Ongoing Harassment at SMC

Here is an email I just sent Joshua Morrison, the attorney for Santa Monica Community College District. I will be curious to see his response. When will the harassment cease at SMC?

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

---------------------MY EMAIL TO JOSHUA MORRISON---------------------

ATTENTION: ATTORNEY JOSHUA MORRISON
RE: SMCCD AND ONGOING HARASSMENT
APRIL 26, 2006

Dear Mr. Morrison,

As you are well aware, Mr. Dustin Curran and I met with you and Mr. Robert Sammis last Friday, April 21, 2006, in an attempt to amicably resolve this matter. At this time, Mr. Sammis indicated that I would not be harassed by either Jim Keeshen or Thomas J. Baker. Despite these assurances, I have since been harassed by both.

I find it curious that Dean Judith Penchansky feels that it is a violation of student conduct for me to email Mr. Keeshen to cease and desist his harassment of me and other students, yet Mr. Keeshen is allowed to harass me, via U.S. mail, with falsified IRS filings. Since Ms. Penchansky feels it is her role to punish me if I were to contact him to dispute these false allegations, SMC is leaving me no choice but to directly take this matter up with the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit. Since this falsified information was mailed to me, I consider this mail fraud and will take this up with the appropriate federal agencies in charge of investigating this matter.

I am curious why Jim Keeshen is allowed to use the resources and facilities of Santa Monica College for his own personal benefit, to wit, Jim Keeshen Productions, Inc., and having knowledge of such, SMC has done little or nothing to rectify this situation. Additionally, by falsifying IRS information in his Studio Animatics consultant contracts with the District to fraudulently obtain tens of thousands of dollars from the U.S. Department of Education by and through SMC, and now falsifying IRS information using my name, SMC is opening itself up to a potential IRS audit to fully resolve this matter.

Additionally, to make matters worse, Thomas J. Baker is being allowed, even after our meeting and a recent email to you regarding his harassment of me via the Internet, to continue to repeatedly harass me. Not only have I received two additionally harassing, if not threatening, Internet communications by him, or an agent acting through him, I received a letter on Monday from SMC Assistant Dean of Student Life, Deana Hearn, in which Mr. Baker not only insisted on a meeting with Ms. Hearn, but he made numerous false representations to her. Although Mr. Baker holds absolutely no legitimate officer position in the SMC Gaming Club, he falsely represented himself as such to Ms. Hearn, the SMCPD, and other SMC students to gain an advantage as such.

Additionally, Ms. Hearn is misinformed when she states that "you have been summoned by the college's disciplinarian and that you have not responded." I have retained numerous email correspondences between Ms. Penchansky and myself as well as our correspondence, so this statement is patently false. Based on Ms. Hearn's misinformation, she is now attempting to "restrict" me "from participating in any student related activities" until I meet with Ms. Penchansky "and your case has been resolved." Given the overwhelming evidence of harassment against me, and Ms. Hearn's misinformation, I do not agree to be restricted from any activities at SMC and see this as a clear violation of my student rights and civil rights if SMC were in fact to wrongfully enforce this mandate.

I am informed and believe and thereon allege, that Mr. Baker has caused Ms. Penchansky to circulate a student petition against me in order to wrongly justify her personal vendetta of having me suspended from SMC. I remind you that the role of a campus disciplinarian is to be just and impartial. Given the fact that Ms. Penchansky is a defendant in this matter, that we have agreed to set aside her threats of suspension, and that she is now acting on her own accord to interfere with due process requirements and to tamper with witnesses, I ask that this petition be destroyed forthwith and that Ms. Penchansky cease her threats of suspension. I allowed Ms. Penchansky to open the lines of communication in writing and she has refused my offer in writing.

I ask you now, is your client, Santa Monica Community College District, going to intervene to stop this harassment or do I need a restraining order against Mr. Baker and a civil rights lawsuit to make myself heard? Are you going to allow your client, and its agents and employees, to frustrate our progress in amicably resolving this matter? May I remind you that the California State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 5-100 (a) states: "A member shall not threaten to present criminal, administrative, or disciplinary charges to obtain an advantage in a civil dispute." Clearly, by the actions of your respective clients and their agents, I am being threatened with these various types of charges to settle this civil dispute between the District. However, I will not stand by idly and be threatened, but will take the legal action necessary to defend myself accordingly.

Thank you for your prompt attention to the foregoing.

Very Truly Yours,
Des Manttari

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Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, harassment, civil rights, threats, Jim Keeshen, mail fraud, IRS fraud, Thomas J. Baker, lawsuit, Judith Penchansky, News and politics, Deana Hearn, Joshua Morrison

SMC Faculty March and Rally

At approximately 11:15 a.m. today, Santa Monica College saw students, classified staff, and faculty march together through the campus and down the sidewalk along Pico Boulevard in support of the SMC Faculty March and Rally. A number of police officers and news reporters followed the crowd. One SMC student, Jeff Higley, showed his support for his beloved faculty by videotaping the event. Mr. Higley had previously supported the faculty by videotaping the April 10, 2006 Board of Trustees meeting.

Armed with bullhorns, picket signs, and whistles, the faculty cried their slogan "A Fair Contract Now." Many faculty members wore bright blue t-shirts that spelled their slogan out in huge white letters. As a reporter for Phoenix Genesis and a student concerned for the rights of the faculty, I was honored to participate in such a historic and worthwhile event.


Photo of a previous rally for fair treatment of faculty at SMC.

The support of the students was simply amazing. As we marched through the cafeteria in Cayton Center, the hub of main campus, students cheered, applauded, and some stood up in honor for the men and women who have fought hard for their rights at SMC while burning the other candle to educate us. I never heard one single negative word from a single student. Clearly, the faculty were seen in their young eyes as role models to be admired, if not emulated.

Clearly, SMC's administration was not as receptive to the faculty's rally for their rights. In fact most of them were hiding, perhaps contemplating retaliation for what they considered not to be a legitimate redress of grievances, but as a spectacle that they felt they did not need. I personally witnessed the SMC Board of Trustees turn their deaf ears to the handful of faculty who addressed them with moving speeches on April 10, 2006. Will the SMC Board of Trustees be more receptive at the upcoming board meeting slated for May 8, 2006?

The Faculty March and Rally culminated in front of the SMC administrative office building, referred to by many in the SMC community as "Pico Palace," located on the corner of Pico Boulevard and Stewart Street. Like any palace with royalty, it was guarded from intruders. Two Santa Monica College Police Officers, armed with guns, stood with arms crossed, effectively barricading the front door. I recognized one of the officers who had previously violated my rights on March 24, 2006. If Robert Sammis, the Vice President of Planning and Development, was attempting to be fair in his negotiations with the SMC Faculty, including Faculty President Lantz Simpson, then why was he hiding behind armed police officers? Why didn't Mr. Sammis come out and address the faculty? Isn't Pico Palace a public facility? Why do the SMC administrators feel the necessity of being so far removed from main campus?

If Robert Sammis was in his office, located on the third floor, he was able to hear the moving speeches of the faculty, thanks to their bullhorns and loud cries for a "fair contract now." Mr. Sammis surely heard the honking cars that passed by and the cheers and applause. The faculty was asked, "What do we want?" They replied, "A fair contract!" They were asked, "When do we want it?" They cried in overwhelming unison, "Now!!!!"

