College Studies Claims About Paper’s Advisor

Saddleback College officials are looking into student complaints about the campus newspaper advisor.

Trustees ordered the inquiry after 10 former editors and current staff writers at the Lariat called for the removal of advisor Lee Walker at Monday’s board meeting.

The students claim Walker is ineffective as a teacher and has tried to control the editorial content by grading students on the subjects of their articles.

Monday’s protest came after Walker’s firing of student editor Linda C. Fowler last week. The students claim the firing was another in a series of attempts by Walker to cripple the student newspaper.

Walker said he has no agenda and never tried to control the content of the paper. He said Fowler’s removal was because of her inability to produce the paper on time.

Fowler said Walker was not supportive and did not competently instruct her in the production of a student newspaper.

Fowler’s temporary successor at the Lariat, Phillip Foglesong, agrees. Foglesong said Walker should be removed as advisor but that Walker’s continued presence would not stop him from trying to produce a quality paper.

“When you teach, one of the most important things is being able to communicate your knowledge,” Foglesong said. Walker “does not do that very well.”

While trustees David Lang and Marcia Milchiker asked for an immediate investigation of the allegations, Chancellor Cedric Sampson said Walker needs to be ensured a fair hearing.