I am writing to correct some misimpressions contained in "Mesa College chief admits student government shut down" (News, March 18). This was a difficult situation for the college and it was handled by both administrators and faculty in accordance with California law and district policy.

The Mesa College Associated Students elections were cancelled in December 2003 due to extremely serious problems involving student behavior and campaign irregularities. This was openly discussed by the students and others on campus and was extensively covered at the time in the student newspaper almost four months ago. We teach all students, including student leaders, that when they violate the Student Code of Conduct, disciplinary consequences will follow. In my view, it would not be responsible to do otherwise.

The vice president of student services and the dean of student affairs notified the students of the cancellation of elections. They explained to them the reasons in both oral and written communications. The college is not able to respond to the specifics, however, because under federal privacy law it is not permitted to divulge information about individual students. The new elections were duly held in the following semester. And at the present time, a new group of responsible, constructive student leaders is in place.

The Student Government Office was indeed locked during the winter break, as was most of the campus, and was not reopened until the new student government was elected. The college took additional steps to secure the student office when it was found to have been vandalized shortly after the problem with the elections.

The real story of the student government change at Mesa College has just three parts: First, students who engaged in unacceptable behavior were disciplined and the elections were deferred to the next semester. Second, new elections were held and new officers are in place. And third, thousands of students at Mesa College are constructively involved in student government, in clubs, in performance groups, on debate teams, in honor societies and on athletic teams, and we take pride in the experiences they are having. In my view, that is the news.

DR. CONSTANCE M. CARROLL
President
San Diego Mesa College