Lantz Simpson, the faculty association president, stated that the faculty has not seen a new contract for over twenty months. Mr. Simpson added that the contract issues should have been "settled over a year ago," but that the Board of Trustees "sat on their hands." For over a year and a half, SMC has "refused" to settle this contract. Apparently SMC has a great deal of money to spend as they are ranked sixth in the state in funding. Next year, SMC will allegedly rank fifth. According to Mr. Simpson, "We've got 17 million new dollars in the last two years. Where has it gone?" The faculty repeatedly shouted in unison, "Where's the money?" Now, as a student, that's a question I would like answered. However, no one in administration was brave enough to step forth to answer this legitimate question.

Mr. Simpson continued, stating that the faculty has not seen a raise in three and a half years. Now, the faculty is not being unreasonable. They are not asking for an astronomical increase in their salaries, only a fair raise to keep up with the cost of living increases we all face. The faculty cried repeatedly, "Show us the money!"

Now, SMC's administration has become rather top heavy since Piedad Robertson appeared onto the scene over a decade ago. Although she has left SMC for the ECS, her top heavy administration remains. Mr. Simpson stated: "In the meantime, the administration has given itself two raises." The faculty was not very pleased with this alleged misappropriated allocation of public funds, and responded with repeated shouts of "Shame! Shame!" Obviously, the administration must have been ashamed as they continued to hide behind closed doors. I even asked the faculty: "Why is Robert Sammis hiding?"

SMC computer science professor Howard Stahl took the bullhorn and asked: "If the administration gets 5 1/2 percent, why do we get zero? I want what the administrators got. I want what the administrators got." The faculty responded in unison, "Yes, yes." Stahl continued: "I want what the classified got. I want what the classified got. Why won't they give it to me?" The faculty asked, "Why? Why?" Stahl urged the faculty to picket next week in anticipation of the upcoming SMC Board of Trustees meeting. The faculty cried repeatedly, "Now's the time!"

Mitra Moassessi, the chief negotiator for the SMC Faculty Association, took the bullhorn next. She cried, "Enough is enough!" She added, "Where is the money? Show us the money!" She stated about the faculty raise, "Two percent, that's all you got." When she asked when Thomas Donner, the former interim president of SMC, got his last raise, the faculty replied, "Yesterday!" Donner allegedly got a nice raise in 2006. According to the SMC Faculty Association website, SMC Administrators received a grand total of $1,803,737 in salary increases and related benefits between the period of 2004 to 2007. Those who benefited from this financial windfall included the Superintendent/President, classified administrators, classified managers, and confidential employees. Weigh the fairness of this increase on the scales of financial justice and you will see that that there were only 45 administrators in the year 2005 compared to 314 full time faculty and 995 part time faculty. Something is terribly wrong here at SMC.

The SMC Faculty Association advocates a "Call to Action." As stated on their website:

At this moment, the Negotiating Council needs your help in securing a fair, new contract. We believe an active, mobilized and united faculty is one of the greatest tools we have in reaching a settlement. If you care about your salary, benefits and working conditions, now is the time to get involved to improve the outcome of our contract negotiations. Your voice together with those of your colleagues heard by both District Administrators and the Board of Trustees will make all the difference.

A sample letter to the SMC Board of Trustees reads as follows:

As a faculty member I write to you today to convey my deep sense of dismay that the District has failed to reached an agreement with faculty after more than a year of negotiations.

The latest report from the faculty negotiating team clearly demonstrates that the District negotiating team is not interested in reaching a serious and meaningful contractual agreement. I am doubly concerned because the District's current position jeopardizes the positive campus environment with which we began this academic year. The college also is engaged in a Presidential search, which the lack of a contract with the faculty and deteriorating campus morale can only make more difficult and problematic.

I urge you together with your fellow Board members, to step forward and provide the leadership necessary to settle a fair contract quickly.

Historically, the Accreditation Team assigned to SMC has scrutinized institutional integrity. Standard Seven of the 2004 Accreditation Self-Study Response to Recommendations states the following:

The team observed that in reaction to a number of historical College events substantial interpersonal dissension threatens to distract the College from a critical focus on its recently developed Master Planning agenda and other significant issues. The team recommends that representatives of all stakeholders of the College be convened to identify these interpersonal issues and determine a process to reach an expeditious and lasting resolution.

As far back as 1998, contract negotiations between the District and the Faculty Association impacted campus climate negatively, leading to "tension" and "hostility." In January 2000, the SMC Board of Trustees stepped in with a unilateral 10 percent increase in salary for faculty. Two lawsuits followed and, still, SMC's administration continues to ignore the needs of its faculty. According to the Santa Monica Mirror, on January 14, 2000, "the State of California’s Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) had found the college guilty of bargaining in bad faith, failure to provide information and threats of retaliation from President Piedad F. Robertson." Robert Sammis, then Vice President of Human Resources, had claimed otherwise. Given my own recent negotiations with Robert Sammis this past Friday, I would have to side with the findings of the PERB and the SMC Faculty Association.

By the way, where is the money???

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP


Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, SMC Faculty Association, public schools, community college, march, rally, fair contract now, faculty rights, contract negotiations, Lantz Simpson, News and politics, Robert Sammis, SMC Board of Trustees

Santa Monica College's Falsified Police Records

Here is an email I sent Santa Monica College's attorney, Joshua Morrison, on April 24, 2006. Obviously, Thomas J. Baker is coming to the SMCPD with unclean hands and misusing the campus police department to cover up his own wrongdoing. The burning question in my mind is why SMC is allowing, if not encouraging, Baker to perform these hate crimes against its student body? Is it because the SMCPD falls under the control of Dr. Robert Adams and the Office of Student Affairs?

As SMC student Jeff Higley wrote on his blog The Seige about the "failures of Eileen Miller, SMC campus police chief, to insure the safety of people on campus and to implement a timely and responsive mechanism for the intake of citizen’s complaints as required under California Penal Code Section 832.5. (The SMCPD falls under the jurisdiction of Dr. Adams and the office of student affairs.)." Mr. Higley is working tirelessly to expose "the dysfunctional, mismanaged and, in some respects, criminal nature – philosophical, practical, moral and legal – of the Office of Student Life at Santa Monica College as it operates (or, rather, doesn’t) under the ultimate jurisdiction of Dr. Robert 'Bobbie' Adams, vice president of student affairs, but actual day-to-day management of Assistant Dean of Student Life Deyna Hearns and Student Activities Advisor Benny Blaydes." In a future blog article, we'll go a bit deeper into Denya Hearns' role to cover up the falsified statements of Thomas J. Baker and the SMCPD.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

----------------------MY EMAIL TO JOSH MORRISON----------------------

Dear Mr. Morrison:

Pursuant to your request last Friday, April 21, 2006, when Mr. Dustin Curran and I met with you and Mr. Robert Sammis, I emailed Mr. Chris Fields and asked that he execute another stipulation of time for defendants' discovery request. As Lee & Fields is still listed as the attorney of record in the CPRA case with SMC District, you felt that it was better if they execute this stipulation.

