Michelle Jaureguito, Feather River Community College (FRC)

In August 2000 Michelle Jaureguito began working at Feather River Community College (FRC) in a two-year, full-time position as Director of Student Recruiting. She was promoted twice; first to Talent Search Director, and one year later to Upward Bound/ Talent Search Director (the Upward Bound program assists high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds go to college).

In July 2005, Jaureguito received a call from a college residential assistant (RA. The RA told Jaureguito that Munoz, an adult employed by FRC in part as a mentor and recruiter for the Upward Bound program, arrived intoxicated and brought alcoholic beverages to the Upward Bound high school student dormitory. Jaureguito was informed that Munoz had made sexual advances to both female RA and female program participants. He had reportedly grabbed, fondled and molested two of the female students. Jaureguito contacted her boss, Paul Thien, (see Paul Thien case) to report the call about the alleged inappropriate conduct. Jaureguito and Thein then went out to the employee’s home where they witnessed him consuming alcohol with underage students. Other students reported that night to Thein and Jaureguito that Munoz sexually harassed them that evening by inappropriately touching them and making sexual comments.

Thein and Jaureguito reported the incident to the college president and Thein urged the college president to contact the authorities. The next day they provided testimony to law enforcement. According to Jaureguito, the college president warned them to “protect themselves” from possible retaliation from the employee’s father, who was a senior faculty member at the college.

In August 2005, Jaureguito was informed by the Human Resources Director that she was going to be fired for providing alcohol to minors. The HR Director based this decision on rumors started by Munoz and according to other staff members, the HR director tried to pressure them to say that Jaureguito provided the students with alcohol and was drinking with them. The disciplinary action was not kept confidential (in violation of FRCC policy) and when the disciplinary action was later rescinded, the damage to Jaureguito's reputation was not. She continued to face harassment in retaliation for her reporting Munoz’s illegal behavior and sexual harassment. Twice she reported the harassment and retaliation, but on April 7, 2006 Jaureguito, who was unable to tolerate the harassment, quit.

In November 2006, Jaureguito filed suit against FRCC in state court. A case will be tried in two parts, the first of which will go to trial In June 2007.

Please contact AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund cases for more information on this and other cases.