In a quest to get some answers on recent events at Herkimer County Community College, a student awareness forum was organized by Maria Gerena, vice president of the Black and Latino Student Union.
Two of the issues discussed during the forum were the vacation of Dr. Ronald Williams, and the suspension of Janet Evelyn-Dorsey, associate dean of the business information and technology division.
Gerena questioned the communication between students of color and the administration.
Dr. Nick Laino, dean of admissions and in charge of daily operations during Williams’ absence, told the students gathered it was a decision between Williams and the Board of Trustees. Laino said after a 22-year career, Williams, by contract, had accrued vacation time. The Board of Trustees, Laino said, as well as Williams, took the approach this was how Williams would finish out his career.
“Dr. Williams will be on hand for ceremonial events,” Laino said, including the upcoming commencement exercises.
Laino said that in light of Williams’ absence, business does have to go on.
“Is it unusual? I don’t know,” he said.
Gerena said she became aware of Evelyn-Dorsey’s absence about seven weeks after she was told Dorsey was on vacation. It wasn’t until the suspension was in its seventh week that Gerena and the rest of the students learned of the suspension.
“Shouldn’t the students have been notified by e-mail as soon as you knew she was not coming back on campus,” Gerena asked Laino. “She is the only person of color that I can personally connect with and relate to,” Gerena said. “Now there is a black hole.”
Gerena then asked that Dorsey be present at next week’s graduation at the college.
“Because of possible litigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on that,” Daniel Murphy, dean of academic affairs said.
Dr. Matthew Hawes, dean of students, acknowledged Evelyn-Dorsey’s case was poorly handled and that it is an internal issue at this point.
“We can’t answer [some of your] questions, but I can say we heard you and will look into it,” Hawes said.
Another student, Brittany, said she has seen many good things come out of HCCC, but in the past two years there have been so many problems that need answers. “We need to ask our questions and get answers. We pay our tuition. We are Herkimer,” she said.
Laino responded by saying the college is at a critical crossroads at this point with major issues occurring. He said he is optimistic the college will work through the problems, but problems cannot be fixed overnight.
Gerena then asked the three deans present why, if the college seeks students from other states, countries and counties, there is not a staff of diversity.
“I come here and I am walking onto a white campus,” Gerena said. “I am in an inner city surrounded by a white county.”
Laino again took the microphone to respond to the question.
“This is not just this college, but it is all over. In a Utica school it was the same situation,” he said.
He explained there is a process in hiring staff at the college, and broke it down into three categories: Civil Service, in which a test has to be passed before hiring; professional, which go through a search process; and his job, classified as non-bargaining.
“The problem in Herkimer is that you have to offer good salaries and we live in one of the poorest counties. We can’t compete with say Michigan State which will offer $40,000 more in pay for the same job,” Laino said.
He added that the staff at the college is made up mostly of area people, who already have affiliations to upstate.
The hot button issue came towards the end of the forum when a discussion of the recent arrest of three students began.
The three students, all black males, were charged following a fight at the school April 25. 
A student named Marcus said during his time at the college he loved it, but in the past week, he has grown to hate the school.
“I just want to pack up and get put of here,” the African-American student said. “Up until three days ago, I did not see one black officer. After Friday, I now see one that is an outsource officer. “Why is that,” Marcus asked. “It just seems funny that suddenly there is a black officer since Friday.”
Students also asked why the two white victims were not arrested the same way as the three black students.
“A fight is a fight,” one student said.
Hawes said witness statements were used to make a determination, but that the case is not closed.
This past year the college has been plagued with several fights, including a serious incident at the start of the school year involving a  stabbing. The college has been reluctant to release information and names of those arrested in earlier incidents. The Evening Telegram has filed under the Freedom of Information Act for all incidents during the past year involving students on campus and any arrests that have been made.