NMC student files grievance at Governor’s Office

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial will not respond and take any action on a grievance filed by a student with his office involving issues at the Northern Marianas College.

Press secretary Charles Reyes Jr. said the matter must be taken up with the college according to their grievance rules and procedures.

Saipan Tribune learned that NMC student Janel Villegas filed her grievance against the NMC board last March 25.

In a three-page document received by the Governor’s Office, Villegas cited the “lack of respect” exhibited by board chair Charles V. Cepeda to the faculty, students, and community members when he ignored the petition of support for Agnes McPhetres during a board meeting in early March.

In that meeting, Cepeda had refused to accept the 225-signature petition, saying the document should be filed with the Governor’s Office, which makes the appointments to the NMC board.

This prompted Villegas to submit the grievance complaint, along with the signature petitions, to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.

The issue came about after McPhetres resigned from the Board of Regents on March 6, 2009. She later rescinded her decision at the behest of Fitial but the board said she cannot take it back. After three weeks of tussling over the issue, McPhetres’ resignation became official.

Villegas’ complaint cited that “even though the matter concerning regent McPhetres retention on the board may be over, the process, the treatment of individuals were regrettable and need to be redressed.”

The chairman’s refusal to hear the “voices” of students and faculty, Villegas said, was proof of the total disrespect for the students.

“It was a total mockery of NMC’s slogan ‘Student First,’” she said, adding that her grievance is against the chairman’s ability to lead the board and his lack of discussion and involvement of the public in board meetings.

“I have a grievance against Chairman Cepeda for not retaining a willing and experienced board member to serve during this critical time,” Villegas told the governor.

Villegas said it was “embarrassing” to see the college defying the governor’s directive, setting a poor example for students and staff of shared governance and community involvement.

She wants Cepeda to apologize to former regent McPhetres, the students and the faculty “whose voices were not recognized and heard on the petition.”

Press secretary Reyes told Saipan Tribune that the governor’s office has no authority to address the matter involving college issues as it is governed by an independent body, which is the Board of Regents.

“The Governor’s Office generally has no jurisdiction or oversight authority over NMC,” he said, adding that it should be directed to the lawmakers.

“In fact, this matter might be better directed to the CNMI Legislature, which could issue subpoena and which could conduct an oversight hearing, as it has done in the past at the direction of Rep. Heinz Hofschneider,” Reyes said.

The press secretary said the Fitial administration believes that the McPhetres issue has been conclusively resolved through her delivered and received resignation letter.