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A Publicdtion of the Student Newspaper Associotion
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J January 31,1989
Volume 10, No. 2
SRA, administration clash over free speech policy
by Danny McMillian
News Editor
A resolution from the Student Representative .Assembly calling for significant changes in UTSAs free speech policy has been sent to the University's administra¬ tion for approval.
The resolution was passed unanimously at a special meeting of the SRA on Jan. 20. Two aspects of the present free speech policy are targeted for change.
The .As.sembly is seeking elimination of the requirement of 48 hours notice prior to use of the free speech area, now located at the southwest outdoor patio of the University Center. The SRA proposal would give priority to .those with reservations, but -would not require them.
The SR.A is also proposing the addition of a second free speech area in the main plaza of the cam¬ pus, the former site for free speech until it was replaced by the present location when the UC was completed. The move to the VC location was a result of the
University's longstanding desire to house the free speech area near the center of student activity.
In a memorandum to Assembly members. Parliamentarian David Riley cited four examples of UT- System universities which do not
"It is reasonable to say that free speech must be ex¬ ercised in a forum conducive to both speaking and hear¬ ing. "
David Riley, SRA
require  reservations  for  use  of their free speech area.
"The University currently re¬ quires 48 hours advance notice, which prevents spontaneous free speech. " says Riley. "In the situation that we have on this campus, a majority of concerns don't last 48 hours. Students get
Newsline
Fro(n Tne Cnronicie ol Higher Education
Older students prompting changes
Increases in the number of older students are prompting some col¬ leges and universities to reconsider the purpose of undergraduate Uberal edueation.and m«l(« vdjustmenta in currirnla arid teaching methods, adult-education experts said at a meeting here.
"Because of the lessons learned from the presence of adult learners in the last 15 to 20 years, we have begun to challenge tradi¬ tional premises end strategies and reshape our thinking about Uberal education for all learners," said Marilyn Stocker, a program- development director in the University of Chicago's School of Conti¬ nuing Education.
Adult students — those age 25 and over, by most definitions — are usually employed, often full time, and attend classes part time. Many are married and have children. They come from a wide range of. social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.
Colleges are responding fo the influx of older students with — among other things — new teaching methods, such asicollaborative learning.
Ms. Stocker said collaborative learning was replacing the one-on- one relationship of teacher and student on some campuses. In col¬ laborative learning, students work with each other — individually or in groups — on different assignments.
"Adults bring the real world with them to class," said Ms. Stocker. "In the past, helping each other was regarded as cheating, but older students have learned at work that you have to help each other to get anywhere."
In classes with many adult students, the professor may no longer be the authority. "Where 20 or 30 people from out in the world ex¬ change ideas," she said, "you have diverse resources."
Monumental change at Stanford
In the months following Stanford University's controversial deci¬ sion to replace its Western culture program and drop its required reading list, a monumental curricular change has been under way on this campus of golden buildings and quiet courtyards.
Some of it his been subtle, such as a professor's decision to refer in class to cultures " in the plural rather than the singular form. Some of it has been obvious, such as the addition of the Koran to one course syllabus and the deletion of the Odyssey from another to make room for a new book. AU of it, however, is being watched close¬ ly, both by faculty member and administrators at SUnford and by their counterparts and critics across the country.
In March, after two years of vigorous debate that followed com¬ plaints by minority students, Stanford's Faculty Senate voted to replace the university's year-long Western culture requirement with a new requirement called "Cultures, Ideas and Values." The year¬ long program, which is being phased in this year and will be fully m place next fall, requires courses to give "substantial attention to the issue of race, gender, and class, and to include the study of works by women and minority group members.
Students will continue to study ideas derived largely from Euro¬ pean, ancient, and medieval cultures, but will also be required to study works from at least one non-European culture. Instead of selections from a common list of 15 great works, as they are fre¬ quently called, they will read a smaller number of common books to t be chosen annually by those who teach in the program, giving facul- ;-ty members more flexibility to choose lesser-known works. •    "Western culture did not try to understand the diversity of ex¬ periences of different people, " say.s Alejandro Swoet-Cordero. a senior who, as a member of a Chicano student organization, was among those pushing for the changes. 'We're not saying we need to study Tibetan philosophy; we're arguing that we need to unders^ . tand what made our society what it is."
", On the other side were professors who, while acknowledging that non-traditional voices were valuable, argued that .HtudenLs would lose an important part of their heritage without a substantial con; of hteraluro that traced the development of Western thought and in- stitulion.s. "You don't fix what isn't broken, " says (ieorge Dekker, an Knglish professor who opposed the change
concerned about .something, and they want to resolve it then. "
Dr. Dora Hauser, dean of students at UTSA, says the 48 hour requirement was adopted so that her office could screen poten¬ tial users of the free speech area to en.sure their right to be there anti to have security provided if necessary. "I have to have a pro¬ cess that ensures .screening. " said Hauser. "Whether it is going to take 48 hours, or two hours, or 30 minutes, that is what I have to decide. "
The SRA is also strongly op¬ posed to the current location allotted for free speech on the basis that it is a "relatively isolated area " The Assembly's wish is to have an area of the high-traffic main plaza also set aside for free speech.
However, Hauser says that the rights of other University consti¬ tuents may be infringed upon by possible . noise and congestion disruptions at the main plaza site. "When you have a lot of people and a lot of enthusiasm, you cant control it, " said Hauser. "We know that: we have to look at that.
