Eight students said they didn’t bother knowing anything about the case of Fernandez.
But a senior student said the board of regents is tainted with politics and its decision to terminate Fernandez is “biased.”
A sophomore student said Fernandez should be “removed.”
“I know things were not good during her leadership,” another student said.
But Fernandez was doing well and there were a lot of changes and improvements she introduced, said another student.
A members of the Associated Students of NMC said their group has yet to discuss whether to come up with a statement on Fernandez’s termination.
Five other students said they cannot comment because they don’t know anything about the issue.
One student said the termination will “definitely affect” the accreditation of the college.
“But how?” asked another student.
Former NMC instructor Samuel F. McPhetres, whose contract was not renewed by Fernandez last December, declined to comment about her termination.
Some believe that the public outcry over his termination triggered the board’s decision to probe Fernandez.
McPhetres said the board should now be more careful in selecting a new president.
“The most important thing is the person’s character and the regents should make a thorough background check,” he added.
McPhetres said he admires NMC interim President Lorraine Cabrera for taking the job.
He is confident that Cabrera can handle the job.
Regent Charles V. Cepeda said the action of the board to end Fernandez’s contract “was based on an intent to move forward for the best interest of NMC.”
But he said he voted “no” because “I believe there are other options presented to the board which I thought is best for NMC.”
He did not mention what these options are but he said the “fact that the members of the board deliberated on all options reflects the integrity of each member’s meticulousness in presenting his or her vote.”
Cepeda said it is now time to move forward and start the process of selecting the next president.
“I urge everyone to be proud of our NMC graduates, students, faculty and staff and work together to ensure we meet the standards of the [Western Association of Schools and Colleges],” he added.
