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By Alexa Lima
A pair of former dental hygiene professors have filed a lawsuit against Southwestern College alleging retaliation by administration after they reported “severe and pervasive” racial discrimination.
College officials declined to comment on the case because it involved personnel issues and pending litigation.
Tenured professors Karen Kubischta and Dr. Linda Lukacs filed suit against Southwestern College in April. Their attorney Arash Sadat said Kubischta and Lukacs had plentiful documentation of the incidents and many supporting witnesses. Sadat said the professors were required by Title IX to report suspected discrimination but were punished for doing so.
“Southwestern College has a pretty long history of racial discrimination,” said Sadat. “There have been reports, allegations from a variety of parties, regarding the way that minority students especially are treated at the school.”
Nelly Ramirez, 33, a dental hygienist and alumnae of the program, attended SC from 2018 to 2020. She said her experience in the program was “very hectic and stressful.”
“The environment was very hostile,” she said.
Ramirez said she and her classmates had a project that required them to choose a community to educate about oral hygiene and nutritional counseling. She said they proposed a plan to serve children in southern San Diego. When they discussed the food choices the professor told her to also include tacos and burritos in the lecture.
Students of color were stereotyped and picked on, she said.
“I recall other students (of color) being yelled at, being grabbed by the arm,” she said. “I remember reporting the professor on more than one occasion about her comments to Title IX and nothing was done. There was no follow-up by the school at the time.”
Nicole Arreola, 31, is a dental hygienist who graduated from the program in 2020. She said there was a culture of racism and discrimination in the program.
“I definitely felt like we all had our hands tied because we were there to get an education and do well in school, based a lot on grades and point systems,” she said. “I definitely felt like a lot of us were in a very vulnerable position, especially coming from never having a dental background to now learning a completely new skill.”
Arreola said she never experienced racist comments but witnessed classmates being harassed by professors. She said she met a lot of students who made complaints to the director about a certain professor who still works in the program, which is based in the National City Higher Education Center.
“I am really proud of Dr. Lukacs and Professor K for supporting us,” she said. “It just feels really good that someone has our back. It’s unfortunate so many incidents had to happen for them to be pushed into the position that they are in right now.”
Kubischta graduated from the dental hygiene program in 2007 and later become an adjunct instructor. She became a full-time tenured professor in 2018. Lukacs, an NYU College of Dentistry graduate, has taught at SC since 2001 and earned tenure in 2008.
Kubischta documented “racially discriminatory” comments allegedly made by Dental Hygiene Director Jean Honny, according to Sadat. Kubischta lodged a formal complaint against Honny, Sadat said, which an independent investigation substantiated. After the investigation, Sadat said, the dean of the NC HEC advised Kubischta to handle her complaints in-house rather than through the Title IX process.
Kubischta and Lukacs reported to the Title IX department that the program engaged in “bullying, intimidation, unwarranted physical touch, verbal abuse and retribution,” according to Sadat.
Kubischta and Lukacs endured a “campaign of retribution” and a “toxic work environment,” said Sadat. Both professors “had no option but to leave their tenured positions and seek employment elsewhere,” he said.
“It’s tragic what these respected professors were subjected to,” said Sadat. “They spoke out against wrongdoing, but the college attempted to silence them. We intend to hold Southwestern accountable.”
The Sun reached out to Southwestern College Vice President of Human Resources Angela Riggs and National City HEC Dean Christine Perri for comment. Sofia Salgado Robitaille, executive director of Advancement and Community Engagement, said in an email that she was authorized to answer on their behalf.
“Southwestern College has been engaged for several years in the deep work of equity, which must also include accountability,” read her statement. “Although we cannot comment on any personnel matters and pending litigation, we remain focused on the work to best serve our students, employees and our broader community”
