Reinstate the Pledge, Council Asks Students

Expressing concern that citizens’ rights are being eroded, the City Council passed a resolution this week urging student leaders at Saddleback College to reinstate the Pledge of Allegiance at their public meetings.

The Associated Student Government last year discontinued the practice of reciting the pledge. Student leaders upheld that policy last month, despite protests from military veterans and other residents.

That prompted some council members to take a stand.

“There are some of us who believe it is un-American to sit idly by while the rights of our citizens to exercise their patriotism at public meetings is being sabotaged,” Councilwoman Collene Campbell said.

Carolyn Nash was the only council member who voted against the resolution, which was introduced by Councilman David M. Swerdlin.

“I don’t feel it’s this city’s job to tell another elected body how to run their meetings,” Nash said.

Student leaders said they have no plans to change their position.

They maintain that, though the salute is not on the agenda for their executive cabinet sessions, anyone who wants to say the pledge may do so during public comments at the beginning of all meetings.

Sessions of the senate and judicial court branches of student government open with the pledge.

“As much as this is an important local issue, we have more important things to be concentrating on,” said Jeff Haskell, student government president. “We have already resolved this.”

In other action, the City Council on Tuesday went on record supporting Measure S, which opposes converting the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station into a civilian airport.