During our meeting last Friday, I mentioned my serious concerns regarding the violent and fraudulent conduct of Thomas J. Baker and others acting under the guise of the SMC Gaming Club. Although Mr. Sammis assured me that Mr. Baker would cease his harassment, I have since been harassed via the Internet by and through him and his agents. By copy of this email, I insist that SMC take action to cease this harassment via the Internet.

Additionally, during our meeting, Mr. Sammis provided me with several SMCPD police incident reports. One of these reports concerns the incidents of March 24, 2006 in which Mr. Baker falsified information to the SMCPD in order to maliciously attempt a false arrest of myself and to harass and detain other students and myself with the SMCPD.

The SMCPD report does not accurately reflect the events of March 24, 2006. For example, it is stated in the report that "Officer Hearn and I, Officer Champagne, advised MANTTARI regarding disrupting a meeting and she left the room without further incident." This statement is factually inaccurate. During my forced detainment and interrogation by SMCPD, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, I was never advised "regarding disrupting a meeting." In fact, I was specifically informed by SMCPD that no written report was to be filed against me. Furthermore, although the bulk of my forced interrogation, in violation of my Constitutional rights, dealt with the terrorist threats made by members of the SMC Gaming Club through their Yahoo! Group, nothing appears of my legitimate complaint in this police report. Why was this not written down?

Additionally, Mr. Sammis provided me the written attached statement of Thomas J. Baker. This statement is neither dated or signed, and as such is informal. However, Ms. Judith Penchansky was allegedly using it to wrongfully threaten me with suspension from SMC. Mr. Baker's written statement is factually inaccurate, patently false, and filled with innuendo and unsubstantiated hearsay. I am informed and believe and thereon allege that Mr. Baker wrote this statement with malice, to harass me, to falsely substantiate his false arrest attempt against me, to falsely initiate suspension proceedings against me, and to paint me in a false light at SMC. I see this as not only in violation of SMC's clear written policies governing hate crimes and academic dishonesty, but a serious matter warranting criminal investigation with law enforcement agencies.

I ask that the factually inaccurate SMCPD incident report and the false and malicious written statements made by Thomas J. Baker be removed forthwith from my student records, including any and all records maintained by Judith Penchansky's Office of Judicial Affairs. Given the false allegations against me, the wrongful detainment by SMCPD by and through Thomas J. Baker, the recent harassment via the Internet, I do not see Mr. Baker ceasing his criminal and potentially dangerous behavior without immediate intervention by Santa Monica Community College District.

As I stated at the meeting last Friday, I am concerned for my safety and the safety of the students at SMC. Both Mr. Sammis and yourself indicated that you wish to amicably resolve this matter, but I do not see this happening when Mr. Baker is being ratified and encouraged by SMC to perform hate crimes against its student body and to falsify information to the school district while the District stands idly by.

Thank you for your prompt response to the foregoing.

Very Truly Yours,
Des Manttari

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Constitutional rights, public schools, SMCPD, legal, falsified police reports, Thomas J. Baker, Robert Adams, Eileen Miller, civil rights, News and politics, Joshua Morrison, Denya Hearns

My Legitimate Questions to Judith Penchansky

Here is the most recent email I sent Assistant Dean of Judicial Affairs Judith Penchansky on April 17, 2006. In her response to me, she indicated the following: "I am not going to have a written dialog with you." [emphasis added]. Obviously, Santa Monica College doesn't want any paper trail in Penchansky's recent retaliatory threats of suspension. To date, Dean Penchansky has not answered my legitimate and pressing questions. What is the true purpose of her alleged meeting this coming Friday at 2 p.m. with Vice-President of Planning and Development Robert Sammis? Is Dean Penchansky still "running the show" as she blared at me on or about May 6, 2005?

I find it interesting that Penchansky fires off a barrage of emails to me today, threatening this same suspension on groundless charges, most of which stem from AET Professor Jim Keeshen, on the same date that the District's attorney, Joshua Morrison, writes to me the following in response to my Litigation Proposal: "Having looked at your proposal, I've got some thoughts about getting this matter settled. Let me know by email when you can be available to talk, and we can set up a time. Or just give me a call." Why does Jim Keeshen refuse to apologize for his March 1, 2006 hate speech against the disabled? Why have the SMC Board of Trustees turned a stone cold ear to our cries for help?

If SMC thinks that Penchansky's blackmail threats will force me to "settle" this matter, they are wrong as it is having the opposite effect on me; it is motivating me even more to stand up for both my civil and student rights. By standing up for my rights, I stand up for the rights of all students at Santa Monica College and its vocational satellite campus, the Academy of Entertainment and Technology. For a thorough background of Judith Penchansky's prior blackmail threats, please refer to our blog article entitled, "Anatomy of a Blackmail Attempt." Also of particular note is our blog article, "Violation of My Civil Rights by Santa Monica College." Santa Monica College seems to be driven by fear and force, both of which are not conducive to an academic environment that allegedly fosters learning, academic freedom, non-discrimination, goodwill, and mutual respect.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP


--------------------MY EMAIL TO JUDITH PENCHANSKY------------------------

Dear Ms. Penchansky,

I am in receipt of your two written email responses, both dated today, April 17, 2006. Accordingly, I have forwarded my original April 4, 2006 email to you for your reference as you allege you never received it.

I find it disturbing that you are threatening me with suspension on the same date that Mr. Joshua Morrison has emailed me about a possible amicable resolution to the California Public Records Act case with Santa Monica Community College District, of which you are a named Defendant.

Again, I see your insistence to meet with me in person as serving no purpose other than further harassment of me and disruptive of my valuable time, time better spent on working on my web design midterm due next week in class.

In the spirit of compromise, and to thwart your blackmail attempts of unwarranted and impending suspension in retaliation for my legitimate redress of grievances, I am willing to meet with you this Friday, April 21, 2006 in the afternoon. Please email me with a time that is convenient for you.

Prior to your forced meeting, I am asking that you provide me the following information, via email, to effectuate any meaningful communications on the pervasive and ongoing disruption of my learning environment at SMC:

1. Please indicate when and where I will be able to pick up my student files, including any alleged disciplinary files and police incident reports, maintained by you in the Office of Judicial Affairs, by and through Mr. Robert Sammis' care and custody.

2. Please set forth any and all alleged facts and documentation that you may have in your possession upon which you base your false and premature findings that "It has been reported that you disrupted the Game Club Meeting on March 24, 2006, refusing to leave until the meeting was disbanded and Campus Police were called."

3. Please set forth any and all alleged facts and documentation that you may have in your possession upon which you claim that it is an act warranting suspension from SMC because I emailed Professor Jim Keeshen on or about March 15, 2006 to cease and desist his harassment of me and other students at SMC.

4. Please indicate any and all alleged facts and documentation that you may have in your possession upon which you claim that I have harassed Professor Keeshen at any time at SMC.

5. Please indicate any and all alleged facts and documentation that you may have in your possession citing why it is an alleged crime warranting suspension to document, via photographs, non-students using the AET computer lab when I was wrongfully denied access to this publicly funded facility and was currently enrolled as a student at AET.

