A Question of Free Speech?
The Times published five letters defending the editor of the Valley College Star, Chris Mayda, in response to your story April 11 about students, faculty and staff at the college condemning her for not being “politically correct” in a column.
But on Thursday, April 30, the faculty of the journalism department suspended Mayda as editor, presumably because of the allegedly “racist” column. The vote was 4 to 2, with the only real journalism instructors--including the newspaper’s faculty adviser, Anthony Cifarelli--voting against dismissal. Those voting for the dismissal included the photography and communications instructors, who appear to know nothing about the newspaper business or the ethics expected of college faculties.
Evidently, academic freedom is for the faculty only. It will be interesting to see what steps will be taken by Valley College’s President Mary Lee and Academic Vice President Tyree Wieder to right this decision.
M. STEPHEN SHELDON, Studio City
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