Trustees clash over remarks about speakers’ ethnicity; board approves meeting extensions and schedules special session

A tense exchange among trustees dominated the meeting as one board member read the board bylaw on public expression and objected to a colleague’s remarks that had counted or noted speakers by ethnicity during public comment on a naming proposal.

The trustee who raised the concern said identifying speakers by race risked inflaming divisions and apologized to any speakers who felt targeted. The speaker emphasized that using ethnicity to question a speaker’s position was inappropriate and urged the board to avoid framing positions by race.

After the objection, Trustee Barry moved to extend the meeting 15 minutes; the motion passed in a roll-call vote with trustees Aljah, Deio, Zaher, Barry, Pelichkaw and Mos recorded as 'Yes.'

Trustee Zar responded at length, saying they had spoken on their own behalf and describing their lived experience as an Arab American: “there's no substitute for the lived experience of being, uh, an Arab American.” Zar said the composition of speakers at the naming discussion — many of whom Zar described as family members of the nominee — made the evening uncomfortable for some Arab-American residents.

Separately, trustees discussed a request to hold a special meeting to review the college presidential search process. After scheduling discussion and availability checks, trustees agreed to a special meeting at the college on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m.; the board chair will post formal notice and the stated purpose will be to discuss the presidential search process.

The board returned to another motion to extend the meeting later in the session; that motion also passed with roll-call votes recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: administration and trustees will proceed with the posted special meeting notice for Aug. 5 and will continue to address questions of board conduct and community relations as appropriate.