6. Please indicate any and all alleged facts and documentation that you may have in your possession citing why I am being penalized by your office for Pat Green informing both Mr. Dustin Curran and myself to "turn our asses around" or words to that effect when he sought to obtain vital public records from the District and why campus police were allegedly summoned by her.

7. Please indicate any and all alleged facts and documentation that you may have in your possession citing why I am being penalized by your office for alleged disruption of the office of Judy Fritz on August 19, 2005. I find it curious that you are making these allegations given the fact that I never met with Ms. Fritz on this date and, as such, could not possibly have done anything warranting your attention and false allegations.

8. Please indicate what your office and SMC is doing to investigate and reprimand Professor Jim Keeshen for his hate speech and threats against his ET 18 Storyboarding students, under the guise of school policy, on or about March 1, 2006.

9. Please indicate what your office and SMC is doing to investigate and reprimand Thomas J. Baker for his hate crimes and threats against me and other members of the SMC Gaming Club, under the thin veil and erroneous authority of being the official spokesman for the club on or about March 24, 2006. Please further indicate in writing what your office is doing to investigate and reprimand Brian Puschell and Thomas J. Baker for their online terrorist threats, via the SMC Gaming Club Yahoo! Group, to "throw a military coup against the A.S. [Associated Students of Santa Monica College] and install a puppet leader." I find these terrorist threats alarming, especially given the fact that these SMC students are advocating such violence as members of the SMC community. Is this not a serious threat warranting their suspension from the college?

10. Please indicate why you are attempting to reopen issues that you have previously closed and resolved in my favor pursuant to your letter to me last June 2005. Specifically, why you are pumping every bit of mileage out of Jim Keeshen's blackmail threats regarding AET employees and why Mr. Keeshen is allowed to continue to spread these rumors in light that they are thoroughly documented as being blatantly false.

11. Please indicate what the purpose of this meeting with you is and what you hope to accomplish by forcing me to attend against my will and in violation of my civil rights.

12. Please indicate what purpose you are accomplishing by copying your letters and emails to me to SMC Campus Police Chief Miller, AET Dean Katharine Muller, VP Robert Sammis, Attorney Joshua Morrison, Robert Adams, and the new President and Superintendent of the school, Dr. Chui Tsang. By copy of this email, I do not appreciate these false allegations being forwarded to Dr. Tsang's attention as you are wrongfully discrediting my good moral character to him.

I eagerly look forward to your prompt response.

Very Truly Yours,
Des Manttari


Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, public schools, vocational schools, civil rights, Jim Keeshen, Judith Penchansky, Robert Sammis, lawsuit, blackmail, News and politics, harassment, California Public Records Act

Harassment of AET Students By Jim Keeshen

Here is a letter sent to me by Santa Monica College student Lindsay Berkovitz regarding AET Professor Jim Keeshen's harassment, verbal attacks, and misuse of campus police on or about February 27, 2006 in his ET 2 Storytelling course taught at the Academy of Entertainment and Technology. Two days after this incident, Jim Keeshen delivered his hate speech and threats to his students. For the full story, please refer to our blog article entitled "SMC Professor Jim Keeshen's Hate Speech Against the Disabled." You can also read my blog article entitled "My Email to Jim Keeshen Re: Ongoing Retaliation." Despite numerous emails and a speech to the SMC Board of Trustees, the school has done nothing to reprimand Professor Jim Keeshen.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

--------------------------LINDSAY BERKOVITZ'S LETTER-------------------------

Lindsay Berkovitz
ET 2 Storytelling
February 28, 2006

On Monday night, February 27, 2006 after ET 2 Storytelling with Jim Keeshen and the Mary Pickford series guest Fred Crippen, there were quite a few disturbances after class. A student, Ms. Des Manttari, went quietly up to Professor Keeshen after class had ended to ask a question. He was incensed. He blew up, screaming, "You are a vicious woman!" Stay away from me!...” Professor Keeshen gestured violently while shouting, “You’re harassing me and I have all these witnesses.” These same “witnesses” looked bewildered. This emotional outburst continued on even as Ms. Manttari removed herself from Professor Keeshen immediately, shocked and silent. He then stated he was going to call the campus police.

Then almost immediately after Professor Keeshen vacated the classroom, an older woman with long black hair blocked her path and started to speak in a loud and threatening voice to the effect that Ms. Manttari was a threat and an obstacle to the institution of learning. Ruth was her name I believe. Ruth then out of the blue accused Ms. Manttari of an unrelated incident regarding the deletion of “Maya renderings” she and other students created last year. The personal attack continued further and after responding at first, Ms. Manttari chose to remain silent and walk away as the confrontation began to escalate even further on the part of Ruth despite Ms. Manttari’s repeated attempts to contain the situation. To the best of my recollection, I have never seen this Ruth woman before and do not think she’s enrolled in my ET 2 class.

After this particular confrontation, the guest speaker asked Ms Manttari if everything was okay. She shook his hand again and apologized for the ruckus. I then proceeded to follow Ms. Manttari out the door to wait for my ride however; I was met with another scene. On the left, were the campus police and on the right, Professor Keeshen. I was beside Ms. Manttari; to her left, was the young man she came with, Dustin.

Ms. Manttari calmly asked Professor Keeshen to discuss his point of contention in front of the campus police and the students. He just went into an emotional supernova. One of the campus police officers signaled for Professor Keeshen to calm down and be led away from everyone else. Professor Keeshen moved down the hall a bit. Ms. Manttari asked me to remain as a witness. Mr. Keeshen, overhearing this, exploded with anger. He yelled more than once, “Lindsay, stay out of this!” Despite this fact, campus police wished me to remain as a witness.

The atmosphere lightened considerably with the campus police after Professor Keeshen was extracted from the situation. One of the officers commented sympathetically that Professor Keeshen was retaliating against Ms. Manttari and it felt like a “bad divorce.” After speaking with the 3 officers for several minutes, we were all let go with no complaint. In fact, one of the officers indicated that in the case of a public forum, such as the Mary Pickford Series, we have a right to be present and not be persecuted, even by a faculty member. I am afraid that Professor Keeshen may retaliate against me for representing the truth as I witnessed it. I addressed this fear with the campus police.


Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, public schools, vocational schools, Jim Keeshen, storytelling, civil rights, false imprisonment, harassment, verbal abuse, News and politics, hate crimes, retaliation

Violence on the Santa Monica College Campus

Here is a recent letter attached to an email that Santa Monica College student Margaret Wick sent to SMC Assistant Dean of Judicial Affairs, Judith Penchansky. Apparently Penchansky's only response to date was an indication that she received the email. I have corrected the letter only as to minor spelling errors. I hope SMC doesn't harass Ms. Wick for her courage to come forward with this information.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis / MBS LP

-----------------MARGARET WICK'S EMAIL TO PENCHANSKY------------------

April 14, 2006

PENCHANSKY_JUDITH@smc.edu


Dear Dean Penchansky,

SUBJECT: VIOLENCE COMMITED BY THOMAS J. BAKER OF THE SMC GAMING CLUB AND THE SMC POLICE TOWARD DES MANTTARI ON 3/24/06.

I am writing to you to report a case of extreme harassment and verbal abuse that occurred on the SMC campus on 3/24/06. This was of such extreme violence and verbal abuse that I have reported it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Certainly after the Columbine tragedy such incendiary situation as now exists on the SMC campus must be monitored.

