In Sedona Red Rock News Christopher Fox Graham calls the restrictions on Board members’ communication with faculty and staff unconstitutional, arguing they violate fundamental free speech rights
Christopher Fox Graham
In a November 29, 2024 opinion column, Sedona Red Rocks newspaper managing editor Christopher Fox Graham expressed alarm over a policy adopted by the lame-duck Yavapai Community College Governing Board. The policy restricts communication between elected District Governing Board members and any member of the Community College staff. Should such communication occur, the staff member may face disciplinary action, even if the interaction involves an innocent question related to the College’s operations.
In his column, Mr. Graham alleged that the College “doesn’t have a grasp of basic constitutional law, or it would not attempt to strangle free speech in the throats of faculty members who want to discuss legitimate issues with their duly-elected board members for the benefit of the taxpayers who elected them.”
He warned, “Hopefully the incoming board . . . will have the wisdom to shut down this policy before litigation by an offending faculty member leads to a costly lawsuit the college will certainly lose, costing taxpayers tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars in legal fees that could be better spent on programs, facilities and student services.”