Student should speak at next board meeting

At the March 23 board meeting during the citizens-to-be-heard session, Kevin Abrams, deaf support specialist sophomore, tried to express to the board of trustees his experiences as a gay deaf student.

Abrams had prepared remarks but was not granted permission to speak.

District 2 trustee Denver McClendon explained the board can limit speakers to one per group.

Abrams, who is a member of Gay and Lesbian Association, was not speaking on behalf of that group; he was providing insight to another group, those who are gay and deaf.

Board policy states, "Delegations of five or more persons shall appoint one person to present their views before the board."

Sadly, McClendon dismissed Abrams before learning this. How could he? He never gave Abrams a chance.

The citizens-to-be-heard segment is a chance for members of the community to share concerns with their elected board representatives, but to completely deny someone a chance to speak is frankly cold.

During heavily attended sessions, it might be understandable that mistakes will be made and someone overlooked.

What's not understandable is denying someone the right to speak without even determining the focus of the remarks.

Dr. Gene Sprague, District 6 trustee, told The Ranger being deaf is already covered in the district's anti-discrimination policy.

True, but Abrams was there to discuss the travails of being deaf and gay.

To deny him the chance to speak during a citizens-to-be-heard session shows a lack of concern for public comment.

Time obviously was not an issue because the board spends hours in executive session and during meetings they discuss travel and gas reimbursements and laptops, when they could have easily spared a few minutes to hear Abrams.

It's an opportunity for them to hear the concerns of their constituents. That is part of the job, too.