Former criminal justice instructor Maria Alexandrino left Sacramento State because she felt uncomfortable with students’ responses to subjects like affirmative action and racial profiling.

“The overall environment of the Criminal Justice Department is not welcoming to minorities and minority women especially,” Alexandrino said.

After moving to the United States from Africa 19 years ago, Alexandrino was hired in 2000 by chairwoman Susan Meyer to be a part-time teacher in the Criminal Justice Division.

According to Alexandrino, she wrote a letter to the director of the Office of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action, Peter Lau, in the office of Human Resources at Sac State. Her letter complained about an e-mail that was sent out from another professor to other faculty members threatening minority faculty and talking negatively about the college of Health and Human Services non-profit Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution.

“Unfortunately I’m not at liberty to discuss the specific case,” Lau said.

Alexandrino wanted to make sure something was done so she sent the letter in July and a follow up letter on Sept. 22. Alexandrino believes that no progress has been made.

“I know racism is difficult to combat and is complicated,” Alexandrino said, “but it becomes acceptable behavior when no one says anything, that’s what worries me.”

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Ric Brown investigated accusations made by Nancy Mangels, an applicant for a job in the Criminal Justice Department last spring. Mangels believed that some professors in the department made racist statements while she was interviewing for the job. Brown said that the investigation into Mangels case is closed and she was informed of the findings in a private letter.

Alexandrino turned down a job offer in 2003 from the department because she felt too uncomfortable. Alexandrino would like to see sensitivity training because it would probably be the most beneficial in changing the culture in the criminal justice division.

“If you kick people out it’s not going to change,” Alexandrino said. “Most of the professors are here teaching as a second career and they bring the culture from their previous careers into the criminal justice department.

“I truly believe that some people holding racist attitudes don’t know that they are being racists, that’s why I think sensitivity training is so important.”

Alexandrino also feels that the current administration needs to do more to support combating racism on campus.

Brown previously told The State Hornet, “We (the administration) take these things very seriously. We’re constantly working on the climate on campus, it’s what we do, to respect and celebrate diversity.”

“Gerth (former Sac State president) did attack the problems, he held forums where racism was discussed and lots of students came to talk about it,” Alexandrino said. “We all have agendas. If you look up the word agenda in the dictionary it says it’s a list of things to be done.

“I have an agenda, I’m a social activist; I wish the world would be a fairer place for everybody where people don’t just say things, but do things.”

Elizabeth Wilson can be reached at [email protected]