This meeting was called by Thomas J. Baker of the SMC Gaming Club.

I arrived at the meeting just as Mr. Baker was walking out of the main building with the keys to the meeting room. He did open the room and several members of the club, about 10, walked in and started to unpack a new game that we were to play during the meeting.

There was no faculty supervision as required by the Campus Club Rules. Had there been a responsible person of the faculty present, this could not have happened. I do not know why any employee of SMC would give Mr. Baker the keys to the college facility. This should not have been allowed.

About five minutes later, three people came in that I recognized as class members of my ET2 class. Their names are Des, Lindsay and Dustin. They signed up as club members and then all hell broke loose.

Mr. Baker viscously, verbally attacked Ms Manttari. I assumed that this was in response to some disagreement that had erupted in the past. As it turns out, what is even more alarming to me, is that Mr. Baker did not even know Ms. Manttari. He was responding with hearsay that he has been fed on the part of instructors at SMC’s AET campus.

To give you a graphic picture of this, Mr. Baker weighs three to four hundred pounds and he was standing, leaning over the seated Ms Manttari, with all his fat shaking with his anger. It was so bizarre and entirely out of place anywhere on this planet. Mr. Baker was enjoying his performance in front of the mostly all male club members, one of which is a minor.

I tried to intervene with asking Mr. Baker to call the meeting to order. My thinking was if we could get the meeting under rules of order we could calm this situation down and get some systematic presence presiding.

Mr. Baker turned on me and yelled “I cannot call the meeting to order because none of us is safe in this room with her in it!”

Ms. Manttari and Mr. Baker went outside (on the insistence of Mr. Baker) and exchanged some words, then they came back into the room. Then the SMC police arrived (Mr. Baker had called them) and we were requested to leave the room and the police did detain Ms. Manttari in the locked room for 45 minutes in interrogation. It is highly out of order that these SMC policemen should lock her in a room alone. Further, it was highly apparent that the policemen were enjoying their power over her. This is sexual harassment at the deepest level.

It is clearly evidently that you have a group of men on the SMC campus who are mental harassers, who perpetuate stories and encourage these young men to harass women.

I have reported the mental harassment and abuse of instructor David Javelosa, to the chairperson, Mr. Bill Lancaster on four occasions. I have received no recognition of my complaints. Further I have reported the mental harassment of instructor Jim Keeshen to Mr. Lancaster. Further, I have reported the harassment of these two men to Dr. Lucy Kluckhohn.

Mr. Javelosa is supposed to be the club advisor. He is so out of control of his own life that he believes that what these young men do is fun and okay. He sets a poor example and is not capable of the leadership that these young men need.

SUBJECT: ABSOLUTLEY NO DISTURBANCE OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006

I did not know Ms. Manttari, or Lindsay or Dustin until the second meeting of the Spring Semester of the ET2 class on February 27, 2006. We had a guest speaker who had a long history of animation and after the class had totally closed for the evening a few people, fewer than a dozen, were still talking to him. Mr. Keeshen had asked me to stay a few minutes after class to speak with him. He wanted to discuss my complaints against him. I felt this to be out of order in the classroom, but I did stay. We spoke briefly and I left the campus. There had NOT BEEN ONE DISTURBANCE that evening during the class period. The next day I discovered that Mr. Keeshen had called the campus police to have Ms. Manttari arrested for being disruptive. I can tell you that there were 70 people in that room that evening that can testify that there was no disruption. Mr. Keeshen did not have the slightest cause to call the police.

SUBJECT: NO DISTRUBANCE IN THE CLASSROOM ON MARCH 6, 2006

Again, on another class night, March 6, 2006, following the presenter, Mr. Keeshen asked that everyone who is not enrolled in the class please leave the room as the evening Mary Pickford Presentation was concluded and the class was now closed to members only. Ms Manttari was sitting in the same row as I was seated. She got up and left quietly. There was no disturbance. Fifty members of that class can testify THERE WAS NO DISTURBANCE in the room that evening. Now I understand that Mr. Keeshen reported her to be such a disturbance as to require discipline.

Dean Penchansky, you need to get some real facts on this case. You have two out of control instructors, mental harassers, who are creating all this havoc.

I served on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa County Vocational School District for 17 years. We had a little bit different set up than you have here, as our District funded the Vocational classes for the Tulsa Community College. Our district grew to be about the size of your SMC. I am familiar with the requirements for instructors of vocational instruction.

Neither Mr. Keeshen, nor Mr. Javelosa have credentials to be teaching. They do not have an academic educational background, nor do they have the substantial industry experience in training and supervising personnel to qualify to be Vocational instructors. Neither of these men have the moral or educational requirements to be proper leaders for these young students on the AET campus.

In addition to my twenty years involvement in education, I owned and operated an international executive search company for 15 years and have been a corporate trainer for over 20 years. I have some expertise in the field of people and talent.

I strongly suggest that you do more homework to uncover the real events that are occurring on the SMC campus.

During this time that I have this observed this situation, I have observed Ms Manttari to be an intelligent, talented young woman who is fighting for her rights; I have observed that Mr. Keeshen has severe problems that do not belong on a college campus.

I am distressed to know that you have threatened Ms. Manttari with expelling her from school. I think that would be a gross injustice and strongly advise you to uncover the facts before you take this action.

Very Sincerely,

Margaret


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Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, public schools, vocational schools, Judith Penchansky, Jim Keeshen, David Javelosa, hate crimes, civil rights, false imprisonment, News and politics, SMC Gaming Club, Thomas J. Baker, Columbine

A Brief History of the SMC Gaming Club

Back in 2003, SMC student Jeremy Meyer and I resurrected the video game club at Santa Monica College. It was then named the "Academy Gaming Club" as the physical location of the club was in room 108 at SMC's vocational satellite campus, the Academy of Entertainment and Technology. I held the respective offices of Vice-President and then President. At various times, AET Professors David Javelosa and Jeannie Novak were faculty advisors to the club as was AET staff member Stu Seldon. I designed a website and CD-ROM for the club. I attended the required ICC meetings, other necessary meetings, and made a presence for the club at SMC's semi-annual club row. SMC was so impressed with the booth that both Jeremy Meyer and I set up that they ran a large photo of us in one of the SMC course catalogues.

After the event, I wrote the following: "SMC Club Row was a hectic and hot day on March 27, 2003, but we managed to get a table with only two days notice and to grab the $50.00 prize as one of ten second place clubs. Additionally, we obtained three pages of names and contact info. for new members. Next year, we will be bigger and better, so come out and help."

I explained how students could become members of the club. I wrote: "If you're not a student at Santa Monica College, now's the time to get registered for the next school year. We accept both full and part-time students to our club. Guests are also welcome. Please email us if you would like to attend our club on a special guest pass."

I worked with AET internship Gloria Mottler to help obtain game testing opportunities for club members at Sony's game design studio across the street from the Academy. I helped purchase the PlayStation 2 for the club, going to many school meetings. As far as the club was concerned, during one such orientation meeting, it was brought to my attention that SMC's Associated Students were concerned about the club using public funds to purchase video games with violent content such as Grand Theft Auto. There were additional concerns of playing such games in the club, as I know at least one individual in charge of the Associated Students brought this to the attention of our faculty advisor, David Javelosa.

