Students, staff, faculty protest a 'Culture of Fear'

Ignoring hundreds of protesters who spilled out on to the sidewalks and lawns around room 214, the Southwestern College Governing Board gave its blessing to an administration proposal to cut up to 26 percent of the scheduled spring classes.

By Sean Campbell

About 300 students, staff, faculty and members of the community chanted, "Cut Chopra, not classes!" and "Hey hey, ho ho, Doctor Chopra has to go!" Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra and a board majority were unmoved by the throng and said the cuts would proceed.

Faculty union members banned

Three professors under investigation for allegedly inciting students

By Lyndsay Winkley, Sean Campbell

Tensions between college employees and Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra heightened when he banned from campus three high-ranking members of Southwestern College's faculty union along with a Spanish professor, for allegedly inciting a student march on the superintendent's office last week.

Students rally against cuts to class schedule

By Jen Moreno

A student rally against class cuts and an improvised march on the superintendent's office has escalated to near open warfare between the faculty and Southwestern College Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra, who ordered four faculty members placed on administrative leave pending a hearing to consider "criminal charges.

Congressman Filner, ACLU blast college restraint of free speech

Nov. 13, 2009

By Sean Campbell

Congressman Bob Filner and an attorney from the American Civil Liberties Union chastised SWC Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra and campus vice presidents for their recent attempts to restrict free speech and punish four professors who took part in a rally protesting class cuts.

Students, faculty protest funding cuts at Balboa Park rally

By Amber Sykes

Southwestern College Faculty, students and employees joined a rally at Balboa Park last weekend to protest state budget cuts to education. The event came on the heals of the suspension of four SWC professors accused of instigating students to leave the campus Free Speech Area and march on the superintendent's office.

STRONG VOICES, DEAF EARS

Chopra snubs students who rally to protest massive class cuts

By Staff

Photos by Diana Inocencio, Roy Enjambre Jr., Misael Virgen, Eric Aquino, Max Manion.

Board cancels divisive contract

Unanimous vote reverses pact with controversial Blackwater/Xe

By John Carter

Blackwater Worldwide found itself in the bull's-eye of public opinion when the SWC Governing Board voted unanimously to cancel a contract with the notorious international security company that has roiled the college in controversy since January. Protesters and elected officials put immense pressure on the board to rescind a January agreement that allowed SWC police academy cadets to use the Blackwater/Xe shooting range in Otay Mesa in exchange for use of classrooms and other SWC facilities.

Visiting accreditation team gets an earful

Team members express concerns over campus climate

By Lyndsay Winkley

Faculty and staff did not mince words when a team of visiting educators charged with evaluating Southwestern College came to visit. "I think if we tell you the truth, and please listen to both sides, the administration side also, my great hope is that you'll help clean this up," said Rebecca Wolniewicz.

'Faculty Four' are experienced professors

Students express bewilderment that professors pulled from classes mid-semester

By Staff

Phil Lopez - USC alumnus Phil Lopez started at Southwestern College as an adjuct who taught fundamentals of English grammar in 1973. He became a full-time professor in 1988. In the early 1990s Lopez became active in the faculty union and has served several terms as SCEA President.

Seating limited at SDSU and UCSD

Two closest universities make transfer students wait

By Lyndsay Winkley

Southwestern College students will find it more difficult to attend a local university as favored transfer targets SDSU and UCSD continue to lower enrollments and turn away eligible community college transfers. "The state has stopped building freeways to higher education," UC President Mark Yudof said.

SWC, faculty score highest in survey of the community

By Candace Vianna

Members of the community hold Southwestern College and its faculty in high regard, according to a survey conducted this month by the staff of the Southwestern College Sun. School administrators scored lower and very few members of the community could name the college superintendent, though most people surveyed were aware of one or more of the controversies surrounding him.

Jimmy J's cart closes after ASO ends pact

By Albert H. Fulcher

Jimmy J's Espresso cart, a decade-long Southwestern College institiution, has dropped its tarps for the last time and gone out of business. James Jansen (Jimmy J), 62, received 30-day notice in August to pay $11,885 in back rent or vacate the spot rented by the Associated Student Organization (ASO).

Faculty walks out on Chopra during opening day speech

Union president leads impromptu demonstration

By Jillian Harian-Harton

Opening Day 2009 picked up where the 2008-09 academic year left off, with faculty sparring with Superintendent Dr. Raj K. Chopra. Faculty union president Phil Lopez led a walkout of between 250-300 faculty and employees just as Chopra was about to begin his scheduled remarks.

WILDCOAST

Otay River cleanup gets ocean pollution at its source

By Eric Aquino

Otay River Valley Natural Park was swarming with pink hats and a small battalion of volunteers. The Girl Scouts had arrived. Litter was the enemy. WildCoast, the creative crusaders of the border environmental movement, chose the Otay River Valley as its site for the 25th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Southwestern's financial meltdown has been years in the making

SWC's financial state is the worst of any San Diego community college Only SWC has laid off employees, cut 40 percent of classes

By Sean Campbell

A record throng of nearly 300 faculty, students and community members gave the SWC Governing Board an earful about financial management and the morality of cutting approximately 40 percent of the school's classes over the last year. Four unmoved board members and the superintendent, however, had the final say.