College President Demotes Two Different Employees
Two college administrators have been demoted and reassigned following the release of an investigation into racially-tinged controversy during the spring ASO election Neither was singled out for criticism in the 19-page Summary of Findings report prepared by Kelly R. Minnehan of the Erickson Law Firm. Two college employees found to have made missteps during the contentious election have not been punished.
Dr. Malia Flood, former dean of Student Affairs, was re-assigned to her previous job as director of Disabled Student Services. Brett Robertson, former Director of Student Development and Health Services, was demoted and re-assigned to Student Services Supervisor with a lower range of responsibility, but at the same pay rate.
Robertson said Murillo told him he had poor leadership skills. He said he disagreed.
“I enjoyed that position,” he said. “I know my worth and have done good work for this college for the last five plus years. Students can vouch for me all the way.”
Scores of staff and students have expressed surprise and disappointment about the demotion of Flood and Robertson. Some administrators have called for a protest at the December 11 governing board meeting in support of Flood. Robertson said Flood did not deserve to be demoted and was blameless for the ASO issues.
“Dr. Flood helped students in their darkest hour of need,” he said.
Flood was always an energetic advocate for students, he said, connecting them to the resources they needed to survive.
Two college employees were singled out in the summary of findings report, though their names were mostly redacted. Minnehan concluded that there was probable cause to sustain allegations against Assistant Professor of Biology Trishana Norquist and Student Activities Coordinator Richard Eberheart. Norquist was criticized for falsely accusing four students of creating or posting a racist Instagram message and raising her voice during a contentious May 2 ASO election board hearing. Eberheart was cited for allowing election board meetings to proceed without 24-hour notice and showing bias towards the all-African American Team Elite. Eberheart and Norquist were not demoted or sanctioned by Murrillo.
Robertson said Murillo has no grounds to demote Flood on lack of leadership when she has shown outstanding leadership for 20 years in areas such as sexual assault, homelessness, hunger, domestic violence, mental illnesses and others.
Flood and Robertson were interviewed by Minnehan regarding the tension and infighting by student government candidates and their supporters in the run up to the May ASO elections, but did not mention them at all in her findings. Murillo interrupted a contentious meeting organized by the Jones & Associates consulting firm that devolved into a racially-tinged shouting match. Murillo dispersed the meeting and cancelled the ASO election. She authorized an investigation that continued through the summer.
During the summer, Robertson approached the presidential candidates of both tickets with the idea to form a coalition government. They agreed and Murillo publicly announced the plan at the August 18 opening day employees event at the start of fall semester.
The November 12 investigation report concluded that a series of contentious events prior to May 2 did not affect the outcome of the election. Vote tallies were released shortly thereafter and Christian Sanchez became 2019-20 ASO President.
Though Minnehan’s report placed most of the blame for the ASO tension and the contentious meeting on Eberheart and Norquist. Murillo said she had no plans to discipline or re-assign either employee.
“Faculty is really hard to move,” she said.
Murillo said she does not want students to be impacted by the transfers, but ASO students and students served by Flood and Robertson said they were saddened by the moves.
“I don’t think that the blame should have gone to them,” said Juan Carlos Sandoval-Rodriguez, ASO VP of Club Affairs. “What happened to Brett was really sad. He was my mentor and he was there for me in my worst moments. What happened to Dr. Flood is, especially when compared with the consequences that the faculty involved faced, was very severe.”
Flood declined to be interviewed for this story. A number of college administrators, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, said Flood did not deserve to be demoted.
“She was definitely scapegoated,” said a senior administrator. “What was done to Malia is not right. It could happen to any of us. It sends a dark message.”
