Commentary: Orange Coast College encourages free exchange of ideas
Ariana Rowlands, president of the College Republicans at UC Irvine, and Andrew Cavarno debate with a student at a rally concerning comments by Orange Coast College professor Olga Perez Stable Cox, in this file photo taken Dec. 12, 2016.
Orange Coast College prides itself as an institution where ideas and opinions are freely exchanged as part of the educational process.
Our students and faculty come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them an array of political, religious and philosophical beliefs. We embrace this; it is a strength that facilitates higher learning.
We are keenly aware of the public’s interest in the unauthorized recording of one of our faculty members that has been shared via social media and discussed in news reports. We have been carefully reviewing the matter since it was brought to our attention and continue to work toward a full understanding of all related circumstances.
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Through this process, we acknowledge the importance of academic freedom and the freedom of expression to the exchange of ideas. Equally important is protecting the privacy rights of students and the personnel rights of faculty.
We invite everyone in our community to join us in a concerted effort to foster more empathy and understanding for each other and our differences.
Our campus now has a unique opportunity for dialogue, sincere discussions, and a better understanding of the diverse perspectives that enrich and enlighten everyone at Orange Coast College and the Coast Community College District.
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JOHN WEISPFENNING is chancellor of Coast Community College District.