2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
Employees should not be censored when discussing bond issue
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Amarillo College has requested $68 million worth of changes, but whether the campuses receive the funds is up to area voters. The bond issue will take place Nov. 6, but you won't hear AC faculty or staff promoting the changes while they're on the clock.
Why is this? The people who work on the campus daily are the ones who are most knowledgeable to discuss the changes that need to be made. They see and feel the deteriorating and out-of-date conditions of the buildings every day, so why don't they have the right to push the issue if they want to?
The reason is a state law that prohibits state employees from expressing political opinions while working.
Of course, excessive class time should not be used focusing on the bond issue. Hearing about the campus's needs is not the reason students attend class. But the faculty at AC are not stupid. They know what is reasonable and what is not. If they want to make comments and observations here and there, they should be allowed to do so.
Furthermore, who would the faculty and staff be influencing if they were to encourage or discourage the bond issue? Students would be the main people hearing what faculty have to say about the proposed initiatives that have been mapped out by Shiver-Megert.
Students pay money to go to school here, and there is no reason why they shouldn't be informed. Sure, they can read the newspaper or attend regents meetings to get up to date on the bond issue and the plans being made. But the most practical way to be informed is through word of mouth from others.
Why is the First Amendment being ignored in this circumstance? AC employees are being censored in this matter, and it just isn't right.
In the Sept. 13 issue of The Ranger, Dr. Steven Jones was interviewed to discuss the possible changes that would occur if the bond issue passes.
He could not tell the school newspaper how he really felt about the issue because of this rule. He did discuss some of the changes that could be in store for the college, but he couldn't give his personal beliefs on why the bond issue should or should not pass.
Amarillo College is a big part of life to the people who attend school, work and teach here. Employees should be allowed to speak their minds about issues involving AC whether they are working or not.
Why is this? The people who work on the campus daily are the ones who are most knowledgeable to discuss the changes that need to be made. They see and feel the deteriorating and out-of-date conditions of the buildings every day, so why don't they have the right to push the issue if they want to?
The reason is a state law that prohibits state employees from expressing political opinions while working.
Of course, excessive class time should not be used focusing on the bond issue. Hearing about the campus's needs is not the reason students attend class. But the faculty at AC are not stupid. They know what is reasonable and what is not. If they want to make comments and observations here and there, they should be allowed to do so.
Furthermore, who would the faculty and staff be influencing if they were to encourage or discourage the bond issue? Students would be the main people hearing what faculty have to say about the proposed initiatives that have been mapped out by Shiver-Megert.
Students pay money to go to school here, and there is no reason why they shouldn't be informed. Sure, they can read the newspaper or attend regents meetings to get up to date on the bond issue and the plans being made. But the most practical way to be informed is through word of mouth from others.
Why is the First Amendment being ignored in this circumstance? AC employees are being censored in this matter, and it just isn't right.
In the Sept. 13 issue of The Ranger, Dr. Steven Jones was interviewed to discuss the possible changes that would occur if the bond issue passes.
He could not tell the school newspaper how he really felt about the issue because of this rule. He did discuss some of the changes that could be in store for the college, but he couldn't give his personal beliefs on why the bond issue should or should not pass.
Amarillo College is a big part of life to the people who attend school, work and teach here. Employees should be allowed to speak their minds about issues involving AC whether they are working or not.
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