WSSU Professors Asked Faculty to Support DREAM Act

Staff Writer

8:27 a.m. EST, December 14, 2010


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) —
Two WSSU professors allegedly sent an e-mail on Dec. 8 asking other faculty members to support the DREAM Act, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

The incident at has school officials there concerned that the message is not getting through that certain kinds of political e-mails aren't allowed. The e-mail was sent by Himanshu Gopalan, the chairman of the university's faculty senate.

The DREAM Act is a federal bill that would give a path to citizenship to immigrants who were brought to the country illegally before they were 16 and meet various criteria. The act's official name is the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.

State law forbids the use of school property -- including the university's computer system -- to support a political candidate or an issue.

Winston-Salem State University acknowledged in October an improper e-mail was sent by someone at the school urging students and staff to vote early and help the Democratic Party. The e-mail was sent from the student-affairs division to about 6,400 staffers and students at Winston-Salem State University.

University spokeswoman Nancy Young said interim vice chancellor Dr. Michelle Releford received the e-mail from a student and forwarded it to the entire campus.

The university cited a state law that prohibits the use of a state employee's authority or state property to support or oppose a person or an issue in any election.

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