For immediate release to all media
San Diego Adjunct Faculty Association
April 22, 2018
Contact: https://www.sdafa.org
“SANCTUARY SCHOOL” ACCUSED OF CONDONING RACISM.
DEPARTMENT CHAIR ACCUSED OF ACTS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, ABUSE,
AND RETALIATION AGAINST IMMIGRANT PART-TIME PROFESSORS.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. A lawsuit filed in Federal Court on December 12, 2017, against San Diego Community College District, alleges acts of unchecked racial discrimination, abuse, and retaliation taking place over six years against immigrant part-time Language Department faculty at City College – ironically, a self-professed “Sanctuary School.” The suit alleges that college administration including the Human Resources Office, the Board of Trustees, the former acting College president, and the District Chancellor, chose to ignore racist and abusive behavior by Department Chair Rosalinda Sandoval, in collusion with Division Dean Trudy Gerald.
The lawsuit by immigrant Professors David Becerra and Antonio Jimenez alleges abuse, discrimination, and retaliation by Rosalinda Sandoval. Sandoval, of Mexican descent herself, used hate speech and derogatory phrases against them and other professors based on place of origin, skin color, age, and social class.
Antonio Jimenez testified that Sandoval attempted to coerce his testimony against Salvador Gonzalez in exchange for keeping his teaching schedule. David Becerra accused Sandoval of fulfilling her threat to rescind his teaching “privileges”, for testifying before Human Resources as a witness in the complaint of racist remarks Gonzalez filed against Sandoval in 2014. Evelia Talamantes (not in the lawsuit) has reported constant verbal abuse in Sandoval’s office and in front of students.
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The perfunctory investigation by administrators Johanna Palkowitz, Maria Nieto, Denise S. Whisenhunt, Renee Kilmer, and Carroll Constance, failed to find any wrongdoing on the part of Sandoval and Gerald.
Although the District dismisses the charges as unfounded, the evidence and testimonies support the accusations of racism, discrimination, and abuse by Sandoval and collusion by Dean Gerald.
The aggrieved professors found little support from their union, American Federation of Teachers Guild 1931. They turned for support to the lawyer Ken Hoyt (Hoyt Law Firm), and the San Diego Adjunct Faculty Association (SDAFA), a county-wide organization that advocates for part-time faculty.
San Diego Adjunct Faculty Association calls the community to take part in the fight against racial discrimination and abuse at San Diego City College. Support the cause by signing this petition, emailing to Carroll Constance ccarroll@sdccd.edu expressing your support for the aggrieved professors, and participating in the demonstration “Walk of Silence” at San Diego City College Campus on April 25th From 10:30 am to noon.
Together we can eradicate racial discrimination from San Diego City College.