As ___ ____ prepares for the May 1 election, college district officials await a legal opinion from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office about whether the student government can or should change its bylaws to prevent candidates with criminal records from running in the future. Full Article
Update from May 2013: Figueroa reelected RCC student body president
I like this guy. He stands up for whats right. We really need to support him. Rock on
While I consider what he did to be sickly disgusting, I commend him for what he’s doing now. I started at a community college while on parole. however, unlike Figueroa, I chose not to get involved in any organization on campus, in spite of several attempts by the business club to get me involved. I know a few students have found about my status as an RSO, and most who have chose not to talk to me again, and that’s their right. Fortunately for me, none chose to persecute me by informing others about my registration status.
Well, I can kind of concur with td. I was never on the Megan’s web site. Although, I kept a low profile on school and I excelled and did really well. Although, while my charges have been expunged, the stigma continues. We can only pray the proposed legislation passes. Personally, it’s a no brainier and makes complete sense
Riverside is a bit of a drive. Will an online extension course qualify me as a member of the student body? I’m thinking of enrolling just to vote for this guy.
I went the other way when it came to being involved. I joined 12 clubs, and was an officer of 6 of them, including student government. I felt that the only way I was ever going to get a job was by being super involved, getting straight A’s, and multiple degrees, that way I may be on par with my non-sex offender competitors. Even still my current employer stated that he wished I had killed someone instead because he wouldn’t have hesitated hiring me. (On a side note, when did extinguishing a persons life become more acceptable than possession of CP?)
One day the entire truth will come out on the details that happened. Comments such as “sickenly disgusting” are personalizations based on what was read or seen in the media and even misquotes on what Figueroa actually said will continue to be viewed as factual and not misconstrued.
When we hear these types of stories on the news we will always think the worst and that is what we have to change. Some people do deserve the benefit of the doubt and that there is remorse, but even more so, that what is painted through the media is not always a recollection of what actually transpired. But having penal codes that are generalized to read “kidnapping” or “lewd and lascivious acts” range from the lowest of extremes to the highest.
Was this event enough to warrant international news? Yes, international news about someone that was elected to a student leadership position by his peers to lead the school and implemented several programs on campus addressing the needs of students. Those things were not covered yet it was used to focus on how ALL sex offenders should not be serving in any type of leadership position because they will continue to “molest children.” It was about making a story and not one story was about how registered sex offenders can be rehabilitated or perhaps they were isolated instances.
This is where change needs to happen. Don’t get this message twisted in that it’s about defending sex offenders, but it’s about defending and protecting everyone. Not all RSOs fall in the same category when it comes to what type of treatment or risk factor they fall and the public should not clump everyone into one category. Let’s work with one another to come up with better solutions for a safer country, a safer world. What is happening to this country, our world, our humanity?