Third in a series
Re “PCC Was ‘Out to Get’ Swil, Faculty Leader Charges”
[img]2285|left|Professor Roger C. Marheine||no_popup[/img]Dateline Pasadena – Amidst rumors a decision may be near in the eight-month suspension of journalism advisor Warren Swil over a sexual harassment accusation, Roger C. Mariheine, president of the Faculty Assn. at Pasadena City College said the school’s own investigation “shows that Warren needs to be reinstated.”
Meanwhile, the hometown alternative newspaper, the Pasadena Weekly, in the edition out this weekend said what many faculty and students have openly suspected since last March’s penalty was meted out:
[img]1769|right|Dr. Mark Rocha||no_popup[/img]Under-siege President Dr. Mark Rocha punished Prof. Swil because his students, who publish the school newspaper, The Courier, were “breaking major stories about (anti-Rocha) protests, some critical of the administration. Rocha again had the answer: Get rid of Swil over a flimsy charge of sexually harassing a male student. Wait. What? No! Wrong again (as he had been in ending winter session). The winter classes, which made it easier for students to matriculate to universities, are over. Now we’re left waiting to see if the next mistake will also be compounded by not reinstating Swil.”
Mr. Marheine confirmed the reasoning by Mr. Swil’s vanquishment.
“President Rocha did meet with journalists from the Courier in early March,” he said. “Basically, he told them he didn’t like the way they were covering the administration. The stories were fantastic. The Courier is probably as good as I ever have seen it.
“But within a week, Warren Swil was put on leave.
“Everyone understood,” Mr. Marheine said, “that this was retribution for what we were saying was great journalism.”
[img]2284|right|Mark McQueen||no_popup[/img]Several faculty members, not speaking for attribution, told the newspaper that Dr. Rocha’s alleged intimidation has had an effect, that Courier stories this semester are not as hard-hitting.
“We hope Warren Swil will be back,” said the Faculty Assn. leader. “He is shaken, but we just hope that he will come back (from paid leave). He is 61 years old, and he has not been on campus for very long. He was a journalist for a long time.”
Thinking more personally, “Warren does not have a huge retirement. He basically has said he has lined up his attorneys, and if they fire him, he would have a huge lawsuit. He probably would be going for a million dollars at least.”
(To be continued)