"I think that the free speech area, because it is located at the UC and because it primarily im¬ pacts students, even though it is open to fa'culty and all, that their opinion becomes more forceful there than in an area where there is more access with more people. "
Responding to SRA claims that ¦free speech would have more im¬ pact in the main plaza. Hauser said, "It (UT-Board of Regent's requirement that universities have a free speech area) doesnt say you put it in the center of campus. We don't have to insure audiences. If the issue is suffi¬ ciently supported, they are going to have people there. "
Riley feels that audiences are an issue. "It is a question of both practicality and reasonability," he says. "It is reasonable to say that free speech must be exercis¬ ed in a forum conducive to both
The SRA is pushing for a free speech area in the high-traffic center of campus.
faith on our side. I wish they would have good faith on their side"
speaking and hearing. That is essential, and basic, and obvious. "
To show thei!- disapproval of the present free speech policy and to have the area available for spontaneous speech, the .SRA continues to reservi! the area on a daily basis.
'"'rhey are working around the
"The SRA has operated in a more than professional manner." says Riley. He added that Assembly members are untrained volunteers and that if there are problems, it is Hauser's duty as a professional   to   try   and   resolve
' 7 think that the free speech area, because it is located at the VC... that their opinion becomes more forceful there than in an area where there is more access with more people.
Dora Hauser, dean of students
spirit of the policy." says Hauser. "They are within the system, and that is okay, but it isn't like we are not acting on it. It is almost like saying, "You are not doing anything," and I resent that becau.se we are.  We  have good
them.
At the present time, the resolu lion is going Ihrough ad¬ ministrative channels. "We have to be very deliberate about what we do. " said Hauser. "We have to think about the future. We don't
want to be changing all of the time.
"Any time you are thinking about changing policy, you have lo play devil's advocate and think of the worst possible scenario that could h.-ippen. '
Hauser says that w hile the stu¬ denl constituency is very impor¬ tant, the administration "has the obligation to represent and get the poinl of view of ever\ body on campus. Hauser added that she considers the issue a high priori¬ ty-
Kiley thinks the nature of a universily education requires change in UTS.As policy. "We are talking about the issue of free speech in a particular en\iron- inenl. one that is supposed lo be conducive to the free exchange of ideas," he says. " .Supposedly. I m coming to a university, in part, lo hear ideas thai are different than mine, so that I can better evaluate my own ideas,
A change in polie\- would re¬ quire ihe approval ot Dr; ..lames \\ . Wagener. U TS.A president.
Police escort   'students refusing to leave'
by Danny McMillian
News Editor
Students seeking information regarding the operation of the student health center left a meeting with the director with unanswered questions and a police escort.
Judie Morgan, SRA historian, said she had scheduled a ques¬ tions and answers session for herself and other interested students with Joy Corcoran, director of the health center. However, Corcoran answered no student questions after reading a prepared statement at their Jan. 26 meeting. Flight students were present, including SRA members and the press.
Morgan    said   she   then    told another  health  center employee that she wished to have whatever j contraceptive   information   was I available.   While  she   was   com- j pleting  the  forms   necessary   to i receive the information, Universi- | ty    Police    entered    the    health center.
nor Dora Hauser, dean of students, was available for com¬ ment.
Morgan said Corcoran had postponed the meeting time twice and was 45 minutes late for the
entered, and immediately locked once they had left, " she said. The .self-help center is normally left unlocked.
Also of concern for Morgan is the  process  by  which  students
These students left the health center with unanswered questions.
Police Response
According to Manuel Chavez, police chief, the officers were answering a call from Corcoran who had said "students were refusing to leave." He added that the students were cooperative with his officers.
"We were at no point told to leave the student health center," said   Morgan.   Neither  Corcoran
actual meeting. "I felt like I was being impeded from obtaining in¬ formation,"' she said.
Morgan also noted that during the time Ihat she and the other students were waiting, the door leading into the student self-help center was locked. ""Students re¬ quiring use of the self-help center were allowed in. The door was im¬ mediately locked alter they had
may obtain contraceptive infor¬ mation. "I was told to complete a registration slip, furnish a valid sludenl identification card, wbich was scanned through a card reader to verify that I was a stu¬ dent at UTSA without "holds" on my records, complete a health in¬ formation form, and complele a student medical history."
Morgan    said    the    student medical    history    requires    the
reading' of a l:i pa^'c IxKiklet. I could not beliese that a vnulent desiring ()nl\ iniorniatiim would have to gi> throiifih this pro¬ cedure  "
Director's reply
The tollowiriK' i> ( oreoran s respon.se lo sludenls requestinf; information about health I'i'nter <) p e r il t i (1 n s :
The Student Health tenters purpose is to pros iiie tirst aid. referral ser\ ice aiui heallh educa¬ tion, it is Tiol iciniprehensive in naturj^ Th<' Student Health Center does not ha\e the resources to do everything, and because of this students are reler- red to other agencies and medical services.
Heeause I have invited com¬ munity doctors to volunteer their services we are able lo have screening clinics. Kor .services beyond this sort, referrals are made. The Student Health Cenler does some preventive health education. We do not have the resources we would like or could Kt't.
Students are not cliarged a health fee at UTSA. Students are charged health fees al other universities. We do nol want to impose a heallh fee. I do not make policies, policies are made through channels. No one person makes policy, it is an ac¬ cumulative process. 1 follow policies as an employee at UTSA and I enforce the policies bul do nol make the policies.