By Joshua Phelps
The Scene staff
Former math adjunct Steve Taylor is still banned from St. Louis Community College’s four campuses because of a run-in with STLCC officials at a board meeting last fall.
That’s causing a problem for Wildwood City Council, which holds some of its meetings on STLCC’s Wildwood campus. Taylor was elected as alderman for the city’s 4th Ward earlier this month.
“They’re still not allowing me on campus, even though I am an elected official,” he said.
Wildwood City Administrator Ryan Thomas called the ban “unfortunate.” Officials are looking for alternative sites.
“The college indicated that while this legal issue is going on, we will not be able to host any of our city meetings at the community college,” Thomas said.
Taylor formerly served on the Service Employees International Union committee that negotiated a contract for adjunct faculty. He was tackled, handcuffed and arrested by Florissant Valley campus police at an STLCC board meeting on Oct. 19.
The college maintained that Taylor disrupted the meeting, refused to leave when asked to do so and charged toward a table of officials. He argued that he was simply voicing his opinion.
Taylor later filed a lawsuit against the college, claiming he suffered “severe injuries and damages” as a result of the arrest.
On Feb. 14, a municipal judge found him not guilty of disturbing the peace. The prosecutor dropped charges of resisting arrest.
“There’s no reason for them to maintain the order,” Taylor said, referring to the STLCC ban. “They seem to be doubling down on their attempt to sequester and silence.”
STLCC Communications Manager Nez Savala said the college will continue to host activities at Wildwood that “enrich the community.” She declined to comment on Taylor’s ban, citing the lawsuit.
“Mr. Taylor’s status remains unchanged from fall 2017 when the no-trespass order was issued,” she said.
Brett Williams, Forest Park art adjunct and another SEIU bargaining committee member, said it was “outrageous” that Taylor wasn’t being allowed to perform his duties as an elected official.
“We’re taxpayers, and (Wildwood City Council) has used the college in the past for overflow because they haven’t had enough room in their meetings,” Williams said. “By barring the whole community from attending those meetings, I think they’re not being good neighbors. I think they’re being petty.”