I wore many hats during my presidency, but the most important one was in the drafting of the club's Constitution and By-Laws. Here is the "Academy Gaming Club Mission Statement" I wrote:

To promote game design, game music, game history, game programming, game development, and gameplay and testing of all console games, PC games, multiplayer, singleplayer, lan, offline and online by and between the SMC community (students, staff, and faculty) and to extend this interest, information, enthusiasm, and technology with professional game developers, game publishers, retailers, and other educational and non-profit or for-profit organizations and / or individuals to foster a community of growth, goodwill, and dissemination of information, technology, and opportunity.

I also adhered to a "Zero Tolerance Policy" in our game club. I drafted the following policy:

Recently, our club has established a Zero Tolerance Policy toward academic dishonesty of any kind, including lying, stealing, damaging of school property, computer tampering, or harassment of any of our members. We have worked hard to forge various relationships within both the school and the game industry and we will not allow anyone to threaten our outstanding reputation. We are confident that we will attract only the best of students to our club and to flourish in our endeavors and gain further respect among the SMC academic community.

Under my sincere and careful guidance, the club grew from its four officers to a room jam-packed with students from many diverse backgrounds. We enjoyed our playtime, bringing in our own game consoles, playing LAN games with the state-of-the-art AET computer network, and watching DVD movies, Japanese anime, and American animation on the large screen provided in the room. Many female gamers came to our meetings as well as older gamers and some guests. A feeling of security and community permeated the room.

Back in Spring 2003, we had the following officers to the club:

Des Manttari, President
Gabriel Quinteroz, Vice-President
Mario Mendoza Alarcon, Secretary
Carlos E. Interiano, Treasurer
John Inman, ICC Rep.
David Javelosa, Faculty Advisor

A photo of me sandwiched between Mario Mendoza Alarcon and Gabriel Quinteroz at the E3 Expo in May 2003 appears at the top of this blog in the left header. Both Alarcon and Quinteroz attended the 2003 E3 Expo, along with Jeremy Meyer, as staff writers for my online news media outlet, Phoenix Genesis. Quinteroz continued to write articles for Phoenix Genesis in 2004 and 2005.

Impressed with my efforts, even Jim Keeshen joined Phoenix Genesis to go to E3 in 2004 with Gloria Mottler and Clifton Dobbs to help forge connections in the video game industry and to hopefully obtain job opportunities and internships for AET students. Of course David Javelosa, Jeannie Novak, and AET Chair Bill Lancaster went to E3 on their own accord.

Until recently, Quinteroz and another SMC student, Ricardo Galindo (who was a freelance writer last year for my company) were gearing up for E3 2006 with me. That is, until SMC student Thomas J. Baker, acting erroneously as the SMC Gaming Club spokesperson, got his hands on them. Baker, acting in consort with Jim Keeshen, began to allegedly pressure Quinteroz and Alarcon, both enrolled in ET19 A, Animation I. Quinteroz quickly vanished from my radar. Interiano, another friend of mine who has also gone to E3 with us, has perhaps suffered from this pressure from Keeshen as he's currently enrolled in Keeshen's ET 20 Visual Development course. I have not heard from him recently.

On or about January 10, 2006, Galindo wrote me the following:

des, I don't like to sound like I am being a mean ass or using a person. But can I still join you for E3?? I mean, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't had been able to go to last years E3, and it was awesome just being with you guys over there and just having fun, you know?? anywho, can I still join you guys? plus! I kind of do not trust the SMC video game club, I don't know why... but I feel like I will not have so much fun with them than with you guys, since you know! I've known you guys way more than the video game club guys. Also because I just have more fun with people I already know in these kinds of event thingies, you know??

When Galindo wrote this message to me, he had been allegedly impacted negatively by the SMC Gaming Club under the control of Thomas J. Baker. What did he mean by his statement that he did "not trust" the club? Was it something specific or just an impending sense of dread? In any event, Galindo's distrust was perhaps a premonition for the violence and hate crimes to come by Thomas J. Baker against us on March 24, 2006 during the club's first meeting of this semester. The full details of this violence and hate crimes will be covered in a future blog article as well as the role violent video games may have had on the members of the SMC Gaming Club.

Suffice it to say that Baker modeled his violent behavior against us all after AET Professor Jim Keeshen, if not emulating it and being fueled by Jim Keeshen's March 1, 2006 hate speech and threats to his ET 18 Storyboarding students. Baker made verbal threats, he discriminated against the disabled, he used profanity against us, and he summoned campus police under false pretenses for the sheer pleasure of harassing us. I was detained in a locked room alone with campus police and interrogated for approximately twenty minutes. Jim Keeshen also did all these acts under the guise of school policy.

Furthermore, as Jim Keeshen falsely inflated his role in Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy" pilot, so did Baker make false claims that he was the current president of the SMC Gaming Club. According to Mario Alarcon's admissions, Alarcon is the president of the club. However, another SMC student, Caesar Portillo, who was present on March 24, 2006, also took claim to being the president. Gabriel Quinteroz, who was also present that day, had previously written online, inquiring, "So who is the president?" Perhaps we will never know as Baker had informed us that it was "complicated." Of course, acting in Jim Keeshen fashion, he answered my legitimate question by calling campus police to educate me on the new "Zero Intolerance Policy" at SMC. In just one year's time, all the hard efforts I had expended and all the hard earned respect and zero tolerance policies of the Gaming Club are gone. Now, it is a home for intolerance, discrimination, hate crimes, hate speech, alleged misuse of public funds and academic dishonesty.

Where were the faculty advisors, Howard A. Stahl and David Javelosa on March 24, 2006? Why were they not monitoring the club and supervising its 14 year-old minor member? While the SMC Gaming Club was subjected needlessly these hate crimes, Javelosa was off playing at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, California. On March 22, 2006, Javelosa (through his SMC email account), wrote the SMC Gaming Club on its Yahoo! Group the following:

Hi All, Great news about the room. I'm just dropping you all a quick line from the Game Developer's Conference here in San Jose. As many of you know I will not be in class this week. More later about all the new developments here in the biz. =dj=

What part does David Javelosa have to play in the recent events of the SMC Gaming Club? What kind of role model is he providing its impressionable members? We will examine more about his role and possible misuse of school resources in another article.

Why was Thomas J. Baker allowed to run rampant and to make false representations to the campus police? Why did he rely on Jim Keeshen's false representations? What was in it for him? The SMC Gaming Club should represent the SMC community as a whole, not its individual self-serving members. That was my mission when I was president and it is still my belief. For standing up for these values, and for addressing these concerns to the SMC Board of Trustees, SMC's respective legal counsel Robert Sammis and Joshua Morrison, and the SMC campus police, I am rewarded with threats of suspension by Dean of Judicial Affairs Judith Penchansky. Does Penchansky know the whole truth behind this story? Or does she not care to know?

