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MyWestTexas.com - Southwest Collegiate Institute students struggle with administration
Since last fall, Howard College officials have been working with Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf students to resolve concerns ranging from cafeteria food to replacing the dean of student services.
However, students do not feel their concerns have been heard, resulting in protests.
Edward Tagge has been dean of students for a little more than two years and with Southwest Collegiate since 2001, starting as a counselor. Students say they want him to resign.
On its Web site, students accuse Tagge of talking about peers' grades in front of other students, and being unable to negotiate with students other than to take disciplinary action and other shortcomings.
Sims said students don't have anyone particular in mind for a replacement. "We just want a better person," he said.
Legally, Howard College spokeswoman Cindy Smith said the college cannot discuss personnel issues publicly.
"(Howard College President) Dr. (Cheryl) Sparks is meeting with the students on an ongoing basis and is listening to each of their complaints and the issues brought forward. She will take all allegations and reports seriously and investigate accordingly," Smith said.
One of Howard College's satellite campuses, SWCID has about 120 students, half of whom are protesting, the site says. It says the main reason students are protesting is administrators and board members have not listened to student grievances over the past several years.
Students met with college officials last week for about two hours.
Through an interpreter, Student Government Association leader Ryan Sims said it started with board members and Sparks sitting on a stage above the students. Feeling this was a move to condescend over students, Sims said he and a fellow leader turned their backs on the officials and walked out.
Asked why they were leaving, Sims said it was because of where college officials were sitting.
"We decided to walk out because we wanted the board to sit down at our level -- at the same level of the students," he said through an interpreter.
"We wanted them to sit with us. We thought we government officers should have been up on stage, or at least up on stage with them," Sims said. All the board members sat down in different places and students accepted that.
During the meeting, individuals expressed their concerns, most of which were complaints against Tagge, Sims said. The board has not yet gotten back to students on any decision, he said.
"I think it was a productive meeting for the students," Sparks said. "They were able to express their concerns. We listened to their concerns. This is something we have been working on since October."
The college has roundtables at each campus. The first part of the roundtable is a review of concerns expressed in a previous semester and a review of actions taken.
"Then the second portion of the roundtable is an opportunity for students to express new concerns and new needs they believe are important for the improvement of our institution," she said.
"I believe the students are not satisfied that we have heard them to the degree they believe we should have," she added.
Student protests have taken the form of leaving cafeteria trays to be cleaned up, marching and refusing to show up to class. Sims said the cafeteria protest got administrators' attention.
"We wanted them to take our complaints seriously. There has been no resolution to date," he said.
Sims, who is graduating this spring, said students have been discussing protests for some time, but recently things came to a head. He plans to keep up with what's going on at SWCID and said things likely will be quiet this summer. However, the group wants to keep a unified front and plan on coming back in the fall "with a vengeance," he said.
Having videophones across more of the campus is another student concern. Executive Vice President Terry Hansen said the phone operates over an Internet connection, which needs more bandwidth.
"In the deaf world, there is a technology device called a videophone," Sparks said. "It enables the deaf person to communicate visually with the person they're calling. This is a new technology that we have actually had on campus at two or three sites for several years, but students were interested in expanding that opportunity.
"We have been working on that several months. In the process, we purchased additional fiber that is allowing us to provide a videophone in each dorm room," she said.
SWCID Provost Ron Brasel is retiring Aug. 31, something the school has been anticipating for some time. Sparks said students would like a deaf provost hired. Brasel's wife is deaf.
"We do seek individuals with expertise in deaf skills. We're just beginning. We're reviewing the job description," Sparks said.
"We will do a national search. There is a network of deaf educators across our country. We will seek interest from across the country," she added.
Since last fall, Howard College officials have been working with Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf students to resolve concerns ranging from cafeteria food to replacing the dean of student services.
However, students do not feel their concerns have been heard, resulting in protests.
Edward Tagge has been dean of students for a little more than two years and with Southwest Collegiate since 2001, starting as a counselor. Students say they want him to resign.
On its Web site, students accuse Tagge of talking about peers' grades in front of other students, and being unable to negotiate with students other than to take disciplinary action and other shortcomings.
Sims said students don't have anyone particular in mind for a replacement. "We just want a better person," he said.
Legally, Howard College spokeswoman Cindy Smith said the college cannot discuss personnel issues publicly.
"(Howard College President) Dr. (Cheryl) Sparks is meeting with the students on an ongoing basis and is listening to each of their complaints and the issues brought forward. She will take all allegations and reports seriously and investigate accordingly," Smith said.
One of Howard College's satellite campuses, SWCID has about 120 students, half of whom are protesting, the site says. It says the main reason students are protesting is administrators and board members have not listened to student grievances over the past several years.
Students met with college officials last week for about two hours.
Through an interpreter, Student Government Association leader Ryan Sims said it started with board members and Sparks sitting on a stage above the students. Feeling this was a move to condescend over students, Sims said he and a fellow leader turned their backs on the officials and walked out.
Asked why they were leaving, Sims said it was because of where college officials were sitting.
"We decided to walk out because we wanted the board to sit down at our level -- at the same level of the students," he said through an interpreter.
"We wanted them to sit with us. We thought we government officers should have been up on stage, or at least up on stage with them," Sims said. All the board members sat down in different places and students accepted that.
During the meeting, individuals expressed their concerns, most of which were complaints against Tagge, Sims said. The board has not yet gotten back to students on any decision, he said.
"I think it was a productive meeting for the students," Sparks said. "They were able to express their concerns. We listened to their concerns. This is something we have been working on since October."
The college has roundtables at each campus. The first part of the roundtable is a review of concerns expressed in a previous semester and a review of actions taken.
"Then the second portion of the roundtable is an opportunity for students to express new concerns and new needs they believe are important for the improvement of our institution," she said.
"I believe the students are not satisfied that we have heard them to the degree they believe we should have," she added.
Student protests have taken the form of leaving cafeteria trays to be cleaned up, marching and refusing to show up to class. Sims said the cafeteria protest got administrators' attention.
"We wanted them to take our complaints seriously. There has been no resolution to date," he said.
Sims, who is graduating this spring, said students have been discussing protests for some time, but recently things came to a head. He plans to keep up with what's going on at SWCID and said things likely will be quiet this summer. However, the group wants to keep a unified front and plan on coming back in the fall "with a vengeance," he said.
Having videophones across more of the campus is another student concern. Executive Vice President Terry Hansen said the phone operates over an Internet connection, which needs more bandwidth.
"In the deaf world, there is a technology device called a videophone," Sparks said. "It enables the deaf person to communicate visually with the person they're calling. This is a new technology that we have actually had on campus at two or three sites for several years, but students were interested in expanding that opportunity.
"We have been working on that several months. In the process, we purchased additional fiber that is allowing us to provide a videophone in each dorm room," she said.
SWCID Provost Ron Brasel is retiring Aug. 31, something the school has been anticipating for some time. Sparks said students would like a deaf provost hired. Brasel's wife is deaf.
"We do seek individuals with expertise in deaf skills. We're just beginning. We're reviewing the job description," Sparks said.
"We will do a national search. There is a network of deaf educators across our country. We will seek interest from across the country," she added.