Photograph by Robert Scheer
West Valley College student body president Dallas Lawrence walked out of the proceedings after the student senate voted 10-3 to begin impeachment investigations.
By Cecily Barnes
After nearly an hour of tense discussion last Thursday, the West Valley College student senate voted 10-3 to begin impeachment investigations of student body president Dallas Lawrence. Lawrence, who also worked as Karin Dowdy's field manager during her campaign for state Assembly, threatened to resign if investigations proceeded and left immediately, following the "yes" vote.
Lawrence's only comment to the Saratoga News was, "You can contact my lawyer."
This was the second impeachment investigation approved by the senate that month. Two weeks earlier, student Carmen Rojas, who had filed charges against Lawrence, was the subject of impeachment proceedings in response to counter-grievances filed by Lawrence.
On Oct. 23, Rojas and fellow student Charles Buquet filed formal grievances against Lawrence, accusing him of sexual harassment and use of derogatory terms focusing on ethnic background. The charges included an alleged statement by Lawrence toward Rojas to "take off your jacket so I can see how cold it is outside." On a separate occasion, he allegedly stated, "I don't have a problem with black people. . . . I think that everyone should own one."
In a confidential letter to the students involved, Dean of Students Ed Myers said an investigation confirmed both statements had been made. Myers attempted to downplay the latter statement, showing it was made in the context of repeating what had previously been said by radio shock jock Howard Stern.
The student senate voted to conduct its own investigation, even though Myers had confirmed five of the eleven allegations against Lawrence. Myers' investigation was conducted in compliance with school policy and had no relation to the student senate.
"If Mr. Lawrence exhibits behavior which violates college rules and policies, he is subject to formal college discipline procedures," Myers' confidential letter explained. "[The student senate] can do and take any sanctions; that process is independent."
The senate must now appoint an impeachment committee to investigate the allegations. This committee will report its findings, along with a recommendation for or against impeachment, back to the senate, which will make the final decision whether or not to impeach. However, Lawrence may save them the headache of making such a difficult decision.
Building the suspense through a series of angry rhetorical questions, he asked, "Am I going to stay if I'm impeached? Probably not. Am I going to let the senate go through all next semester fighting over this? Probably not. I've been dragged through the dirt for 2 1/2 months. I've had my reputation destroyed. Am I going to take that next semester? No."
Rojas, who is on the student senate, was shocked that Lawrence opposed being investigated.
"I'm surprised totally," she said. "At the last meeting I got impeached, and he said, 'If we're going to impeach Carmen, I think I should be impeached too.' It was amazing how he switched faces."
The very day Rojas and Buquet filed their grievances, Lawrence turned around and did the same, accusing both Buquet and Rojas of sexual harassment.
In a letter to Ed Myers, dated Oct. 23, 1996, Lawrence wrote, "Over the past year, Charles Buquet has on numerous occasions verbally assaulted me with a wide variety of sexually demeaning comments.
"As for Ms. Rojas, she has, on several occasions, participated in what can only be referred to as blatant sexual advances in the senate office," the letter stated.
Responding to these counter-charges, the student senate voted on Nov. 21 to begin impeachment investigations on Rojas.
Two weeks later at Lawrence's impeachment proceedings, most of those present acknowledged that Lawrence was a skilled representative who had accomplished many things for the college. Student trustee Willie Brown Jr. wrote a letter of commendation on Lawrence's behalf, as did two previous student representatives. However, the student senators quickly determined that what was at issue was not Dallas Lawrence's character or past achievements, but his guilt or innocence surrounding specific charges formally filed against him by fellow students.
"We need to analyze the allegations, not whether or not Dallas is a good guy," said student senator Paul Higgins.
"It doesn't matter if he's a saint," agreed student senator Billy Bussey. "Grievances have been filed; therefore, we need to investigate."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 11, 1996.
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