Regardless, it is truly gut-wrenching to be deprived a zero tolerance environment at the Gaming Club I helped to establish and build. Santa Monica College's Board of Trustees, its top level administration, and its Disabled Student Office has allowed Jim Keeshen's hate crimes and hate speech to go unchecked, if not encouraged. So it was inevitable that Keeshen would be a role model for thugs like Thomas J. Baker to pass on this violence and hate speech to us. These recent events clearly show how far SMC has sunk in that inevitable stench of academic dishonesty, hatred, prejudice, and unwarranted police force that permeates the educational environment. Like a primordial tar pit, we shall be trapped with no escape unless someone from outside the college steps in to save us. At least we are reaching out for that help.

In the meantime, perhaps I should start a new Academy Gaming Club for the school? I wouldn't be able to guarantee what games we would play, but I would guarantee that everyone who attends the club would be welcome with open arms. SMC and AET would benefit as a result.

Related SAVE SMC Blog article: Putting an End to Video Game Violence.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Des Manttari

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, Thomas J. Baker, SMC Gaming Club, Jim Keeshen, David Javelosa, Judith Penchansky, civil rights violations, zero tolerance policy, Des Manttari, News and politics, Phoenix Genesis, video games

Putting an End to Video Game Violence

Do violent video games such as those in the Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, Ghost Recon, and Halo franchises lead to violence? When does sick fantasy cross the line into harsh reality? Before kids pull the trigger of their guns, they pull out the game controllers connected to their consoles. Phoenix Genesis Online News Media has recently been investigating the relationship to violence and video games. You can check out our three exclusive editorials as follows:

Grand Theft Auto: Training Players to Kill?
FPS: The Golden Ticket That May Prove Dangerous
Video Game Violence: Going Overboard?

Are violent video games "murder simulators" as some claim? Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas employs an arsenal of illicit sexual content with gang banging rap lyrics and a plethora of military assault weapons for the player's disposal. San Andreas allows the player to kill police officers in a variety of disturbing ways. Is this game advocating the slaying of law enforcement officers? Death is only a video game away for some troubled youth. The real problem is that virtually no one is heeding the warning signs.

Do games such as the Battlefield, Counterstrike, and Medal of Honor series train young men and boys to become killing machines for the military? How are violent video games played by the SMC Gaming Club affecting its members and those of the SMC community? We will reveal more in our multi-part series.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, Halo, video games, videogame violence, Grand Theft Auto, San Andreas, SMC Gaming Club, editorials, Counter Strike, News and politics, Phoenix Genesis, Mortal Kombat

Game Development Eliminated from SMC

On February 22, 2006, we did a blog article on SMC's Game Development Certificate Revealed. In that article, we discussed the fact that Game Development was listed as one of the professional development / career change options in the Santa Monica College student self-service system. During a brief period, SMC's server was offline. Now, it is back online with a new look and feel to the student self-service system. However, the Game Development option has been permanently removed.

Here's a screenshot of the old options:



Here's a screenshot of the new options. Notice that Game Development has been removed.



It seems that SMC is giving its Student Self-Service a face-lift, but it is not actually providing the students with the services it desires. On SMC's Spring 2006 Schedule of Classes, AET still contends that it offers a career certificate in Game Development. However, on the AET official website, SMC alleges that the Game Development career certificate is still "pending approval." To the best of my knowledge, it still remains to not be even listed on the California Community College Chancellor's Office's Inventory of Approved and Projected Programs.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, public schools, vocational schools, game development, professional development, career certificates, game design, videogames, pending certificates, News and politics, video game development, student self service

My Email to Joshua Morrison re: SMC Litigation Proposal

Here is the email I sent Santa Monica College attorney Joshua Morrison on April 12, 2006. We had a brief discussion on the phone on or about March 30, 2006 in which I addressed these issues. He asked me for a litigation proposal. The email I sent him was my response. To date, I have not heard back from him or Judith Penchansky. What else is new at SMC? It seems that the dialogue streams flow one way: against the students.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2006: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

--------------------------MY EMAIL TO JOSHUA MORRISON-----------------

Dear Mr. Morrison,

Finally, I have a brief break from my busy schedule to respond to you.

We spoke on the phone about the various issues outstanding on or about March 30, 2006. At this time, I mentioned that one of my main points of contention was the wrongful disciplinary hold placed on my student enrollment and records by Defendant Judith Penchansky, acting in her capacity as Dean of Judicial Affairs.

We are now in April 12, 2006 and I just logged onto my SMC student account and noticed that this wrongful disciplinary hold remains intact despite my objections and requests that it be removed. Additionally, on or about March 28, 2006, Ms. Penchansky sent me a letter threatening suspension from Santa Monica College based on the wrongful allegations by SMC Professor Jim Keeshen and his cohorts acting erroneously on behalf of the SMC Gaming Club.

In this letter, Ms. Penchansky is insisting that I meet with her. I emailed her last week and stated that based on my past experiences with her, that I wish to only communicate with her via writing. To date, I have not heard back from her yet the hold remains. Despite many requests for my student records, I have yet to receive them.

As I indicated in my last email to you, I spoke briefly with Robert Sammis during the break at the recent SMC Board of Trustees meeting. He indicated that I should call him Monday so that I can pick up my student records from him. I will follow through next Monday. If in fact I receive my records, that is tremendous progress in this case.

However, if we wish to effectively reach a mutual resolution, I will not be conducive to reaching such under the threat of Ms. Penchansky's blackmail and extortionist terms of suspension. Clearly, each and every allegation she is making that I "disrupted the learning environment" is based either on my legitimate pursuit of public records or under the false pretenses and retaliation of Jim Keeshen. As we both know, I have every right to seek public records and have done so in a professional manner. I have thoroughly documented my numerous good faith attempts to obtain these records and it is I who have been subjected to police abuse and harassment as a result.

Despite the numerous emails to various concerned individuals at SMC, including Mr. Sammis and the SMC Board of Trustees, no one has bothered to address the very serious concerns of Jim Keeshen's hate speech and threats to his students. In fact, it is now Penchansky who is attempting to retaliate against my grievances by sanctioning the unofficial and undocumented false allegations made by Jim Keeshen against me. She knows, or should know, that these allegations are false. Given the fact that her last letter was copied to AET Dean Katharine Muller, it is apparent that Dean Muller is acting with Penchansky to justify Jim Keeshen's hate speech and threats to his students.

To add insult to injury, Ms. Penchansky is now considering it an act warranting suspension to contact Prof. Keeshen via email to cease and desist his harassment of me and other students. This email was made public and done in good faith to stop his harassment as it has escalated in the recent months. Regardless, the email did nothing to stop the harassment received by Mr. Keeshen. After my March 15, 2006 email, Mr. Keeshen has continued to harass me and other students at SMC. For example, he infiltrated another professor's course and threatened two of my long-standing friends, one of which claimed that Prof. Keeshen has been making his life difficult and that Mr. Keeshen is not officially teaching this course. Why is Professor Keeshen being allowed by SMC to do these kinds of things? Is this not disruptive to the learning environment?

I have been informed by both a staff member and a student at AET that Professor Keeshen continues to spread his false and malicious rumors that I had a gun and threatened to kill two staff members at AET. Not only did Mr. Keeshen indicate on more than one occasion that he was blackmailed originally to make this statement on fear of job loss, but that Ms. Penchansky had already indicated back in June 2005 that this was a closed issue and nothing would appear in my student records. Now, despite her written agreement, she is again attempting to give life to these old lies through her recent threats of suspension.

