The Journal

Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Colin Dabbs Freshman Carlos Uribe chants, "Free Covi!" at a protest April 18 in front of West Hall. About 30 students protested the firing of West Hall Resident Assistant Alvaro "Covi" Coronel.

"Alvaro Coronel is homeless," his Facebook status read April 15 - the same day Housing and Residential Life told him he had 24 hours to move out of the residence halls, said his girlfriend Britnee Kennedy, a sophomore graphic design major at the University of Missouri, St. Louis.

Coronel, a sophomore international relations major from Quito, Ecuador, was the resident assistant for 2 South in West Hall. His eviction - and subsequent firing and meal plan cancellation - stemmed from his stealing a sandwich from the University Center on April 2, Kennedy said.

"There were a lot of people in WOW (World of Wings), and he was in a hurry to get to class," Kennedy said. "He did it. He admitted to it."

On April 11, Coronel met with Residence Hall Director Jen Casady, who informed him that, as punishment, he would be put on probation and disqualified from running for Student Government Association president, Kennedy said. He also had to write a letter of apology and pay for the sandwich. He understood and agreed, Kennedy said.

Then on April 15, a Crossroads cashier said Coronel stole food again, but this time he had a receipt, Kennedy said. He was called into another meeting that day with ResLife, where he was terminated from his job as an RA and told he had 24 hours to move out of West Hall, after which time his meal plan would also be canceled, Kennedy said. He was told that part of the reason he was being fired was because he was not a good role model, Kennedy said.

"I couldn't believe they could do that," said an RA who wished to remain anonymous. "It was one of those decisions that leaves you wondering whether anyone is safe in their position as an RA."

Via e-mail, the RAs were called into an emergency staff meeting at 10 p.m. that night in the West Hall multipurpose room, the RA said. In the meeting, which lasted no more than 20 minutes, Casady informed them that Coronel would no longer be on staff and that they should speak with him if they wanted to know what happened, the RA said. They were also instructed to tell residents asking about Coronel that he would no longer be with them,
the RA said.

"The decision hit most people pretty hard," the RA said. "Almost everyone was quiet in the meeting. Nobody had seen this coming."

Coronel declined to comment. He said he would prefer to wait until the incident is over.

"If you make a mistake, people should help you out, not put you down - especially authorities," said freshman computer science major Felipe Proaño, a friend of Coronel. "International students do not have enough money and contacts to leave (campus)."

Coronel was given a list of apartments in the area and received a letter telling him he was not allowed to stay with anyone on campus, Kennedy said. However, he was offered an apartment on campus after asking for copies of his housing contracts, Kennedy said.

"Related to personnel matters, it's university policy that we don't comment on those," said Ted Hoef, associate vice president and dean of students. "The difficult thing about personnel issues is we can't speak to students directly about any concerns or misconceptions they have."

Assistant Hall Director Dee Goines is now unofficially overseeing 2 South, said John Buck, associate dean of students and director of ResLife.

"Because it's so late (in the semester), we're trying to figure out what the best way is to staff," Buck said. "We have a few options, but we haven't determined anything exactly."

The Protest

Chants of "Covi, Covi" - Coronel's nickname - and "we want justice" could be heard April 18 from the front of West Hall. Despite the rain, about 30 people showed up to an hour-long protest that afternoon, organized by Kennedy, to get Coronel's job back.

"We are trying to make our voices heard," said sophomore international business major José Mantilla. "That's why we came here, for democracy."

Buck said he had no problem with students gathering in protest.

"I respect people's reactions to all this," Buck said. "I understand where many of them are coming from because Covi is well-liked and well-known."

Buck posted a link to the university's policy on rallies, demonstrations and public assemblies on the wall of a Facebook group Kennedy created called "Protest For Covi!!," which currently has 138 members.

"I posted so they know there's a policy and that I'd be happy to help," Buck said. "I just want to make sure they do it the right way and not have them get derailed."

Hoef said protesters adhered to the rules, including notifying the Dean of Students Office of the protest 24 hours in advance.

"They seem to have taken care that their activities are safe, and they're not disruptive," Hoef said. "We're not worried about them because they're doing what they're supposed to do when a group wants to hold a demonstration of some kind."

Hoef informed Public Safety of the protest, as is his standard practice with any planned demonstrations or rallies, he said. About 20 minutes into the protest, Public Safety Supervisors Nelson Saucedo and Scott Patterson arrived on the scene to make sure the rules were being followed.

"You can do your thing. You're welcome here," Saucedo said to the protesters. "Don't be blocking any entranceways or anything like that."

A march from the Quad to West Hall was scheduled for at 2:30 April 22 but was cancelled due to lack of attendance. It will be rescheduled for April 25, Kennedy said.

Taking action

Coronel, who is currently appealing ResLife's decision, was not at the April 18 protest out of concern that his attendance could be used against him, Kennedy said.

Coronel's mother, Marisabel Vinueza, plans to fly to St. Louis "if things continue this way," she said. "My husband is a lawyer, and he is already speaking with colleagues in the United States for advice."

Vinueza has worked at Coronel's high school, Colegio Americano de Quito, for 23 years. She said about 25 students there are applying to Webster University. She plans to meet with all their parents to tell them she does not think WU is a safe place for international students, she said.

"I am going to tell them my son's story and the way he has been treated by ResLife," Vinueza said. "I believe they will think twice before sending their children to a place in which they are treated with no respect."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools