Doesn't take APS long to shut out alternatives to the military

After news broke from the Journal this morning about a mandatory assembly held by military recruiters. Albuquerque High denied SWOP from entering campus to provide military recruitment alternatives. This does not look good APS, not good.

It's important to note that APS has an Equal Access Policy that is enacted when a controversial issue arises on campus. It means that organizations on both sides of the issue must be allowed to present to students. So that's obviously not working.

But APS also has to follow the No Child Left Behind Act, better known as the No Child Left Unrecruited. "...buried deep within the law's 670 pages, is a provision requiring public secondary schools to provide military recruiters not only with access to facilities, but also with contact information for every student -- or face a cutoff of all federal aid." Full article here.

Hurry up APS, you got 2 fights to fight. One, to get your schools to implement Equal Access appropriately and two, putting an end to NCLB. What are you waiting for...
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For Immediate Release: Press Advisory-December 6, 2007
Contact: Emma Sandoval-489-7332
Monica Cordova-385-6590
SWOP Office 247-8832

Albuquerque High Denies Alternatives to Military Recruitment Presentation

Albuquerque - Today at Albuquerque high the SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP) was turned away from setting up a table during lunch today to provide students with information regarding alternatives to the military and how to prevent military recruiters from calling them at home. SWOP was clearly denied after Journal headlines broke of a mandatory assembly at which military recruiters were pushing their agenda of pro-war and military. Albuquerque High officials cited the Journal article published today as the reason for changing their decision at the last minute.

“On Tuesday of last week we set up an appointment to present alternatives during lunch. Being denied today after the pro-military mandatory assembly proves that APS is not enforcing equal access policy district wide,” stated Emma Sandoval, a SWOP youth intern.

After being denied access SWOP was told to come back next year.

SWOP received a letter from Rigo Chavez, Director of APS Communications, on August 30, 2007 with approval by the Superintendent stating we have permission from the Albuquerque Public Schools Communications Office, “to visit and distribute literature to schools in the APS school district.” The letter further stated, “Linda Sink and Eddie Soto have sent a memo on behalf of the superintendents to all high and middle schools reminding them that your group and similar organizations must be provided with equal time and opportunity provided to the military.”

“I feel like APS is pushing the military down students’ throats. Students deserve to hear about alternatives to the military so they can make informed decisions. APS must adhere to their policy and allow groups other than the military to talk to students,” stated Sandoval.

What is Albuquerque High afraid of? Parents and the public need to demand that APS provide alternatives to military recruitment of Albuquerque youth. We should have the same access to students as recruiters, especially given that we follow all APS rules and protocol.

A meeting is scheduled Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 6pm at Albuquerque High School. Interested students and parents should attend.

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