Consequences need to be given to the counselor who misstated a graduate’s name at LBCC’s 2022 commencement ceremony, but not at the expense of her career, said former student trustee.
Richard Blackmon, who served as the student trustee last academic year, feels graduate Karmina Barazza deserves to have her feelings acknowledged after hearing her name repeatedly misspoken on stage last June.
This incident has since progressed into the potential firing of LBCC’s counselor Kashara Moore, who read the student’s name incorrectly.
Blackmon was present at the 2022 LBCC commencement ceremony and witnessed the dispute between counselor Kashara Moore and a graduate unfold on stage.
Serving as the LBCC student trustee since March of 2021, Blackmon had a designated seat on stage during the ceremony. “I was one of the speakers and I introduced the keynote speaker… I concluded the ceremony as well,” Blackmon said.
During the nearly five hour ceremony counselor Kashara Moore, who was a graduate name reader, misstated graduate Carmina J. Barraza’s name.
There was an altercation on stage after Moore pronounced the wrong name and allegations of the counselor elbowing the graduate soon followed.
After Barazza’s name was misstated, trustee Herlinda Chico got up from her seat and walked to the podium where Moore and Barazza were still standing. Chico was allegedly walking over to come to the defense of Barazza, who became upset after the altercation with Moore.
Once Chico sits back down she can be seen shaking her head before grabbing President Mike Munoz’s attention and starting a conversation with him that can not be heard in the ceremony’s video.
As a participant in the commencement ceremony, Blackmon was seated next to trustee Herlinda Chico, who became involved in Moore and Barraza’s debacle.
“I was sitting next to Herlinda Chico, vice president of the board of trustees… I remember thanking her,” Blackmon stated. He went on to praise Chico for how she speaks up for LBCC’s students.
Chico was quoted by the LB Post on the matter saying, “I got up to make sure the student was OK because she was visibly upset.”
The Viking has attempted to reach Chico for a comment but has not received a response.
This incident has evolved into Barazza claiming Moore elbowed her when they were both standing by the podium. In the ceremony video Barazza can be heard telling Moore, “Don’t do that again.”
When asked about the alleged elbowing of the student Blackmon responded, “Due to the HR thing going on with that, I can’t really speak too much on those matters”.
However, Blackmon did comment on his thoughts on the proposal to dismiss doctor Moore saying, “Do I think she should be dismissed or fired? No… I don’t want to see anyone losing their jobs. But at the same time, there must be some kind of consequences.”
Blackmon states his greatest worry is the well-being of Barraza. He believes the media has villainized her and her initial reaction to the misstatement of her name during the ceremony.
“At the end of the day, you know, the girl’s name was read wrong, multiple times. My concern is just making sure that the student’s voice and her story is really heard and her feelings are acknowledged,” Blackmon shared.
We have been unable to locate or contact Barazza for comment.
LBCC president Mike Munoz refused to comment via the school’s public relation representative, Stacey Toda.
The Board of Trustees have a meeting scheduled for today where defenders of Kashara Moore are expected to appear.
The Viking will continue to provide updates as the story is confirmed further and brought to better light.