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ONLINE 08-DEC-00 Employee resigns after KTRU shutdown by Liora Danan Thresher Editorial staff kijana knight/thresher Rosa Guerrero, staff assistant in the Admission Office, announced her intention to resign yesterday morning. Guerrero defended KTRU Nov. 30 at the station's public meeting in Sewall 301. Many students saw Rosa Guerrero, a staff assistant in the Admission Office, for the first time when she forcefully defended KTRU at the station's public meeting Nov. 30. Guerrero announced her intention to resign yesterday morning, saying she could no longer work at Rice after the administration's shutdown of KTRU last week. "I don't feel like I can continue to work there knowing the way the students have been treated and [the administration's] attitude toward the Houston community," Guerrero said. Guerrero, who has worked at Rice for four and half years, said she plans to finish the semester here. Dean for Undergraduate Enrollment Julie Browning said she was very disappointed by Guerrero's decision. "Rosa has been a stellar employee here and someone we've all enjoyed working with very much and we wish her the best," Browning said. "I told her I hoped she would reconsider [her resignation], and I certainly would be very sad to have her leave." Browning said she did not know Guerrero's opinions about KTRU until she read about her comments from the KTRU meeting in the Thresher. They did not discuss the issue afterwards, Browning said. "Rosa's involvement with KTRU was part of her personal life," Browning said. "We certainly respected her free speech on the issue." Guerrero said she felt compelled to attend the Nov. 30 meeting, where she spoke against the administration's decision to shut down KTRU. "You better turn the station on or the community's going to turn it up on y'all," Guerrero said, addressing Vice President for Student Affairs Zenaido Camacho at the meeting. "I can tell you as a community member and as someone who works here, I understand very well the meaning of 'beyond the hedges' and 'world-class university.' That is not being demonstrated here. I'm quite ashamed to see the level of conversation you are having with these students." Many members of the audience cheered when Guerrero said to the students, "You guys are being had." Guerrero said the shutdown came as a surprise to her because the administration has always seemed to support student creativity. "It's a mystery to me why the administration would choose this particular issue to bring their arm down on," Guerrero said. Guerrero, who listens to KTRU regularly, said she feels she is a Houstonian first and foremost. "KTRU is such a huge part of Houston," Guerrero said. "I don't know if the student body or the faculty really understand what radio waves mean when they reach the community. I know a lot of people who love KTRU who have absolutely nothing to do with Rice." Guerrero said she is very pleased that an agreement has been reached between KTRU, the Student Association and the administration. "I do not regret that I quit in light of [the agreement]," Guerrero said. "I'm just really happy that it will work out." - back - Search the Thresher pages: Enter your search terms: Copyright © 2000 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved. This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu