JCCC Steps Up, LUNA Stands Down

Student members of the Johnson County Community College (JCCC) organization, Latinos United Now and Always (LUNA), have agreed to work with JCCC administrators on finding a solution to the issues raised this week concerning undocumented students.

Late yesterday Will Suarez, president of LUNA, and Rick Moehring, dean, Learner Engagement, met to discuss efforts to work collaboratively.

Suarez and LUNA students agreed to shift the focus of a planned press conference from alleged discrimination at JCCC to a call for passing the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act or DREAM act. The college agreed to examine its policies regulating travel for all students. It also agreed to revisit policies and procedures to ensure equity for all students.

The JCCC Board of Trustees will meet tonight at 5 p.m. in the Hugh W. Speer boardroom, GEB 137, on the JCCC campus.

Latinos Students Question JCCC Policy

Travel policy decision raises discrimination allegation

Full disclosure: Miguel Morales is a founding member of the student group in question. He is also a JCCC Diversity Fellow.

Student members of JCCC’s campus group, Latinos United Now and Always (LUNA), claim JCCC administrators have violated its nondiscrimination policy.

“JCCC administrators are discriminating against some of us based on lack of documentation and on national origin. All JCCC students deserve to have the same opportunities and be treated equally” said Will Suarez, President of LUNA.

Seven members of LUNA planned to attend the National Council of La Raza national conference in San Antonio, Texas, July 10-13. Earlier this spring, the JCCC Student Senate awarded LUNA members funds to attend the conference, the largest Latino civil rights conference in the United States. Yet when members said when college administrators realized some of the students lacked government identification due to their immigration status, they decided to override the senate’s actions by withholding the previously awarded funds.