempting to enter the cafeteria at NWClassen. If you recall he referred to the lack of parental complaints, and my supposed need to have this addressed by the Faculty Advisory Committee even though they do not write school or district policy.
     Assuming the principal may have misunderstood my inquiry, I attempted again today to get answers.
I wrote:

(heading)

Thank you for your swift response to my inquiry about the situation involving an outside agent distributing material on the campus of NWClassen. However, it seems you were confused about the intent and substance of it.

As there are policies and laws dealing with the formation and promotion of noncurriculum related clubs, I was seeking clarification as to whether or not this particular group was afforded special treatment, or had, perhaps, taken it upon itself to distribute fliers as in did, in which case they need to be instructed in the proper procedures, or if the former, would this courtesy be extended to any other group wishing to form a group for students.

There is no need to wait for student or parent complaints, and as this was a policy clarification request and not something dealing with hours, wages and conditions of employment, would not be a matter for the FAC as the policy already exists.

I, therefore, respectfully request the answers to my three questions:
A)  Was the person given permission to recruit students to his activity in so active and public a way?
B)   Are outside agents and organizers allowed such access?
and
C)   Will this same courtesy be equally extended to others from off campus?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

What I was expecting was at least a copy of the policy and/or relevant procedures. After all, the principal is always quoting policy  in an attempt to censor and prevent the information I am trying to make available to GLBT Students and their peers.
     Instead I got this wordy refusal to supply the policy.

(heading)
Although I have misplaced your most recent memo requesting information I will restate my previous suggestions. First, if parents and/or students request information about school policies from any staff or faculty member then I will provide them with the answers I have or suggest where they can go to get answers if they are not satisfied. Second, if you have the same questions you can avail yourself of the Faculty Advisory Committee and look into these or any other "concerns relating to the operation of the school." I have taken the liberty of presenting your memo about this same request to Ms.---- ------
chair of the NWClassen FAC. I am sure she will be happy to visit with you.

Thank you for your following the above opportunities for clarification of school policies in a collegial and collaborative setting with the FAC.

So, not only does the man running the building, the man who holds me to policy and the man on whose list I have been placed to be evaluated by him refuse on more than one occasion  to supply me with a requested policy and its clarification, he shunts it off to another teacher, a friend, whose responsibility this isn't.
    But he can waste my time on a meeting about the abuse of the xerox machine by people other than myself while giving them signed permission to do the very thing he spent part of the copier meeting complaining about.
    If it weren't happening in the real world, if I could not see first hand his resentment of the uppity Gay man who will not keep his place (he does after all prefer that if there is a GSA the moderator be straight or a non-militant Gay faculty member---silence or the closet) I would have a hard time believing it myself.But something is strengthening his belief that he is backed in what he is doing. Perhaps people other than myself need to call 942-5551 and request copies of the policy and procedures.

joe quigley

Previous postings from Joe Quigley:

 

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