ABOVE: DACC Student Trustee Leonidas Hamza is greeted by supporters and family in the Vermilion Hall hallway; outside where his disciplinary meeting took place. (DACC Security on Right)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: DACC president Dr. Randy Fletcher has told CIMG that Wednesday’s meeting involving Leo Hamza was first and foremost a student conduct meeting, and that all students are held to certain levels of conduct; they cannot divulge any information on matters involving students.
As the Danville Area Community College Board of Trustees prepares for a monthly meeting Thursday (Oct 29) evening, the latest chapter in many months of firings, program cancellations, and “they said” “they said” allegations took place on Wednesday. It was what was called a “disciplinary meeting” involving DACC Student Trustee Leonidas Hamza. This comes after numerous harassment claims from Hamza while serving as student trustee, including when he walked out of a “closed session” meeting in mid-September, claiming he was targeted for using his phone to check on what he called a major concern at home.
The latest problem, Hamza told CIMG, happened after he was given information that Board of Trustees President Greg Wolfe had criticized to faculty members Hamza’s reason for changing his name; allegedly, through what Hamza was told, stating that the name “Hamza” had a connection to a well known terrorist.
Hamza says when he heard this, he posted a video on social media, which he had done before; this time saying he was done playing back and forth games.
AUDIO: The racial comments, the prejudice, was just unnecessary. And I usually make a video reputing all these silly things that are being said. All I did throughout the video was just explain my name. And I explained by name change; why I did what I did. And in the last 20 seconds I said, “You know what? I am tired of this tit-for-tat. I don’t want to do this anymore.” I said “you know what; I have gloves in the back of my car. If you want to put them on or whatever, so be it.”
(1st Picture) Leo Hamza supporters await the end of his disciplinary meeting. (2nd Picture) Hamza speaks with attorney Bethany Hager. (3rd Picture) Hamza poses with Tim Lentz, Shane Meeker, Phyllis Townsley, and Deonta Brooks prior to disciplinary meeting.
That video was posted October 14th. And shortly thereafter, he was contacted by school security that he was being investigated. He is now facing possible penalties; from dismissal as student trustee; to expulsion as a DACC student, which is grant paid and stipend paid; as well as his on campus afternoon grounds keeping job. Hamza has told CIMG that he told DACC on Tuesday of this week that he was obtaining the services of Bethany Hager as his attorney, and from there he should have had 48 hours to prepare for his scheduled “disciplinary hearing.” Hamza claims that the session was then renamed a “disciplinary meeting” so that it could still take place at 11:45 Wednesday, which it did.
A couple dozen supporters were waiting for Hamza out in the hallway during Wednesday’s hearing, where he met with Dean Amanda Turner of Student Services and Security Chief Nathan Howie. Hamza’s supporters included Danville Mayoral Candidate Pastor Frank McCollough, and Former DACC President Dr. Stephen Nacco.
“The real reason that Leo has become a target of retribution,” stated Dr. Nacco, “is because as student trustee he has been exercising his right to freely express opinions that are sometimes contrary to (DACC President Randy) Fletcher’s party line.”
Hamza says he was told that within seven days a decision could be made by the disciplinary committee, which allows him to attend the Thursday at 5:30 Board of Trustees meeting.
At that meeting, numerous speakers are expected to address issues from Hamza’s status, to recent DACC faculty dismissals, to DACC’s level of enrollment, and recent loss of the Adult Education program.
Hamza says he still loves DACC; is close to lots of students and faculty and administration; and is still considering running for student trustee position again, or perhaps a regular trustee position.
