It is not acceptable to suspend the only two athletic teams coached by African American head coaches in the district. The men's and women's basketball teams are also comprised primarily of student-athletes of color. The action to suspend these teams creates an ethnic disparity and has an adverse affect on diversity on the campus. It is culturally insensitive not consider the our voices of concern for the real and perceived inequities the decision creates. As a community, we have worked hard and are still diligent in our efforts to reverse disparate and inequitable racial and ethnic imbalances when they come to our attention.

We must make a stand on key topics or we will be left out of the process. This is our District, the Board and Administration must include the community in the decision and policy making process. It is our duty as citizens of this county to lend our voices to the governance process because the outcomes must be best for our children, the students of the Ventura County Community College District.