Former Sedona Center/Verde Valley Dean claims she was subject to possible discipline apparently for allowing Third District Rep Paul Chevalier to speak at OLLI luncheon March 2, 2022
Robert E. Oliphant, Editor
OPINION. If the information now being made public by the former Sedona Center/Verde Campus Dean Dr. Tina Redd is correct, it appears that freedom of speech at the Yavapai Community College is under attack ― at least when it comes to Third District Representative Paul Chevalier.
According to Dean Tina Redd, the College Prescott-based executives were involved in some kind of “back channel” communications about Mr. Chevalier and appeared to her as almost panicked because he was speaking at a 1:00 p.m. OLLI luncheon March 2, 2022 on the Verde Campus. Dean Redd alleges that the Community College executives subjected her to something akin to interrogation about the event.
In her recent public disclosures explaining why she left her position as Sedona Center/Verde Valley Dean, Dr. Redd commented on the incident. She wrote:
“I am bewildered by the flurry of back channel communication surrounding the OLLI Brown Bag luncheon featuring Paul Chevalier.”
Dean Redd then expanded on her recollection of events leading up to the March speech:
Yavapai Community College Third District Representative Paul Chevalier
“My associate dean was contacted on her personal cell phone on a Sunday evening (2/27) asking her to immediately supply information about the event creating a sense of panic. After a second request, for specific emails between my associate dean and myself, I reached out to Dr. Ryan to let her know I was happy to supply anything she needed. I was informed two days later that Dr. Ryan has lost her cell phone. Then we were informed that Board Chair Deb McCasland and Tyler Rumsey would attend the event. Was the event being recorded? “No.” Did Dr. Redd give permission for the event? “Dr. Redd doesn’t directly approve OLLI events.” It feels a bit like we’re being interrogated, but we never know why.
After the March event, Dean Redd says that because of it she perceived she was going to be possibly disciplined for apparently allowing the speech to go forward. She said the following:
I am now scheduled for a disciplinary meeting over this brown bag luncheon. Regardless of the outcome of this meeting, I am troubled by the approach. As Verde Valley Dean, I cannot function without trust and support. By any account, relations between the college and Verde Valley citizens have been tumultuous for more than twenty years. I didn’t invent this conflict. Yet, I will be formally reprimanded when a conversation about procedures would suffice.
The behavior of the Prescott-based executives appears both childish and puzzling. Quite frankly, their actions as alleged by Dr. Redd fail to pass the smell test.
Dr. Redd has shown great courage in publicly disclosing the dreadful actions of her superiors when it comes to Mr. Chevalier. She no doubt understands, as do most educators, that the best demonstration of our value of a right of free speech in a democracy is ensuring that a person with whom we disagree is heard. It is a value that educational institutions like Yavapai Community College should model and practice. Once an educational institution decides to use its power to suppress controversial ideas, we are all subject to its censorship.
If there were truly a Higher Education Commission concerned with free speech and community colleges, it would be thoroughly investigating the allegations coming from the former Dean at Yavapai Community College about this incident.
The efforts to apparently use Dean Redd to suppress Mr. Chevalier from speaking, although unsuccessful, fly directly in the face of what higher educational institutions stand for.