Prop. 187 threatens faculty-student tie
By Russell Moore
Several weeks ago, an administrator, Kathleen Komar, wrote in
these Viewpoint pages of the need for collegial relationships at
UCLA. She did not want to see "outside" (meaning employee union)
influences on the relationship between faculty and students.
Although gravely misdirected, I agree with her basic claim that
there is a special relationship between students and faculty. I am
perplexed by her  and other administrators’  continued
silence over a real and immediate threat to student/faculty
relations.
I refer to the new regulations being developed in an
administration bunker deep under Murphy Hall which adds a new line
to faculty job descriptions: "Thou shalt betray thy students’
trust!" These regulations will order faculty and administrators to
turn in suspected undocumented students (in terms of the odious
Proposition 187).
Komar was in a huff and hot under the collar when students
attempted to routinize their employee-employer relationship Â
so that it stops distorting the mentoring relationship. Gov. Pete
Wilson has issued an executive order to develop regulations to
implement the racist Proposition 187, and the administration has
begun the process of compliance. This will intrude directly into
Kathleen Komar’s sacred relationship. She and other administrators,
however, remain silent  but obedient!
Perhaps it is easier to go after employees who organize a union
in their spare time than to refuse a professional politician? Or,
it may just be complicity with the immigrant bashing of the times.
We will only know when they speak out loudly.
The Academic Senate should also address Proposition 187. Their
noncompliance with Proposition 187 might help them live down the
infamy associated with their past (unsuccessful, it turned out)
rejection of a Chicana/o studies department. But then, given their
vote on the latter, maybe it’s best not to ask them.
Who knows  now that the state will intrude into relations
between patient and doctor, teacher and pupil, faculty and student,
the Academic Senate may be provoked to discover, invent or feign
having a conscience.
Moore, a graduate student in history, is a member of the Network
for Public Education and Social Justice.