SWCID students protest
Dr. Ron Brasel, right, provost of SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, talks with a group of students at the school’s administration building Tuesday. About 40 SWCID students staged the protest over a variety of issues and threaten further actions if their demands are not met. (HERALD photo/Steve Reagan)
By STEVE REAGAN Staff Writer
A large group of SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf students staged a protest at the school Tuesday and promised more such action in the future if their demands aren’t met.
About 40 students, upset over issues ranging from cafeteria food to the school’s dean of students, aired their grievances before SWCID Provost Dr. Ron Brasel and Howard College Dr. Cheryl Sparks Tuesday afternoon.
After talking with the two officials, the students agreed to call a temporary halt to their protest.
“We’ve been trying to get them to listen to us since November and they haven’t done anything about until now,” student Kristen Dickson said through an interpreter. “We’re going to meet (with officials) again at 8:45 p.m. Monday and then decide what will happen next.”
The major point of contention between students and officials Tuesday was Dean of Students Edward Tagge. The students want Tagge fired, an action Brasel said he wasn’t prepared to take.
“That is a very difficult question,” Brasel told the students, “and I cannot in good conscience answer it.”
Sparks echoed Brasel’s comments.
“This is a personnel issue and it’s something we can’t address in public,” Sparks said. “I understand that the students are asking questions, but it’s a situation where the employee has rights, also.”
Dickson said dislike for Tagge is widespread among students.
“Each student has their individual reasons as to why they want him to resign,” she said. “My primary reason is that he forces religion on the students. Secondly, he punishes the students.”
Other issues included the quality of cafeteria food, which Dickson called “slop,” faulty air conditioning in the dorms, balky Internet service and the students’ wish for a deaf provost once Brasel retires.
In addition, they voiced concern over the lack of social activities for students.
Sparks said the college would continue to work with the students.
“We’re very sensitive to our students,” she said. “After all, we want them to come here. If something is wrong, we want to know about it … we want to be able to fix it.”
Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331, ext. 234, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Link: http://www.bigspringherald.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12201&Itemid=1
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