To add further insult to injury, these lies against my good character were loudly announced on or about March 24, 2006 to my friends at school by and through SMC student Thomas J. Baker. Despite the fact that he had no authority to act on behalf of the SMC Gaming Club, he took it upon himself to lock me outside of the club meeting room with him, harass and threaten me, and attempt to have me arrested by campus police. When we were inside the room, he refused to call the meeting to order, despite repeated requests, used profanity against me, and stated that there were all kinds of police reports and witnesses to my alleged death threats. He did not state a single fact or witness to support these false contentions. In front of my long-standing friends, he stated that I was a danger to "everyone's lives" or words to that effect and force. At the time he made this statement, he and everyone else present who heard this knew it to be false.

He then further took it upon himself to summon campus police and, as a result, I was wrongfully detained alone with two different officers in a room and interrogated. Mr. Baker additionally lied to campus police, stating that I was not authorized to be on campus and this was heard by a handful of students. Despite the fact that Mr. Baker has condoned and participated in written terrorist threats against the SMC Associated Students, under the statements of advocating a "military coup" and my statements to the campus police as such, nothing was done to investigate this matter or to sanction Mr. Baker for his wrongful acts against me and other disabled students at SMC. Who is feeding these lies about me to Mr. Baker? How is it that he has allegedly seen all kinds of documentation against me, including his allegations that there are "witnesses" to me threatening people's lives in the library and that he's allegedly read all these police reports against me and I have not been given any such information?

As I stated to you and to everyone on March 24, 2006, if I were a legitimate threat to the school, I would have been removed long ago. I see this as pure malice based on the exercise of my various civil rights and a serious result of the school administration's failure to take immediate action against Mr. Keeshen.

As you know, Mr. Keeshen simply has no credibility. He has stated to his students that "lying is better than not lying" or words to that effect. He has stated to me on or about August 2005 that he's using the school to finish his "Day of the Dead" animated film, he has used me and many other students as cheap slave labor to work on his various commercial projects by and through the school's facilities and equipment. He has failed to file his mandated sabbatical report and has falsified documentation to the U.S. Department of Education via his bogus consultant contracts to wrongfully procure tens of thousands of dollars of federal grant money. He has made threats to his students, defamed the disabled with his March 1, 2006 hate speech, and has misused campus police and has written false allegations against me on numerous occasions. From what I heard, he may well have been the one behind Thomas J. Baker's recent hate crimes against us.

Additionally, Mr. Keeshen has willfully and maliciously infringed on my copyrighted work on more than one occasion and has further abused the eCollege eCompanion system by publishing derogatory comments and false claims as per credits to Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy" pilot. Mr. Keeshen has also tampered with quizzes and grades and padded enrollment in his AET courses. Despite his elevated salary, obtained under the guise of vocational experience he does not really have, he has used me to do most of his work in his courses when I was his teaching assistant. In fact, he provided me with the key to his AET office, his logins, his computer and anything else I needed to do his job for him. During Fall 2004, he even left for approximately 10 days to go to Korea to work on his "Day of the Dead" film in the middle of the semester!

While his father was dying of cancer last spring semester, I took on the added responsibility of doing most of his work. I not only programmed the eCollege material for him, but also wrote the assignments and did all the grading and wrote the quizzes. I did this while working around the clock on my Holocaust educational game for my ET 42 class. I did this without being paid by him as he claimed he had no money. Despite all this monumental effort to help him and the school, I was falsely detained by campus police for using the computer lab and I was dragged into a meeting with Penchansky and Muller and Keeshen and the blackmail threats were made against me. Mr. Keeshen indicated that if I did not drop out of school, that SMC would make his life miserable. Since his father had less than a month to live, I complied with his requests.

I have been at SMC for over three years now. Until I asked Professor Keeshen to pay me on or about April 2005, I never had any problems. The night prior to the first false arrest attempt, I indicated to Mr. Keeshen that I would no longer work for him if he did not pay me. Although Mr. Keeshen has stated on several occasions that he is merely the "sacrificial lamb" in this scenario, it is becoming increasingly apparent that he is the cause of all this current litigation and strife among the SMC administration, the students, and myself.

Whether Mr. Keeshen is being instructed to act to drum up these allegations against me by Dean Muller and Dean Penchansky, or whether it is he who is fueling their administrative fire against me, I am the one who is suffering as a result. When a single student must suffer needlessly against this kind of harassment, abuse of the administrative process, and police abuse, the entire SMC community of alleged goodwill, respect, tolerance to diversity and equal educational access suffers.

First and foremost, in order to effectively come to a resolution on this instant litigation under the California Public Records Act, we must resolve these issues of the ongoing abuses against the students and myself by Mr. Keeshen. I expect not to be further harassed at school by him, any students or staff acting on his behalf, or by campus police. Secondly, I insist that the wrongful hold placed on my student records be removed forthwith and that Ms. Penchansky does not continue with her extortionist threats of suspension. Third, I expect that Mr. Sammis keep his word to provide me with my student records as promised. Fourth, I would like to know what, if any, reprimand will be taken against Thomas J. Baker for his hate crimes against us on March 24, 2006 and his abuse of the SMC campus police force.

If we can reach an amicable resolution on these matters, I will be willing to dismiss my public records case without prejudice. Again, I wish to return to my previous good status at SMC. However, I cannot do so if I must constantly be fearful for my safety and the safety of those who associate with me in good faith. As we all know, and as I have stated to you previously, Mr. Keeshen is a liability to the school. How the school wishes to deal with this liability is the school's responsibility, not mine. However, in the interim, as long as both Mr. Keeshen and I are at SMC, I expect the minimum courtesy of not being further harassed or threatened or to have more false allegations by him written against me. Back in August of last year, Ms. Penchansky informed both Mr. Lee and myself that Mr. Keeshen refused to attend the meeting that Penchansky had set up. Obviously, he is not interested in supporting these false allegations. If he is not interested, then the school should not be acting on his behalf to do so. If the school allows Mr. Keeshen to continue in his recent rampage of terror and violence, then I easily foresee future liability and potential litigation against the school.

Please be advised that I am willing to fight tooth and claw inside the legal arena if Ms. Penchansky attempts to suspend me from SMC based on the false allegations of both Mr. Keeshen and Mr. Baker. I have reported these abuses to various interested law enforcement agencies. If these abuses continue or if this disciplinary hold is not removed forthwith, I will also take action to contact any and all interested media outlets to expose this abuse of the educational environment. I, and the other innocent students at SMC, have simply had enough! This has gone on for a year now and we have done everything in our power to prove our innocence. As you are well aware, it is unethical to use these kinds of retaliatory and criminal tactics against a person to settle a civil matter. Despite all this, I am willing to move forward as you suggested in amicably resolving the public records case and I look forward to your prompt response.

Very Truly Yours,
Des Manttari


Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, public schools, Jim Keeshen, legal, Judith Penchansky, Joshua Morrison, SMC Gaming Club, lawsuit, Thomas J. Baker, News and politics, civil rights violations, California Public Records Act, Day of the Dead