Teachers take time off for speech

Sometimes, even the teachers play hooky.

Canceled classes gave students and faculty the chance to hear Rev. Jesse Jackson speak at the main lawn across from Malcolm X Plaza last Tuesday.

Corky Wick, a speech and communication studies lecturer, canceled her Speech 150 class so she and her class could hear Jackson deliver his speech on affirmative action. Wick said she likes to enforce Jackson's belief of keeping hope alive.

A supporter of affirmative action, Wick has attended previous affirmative action meetings. She said she is supporting the events at SF State "because affirmative action is an important tool and policy for us to keep in place."

The rally and events, which were supported by the Academic Senate, gave other instructors different reasons to send their students to hear Jackson.

One teacher used Jackson's speech as an example of public speaking for his class.

"This was a great opportunity for my students to see a great orator address a large audience," said Dan May, an instructor for the American Language Institute. His students have to give their own speeches Monday, he said.

Francesca Hulin, also an American Language Institute instructor, wanted her class to see an American protest in action. She said many of her students are familiar with the controversy surrounding affirmative action.

Some classes in the Humanities and Psychology buildings were interrupted by The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary, a group of about 10 students, which started a protest and march at 10:30 a.m.

They said their motive was to organize students in the buildings so there would be "no business as usual."

The coalition went through the halls and inside about five classrooms, but nobody left their classes to join them.

[ Golden Gater Online October 17, 1995 ]

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