At the Senate, we discussed some proposed changes to the administrative policies regarding prerequisites and corequisites. The reorganization, AP 4260, will separate and clarify instructional vs. student services responsibilities, and update some policies to comply with Title V. (Among these will be a requirement to show six, rather than three, CSU/UC campuses which have a comparable prerequisite as one way of validating a proposed prerequisite).
Along similar lines, a new unified form for clearing or challenging prerequisites is also in development.
• There was an extensive discussion regarding the presence of religiously-based groups on campus, and related changes at Student health. Earlier in 2016, Alternatives Women’s Center (an anti-abortion Christian pregnancy counseling service) approached Student health regarding establishing a presence on campus. Their van began showing up in mid-April 2016, and the organization was hoping to establish a lasting and official presence on campus (indeed, some of their fliers list Palomar as a location).
In late April, concerns were raised at a meeting between AWC, student health, and several administrators and faculty members. At this meeting, AWC clarified that–while they provide ultrasound, they are not equipped to offer medical care based on the results. In addition, while they provide information on possible complications of abortion, they do not offer any information about the risks of pregnancy. They also provide no contraception, STD testing, or referrals to abrtion facilities. The organization also maintains two websites, one for patients (which does not mention their Christian mission or orientation) and one for the organization (which does), targeted to potential donors.
AWC also provides food and diapers to pregnant and parenting students, which they cite as a reason for their presence on campus, claiming that these services are not available elsewhere.
In subsequent meetings, the administration has clarified that the organization is welcome to be present on campus under free speech guidelines, and that there is no MOU with the organization, nor is Student Health affiliated with them.
Note that Student health does not currently provide STD testing for women, HIV testing, or pregnancy testing (though information is inconsistent on this last one; some people calling the center have been told that pregnancy testing is available, others have been told otherwise). However, Student health’s website still claims that they offer pregnancy testing (see here: http://www2.palomar.edu/pages/healthservices/fees/).
Planned Parenthood has expressed interest in coming to campus to offer STD screening. It was reported that they have filled out Facilities applications twice, and that both times, the applications have been lost. When they attempted to follow up, it was claimed that their emails were not returned.
Personally, I find these reports quite disturbing. AWC is certainly welcome to be on campus as a free speech matter, as long as the campus is not affiliated directly with them and they are not being relied upon to provide services which should be provided by Student health. But the same should apply to other organizations, including Planned Parenthood; I hope that this is investigated further. Most Senators seemed to feel the same way, and the ASG representative looked for advice as to how students could become involved in this issue.
Finally, the PFF is filing grievances regarding class cancellation procedures, and is closely monitoring a situation in AMBCS in which an administrator is pressuring faculty to work outside of contract.
Happy Halloween to all.
-Richard Albistegui-DuBois
