There is more controversy surrounding a private security contractor formerly known as Blackwater, the company that has come under fire in the past for its activities in Iraq.
In January, Southwestern College approved a trade agreement with Xe, the company formerly known as Blackwater, that grants the use of its campus in exchange for use of Xe's shooting range.
Protestors at Southwestern College demanded the college rescind the deal, arguing the deal hurts, not helps, students.
Southwestern wanted its police cadets to use the shooting range after being told its access to the range at Miramar wasn't guaranteed.
In exchange, the school offered Blackwater the use of rooms on campus.
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“Do you want trained assassins, paramilitary lurking around the community of Chula Vista?” one of the protestors, Monte Johnson said outside the meeting.
According to the school, there is no trade. “We are not doing anything for Blackwater. In the regular contract it said they could use our facility but they have their own facility. They don’t want to use our facility.” said Raj Chopra, Ph.D., Southwestern College Superintendent.
A company spokesperson, Brian Bonfiglio, an Xe vice president, told the San Diego Union-Tribune earlier this month that the company didn't ask to use the campus but were offered the opportunity as a gesture of goodwill.
“What is wrong with us providing a state-of-the-art facility to men and women who will potentially answer the call when we dial 911 and we need help?” Bonfiglio told the paper.
Late last year, prosecutors charged five of the company's contractors — but not Blackwater itself — with manslaughter and weapons violations. In January, Iraqi officials said they would not give the company a license to operate.
