Students and faculty were left with questions about the future state of the campus following the cancellation of the Associated Student Organization’s 2019 election on May 2.
Southwestern College President Dr. Kindred Murillo said she called off the elections because she and her team found toxic racial tensions had undermined the validity of the election.
“Allegations of bias, allegations of discrimination, allegations of processes in the ASO constitution not being followed,” Murillo said. “And once we substantiated those processes had not been followed, we felt that with the other allegations that we do not have confirmation on, we believed it was best to stop the elections.”
The election featured two slates of candidates: the all-Latino Team Green and the all-black Team Elite.
Dimitrius Loa, a member of Team Green running for VP of Public Relations, was accused of making degrading comments towards Team Elite for being the first all black team.
After a series of meetings, which were held between April 29 to May 2, the ASO election board voted to allow Loa continue running if he issued a public apology and facilitated a racial bias retreat.
After Loa’s punishment was announced, members of the Black Student Union stood and said they believed a few members of Team Green attempted to incite a hate crime by making a fake Instagram post which called for the slaughter and enslavement of non-black people.
That prompted the SWC administration to launch two investigations.
The ASO controversy was the bubbling over of racial tensions that have increased on campus in recent years. In 2018, a report commissioned by Murillo found that among 50 campuses studied, SWC suffers from some of the worst anti-black racism. The team led by Dr. Shaun Harper, the executive director of USC’s Race and Equity Center, outlined several issues Murillo and her team have been working to change. The first wave of change began with listening sessions.
“The task force has been working with me to make some recommendations that they believe are important and we also have been working on recommendations Dr. Harper gave us and plus what we think is important,” Murillo said. “We continue to work on our hiring processes which is critical because we need to hire equity minded leaders. And that means people who are race conscious, evidence based and proactive and are out there making sure to create an inclusive environment.”
Murillo’s team has also started to implement implicit bias training throughout faculty and staff. SWC’s hiring process now requires new and current faculty to be trained in implicit bias.
Candidates from both Team Green and Team Elite said they hope to run in the fall once the results the from the investigations are revealed.
Team Elite presidential candidate Ayona Hudson said she hopes to be a voice for minority groups and to recruit more slate members over summer.
“I do plan on running for ASO presidency,” Hudson said. “My goal is for students to be able to come to Southwestern College and not have to cry about their race. I hope my voice can be for people who do not feel brave enough to come forward and bring issues to light.”
Team Green presidential candidate Christian Sanchez said he still plans to run in the fall and wants to make SWC the first EBT-accepting college in order to make the campus accessible for homeless students.
“My hopes and dreams for the future is that we stop trying to divide ourselves by race and focus on what the true spirit of Southwestern is,” Sanchez said. “It is us, it’s the students. Without the students there is no Southwestern College. Without the right focus and without the right plan, everything can deteriorate.”
Sanchez also said he wants to run with the same team, but may lose some members unless the election results are ratified.
“There are some reservations with one or two people,” Sanchez said. “In light of the events that have happened and with the chaotic situation created, they don’t feel that it would be in their best interest to run next semester. Unless the election results are ratified, then they’re willing to stay in office for the following year.”
Some faculty are still dealing with the aftermath of the election cancellation. Biology instructor and BSU faculty advisor Trishana Norquist said she is disheartened by how her and Ursula Williams, the Black Alliance event coordinator, have been portrayed since defending black students on campus.
“I have a concern for my reputation at this moment,” Norquist said. “It is very unfortunate. I am being painted as a caricature of an angry black woman. When really, I am just a concerned professor and I would do this for any student of color.”
Williams said the fear of losing her job or reputation will not deter her from standing with the truth. She also added the administration needs to take a more hands-on approach if a similar situation were to arise in future elections.
“I do feel like there should be more of a hands-on approach when it comes to elections from the ASO administration and staff,” Williams said. “Sometimes you see smoke there is probably going to be a fire. So maybe someone in a position of authority should step in and not supercede what the students are trying to do, but guide and temperament them.”
Murillo said the administration is focused on fixing the racial climate on campus, but it will take time. Progress has been made, she said, but still feels the college is a long way from healing.
“Culture takes time,” Murillo said. “When a culture is trusting it takes three to five years. When it’s not trusting, it takes five to seven. I do not think this was a trusting culture. So it is going to take longer. We are having open dialogue…and as long as we are doing that, we will heal this.”
