Administrators and members of the Hispanic and Latino community met Friday to discuss what some students have deemed a troubling matter — the vacancy of the assistant director position for Hispanic Student Affairs.

Abraham Dones, the former assistant director of the organization, stepped down from his position earlier this semester, prompting many questions students want answered.

Guadalupe Arce-Jimenez, a senior in extension education and member of the Hispanic Latino Advisory Group, said students attended the meeting because many of them weren’t notified about Dones’ departure.

“A lot of students were concerned, and a lot of them were not sure [about the firing process],” Arce-Jimenez said. “I wanted them to hear from the administrators. Students are here showing interest for that position to be filled.” 

Cristal Vivanco, president of Mi Familia and a junior in international studies, said students also came to the meeting to make sure the University was looking for Dones’ replacement in a timely manner.

“[Hispanic and Latino students] don’t have a very long presence with the University, and we’re still trying to accomplish so much,” Vivanco said. “We still need that guidance in order to stay strong and accomplish what we want to set up this year, so we’re here to make sure [the assistant director] spot doesn’t stay vacant for long.”

However, Vice Provost for the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity Joanne Woodard couldn’t address Arce-Jimenez’s concerns because the University isn’t “legally obligated” to disclose details about Dones’ departure.

“When it comes to personnel there are some things we can’t say or do,” Woodard said. “We can say that Mr. Dones is no longer with us, and we will be conducting a search [to fill Dones’ position].”

Despite Woodard’s explanation, Vivanco said she still had some reservations about the process.

“Hopefully the reputation of OID doesn’t crumble in the eyes of the students because some people are very upset,” Vicanco said at the meeting. “There’s a lot that Abe did for us. Graduates have come and said that they’ve fought for him to be here, and in a way, [firing him without explanation] is a little disrespectful to the work they did. 

“It’s not always clear what the goal is with hiring, and I would strongly advise that [administrators] personally speak to the student body.”

To address these concerns, Director of Multicultural Student Affairs Rod Bradley said students will be “100 percent a part of the search process.”

Bradley also said the University will be conducting a regional and national search, and the new assistant director for Hispanic Student Affairs will be named no later than January 2014.

“We are glad students can participate and contribute their voice to search process,” Bradley said. “We’re excited for [students’] continued support, and MSA is working diligently to make our students continue to be supported.”

Bradley also said he’s had a conversation within the MSA office and that faculty members are interested in stepping up to provide additional support for the Latino community and that he will make a “special commitment” to Hispanic students during the search process.

Woodard and Tracy Ray, assistant vice provost for student diversity, said budget cuts have prevented the University from filling Done’s position faster.

“It has never been a point to not fill the position, but when someone leaves you have to pay benefits,” Ray said. “Be mindful of budgets cuts. As soon as funding is available we will fill that position.”

Ray also said a small hiring board, which includes students, will speed up the process. 

Vivanco said she had mixed feelings after the meeting.

“Hopefully having Dr. Ray … speak to the students personally will serve to quell their doubts about certain things,” Vivanco said. “Here they can hear me and understand where I’m coming from. From a personal level, I’m not that satisfied but from an organizational standpoint, [I am].”

Woodard said the University regrets student worries about Dones’ departure, and the OID still maintains its goal of helping Hispanic and Latino students at N.C. State.

“Unfortunately, in a personnel situation, we can never talk fully and freely what may have precipitated someone’s departure or where someone might have gone,” Woodard said. “But our point is we want students to know is that [the OID] is still very supportive of Hispanic-Latino students on campus and we will be conducting, as soon as we can go through the appropriate channels, a search. “In that respect we’re moving in a fairly timely manner to get a new staff member in who can be in charge of that area.”

The advisory group also discussed plans for Hispanic Heritage Month at N.C. State and addressed other HLAG subcommittees.