LBCC professor removed from position after allegedly elbowing student during commencement ceremony

Rina Nakano reports from Long Beach Community College, where a professor was recently removed from her position after allegedly elbowing a student during their commencement ceremony on June 9.

[@dirratt]

This is just stupid and overblown.

[@jblue705]

Having looked at that video dozens of times, I don't see how anyone could know that an 'elbow' took place. In other words, it was probably more like a passive-aggressive TAP at best.

[@rainbowpandasays8851]

Professors don’t passive aggressively tap students especially graduates being video taped at their own commencement ceremony after completely reading both first and last name wrong.

[@38NDY]

@@rainbowpandasays8851 Apparently you saw something different and completely misunderstood the story as reported.

[@fuckyoutube648]

@@rainbowpandasays8851 accidentally pronouncing one's name is not a reason to terminate anyone from the career. There is no way from the video to see that any "tap" happened. Welcome to The United States of Cry babies.

[@sidjbel]

Wow! Cancel culture at its best. If you look at the video the teacher steps back holding her arm in a position (normal), when holding something in your hand. If someone is trying to elbow you, they wouldn't move their whole body to do just that. Let's face the fact that the student go upset because the teacher misspelled her name!

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

this is absolutely ridiculous. she should sue the ‘school’ and the student! WTH?!?

[@truejustice2075]

All of this started because she pronounced a student's name wrong so as retaliation the student file a complaint to get even with her this is how petty the student is and the elbow incident you can tell it wasn't done intentionally but what I can't understand how the school took it this far when you can see it was all retaliation due to the teacher pronouncing her name wrong an she better get used to it because that comes with the territory when you have a hard name to pronounce, and she better be careful because karma is a mother and it will come back to haunt her for her evil actions.

[@ladytee8540]

Shame on the student. She ruined her own graduation ceremony. After she asked to pronounce her own name and she clearly was told NO she went for the mic anyways. The professor prevented her because those are the rules of commencement, no student is allowed near the mic. And I'm Hispanic and I know the issue of our names being mispronounced and how sensitive we can get about that; but, for crying out loud really girl really. And it just didn't stop there she still made a fuss about it when she reached the center of the stage to receive her diploma. She still looked back towards the professor, still making hand gestures, she ruined her own graduation.

[@chiomaokenwa2689]

I completely agree!

[@blaznfattyz]

not sure if she ruined her own graduation, that is really just for her to say. sometimes acting on principal is worth it

[@pw_jc]

Damn you get fired for that!

[@joycebruhn3672]

Not even a reprimand or a class in something. Wow your the announcer and this is the reward for all your work really I see just everything too drama unnecessary I had someone a principle say my name wrong. I mean lol Logan. Once loewegi. And in 1969 lol before the characters I didn’t even correct him. It’s oh well lol not on purpose though my name was logue. Like vogue you know sometimes you trip up with a thousand names or twenty lol my mom use to say five different wrong names when I am in trouble Just at this point haters racism. Whatever just wrong. Never volunteer to be announcer right Steve Harvey geeze

[@WestCoastUSA546]

I DIDN'T SEE THE ELBOWING AT ALL!! WTH IS HAPPENING HERE???

[@mlanae20]

I think we know….👀

[@MelKali]

Carina is in the wrong here. She should have gracefully corrected her. You can clearly hear she said no. And this girl just went ahead took matters into her own hands. That’s the entitlement generation at its best!!!

[@femmebrulee5053]

The graduate is obviously a Karen. Seriously, who tries to push a faculty member out of the way so they can get to the microphone to read their own name at a graduation ceremony??? It's just unnecessarily aggressive. That was the most uncouth, trashiest move ever. It's weird that people think that it was ok for that graduate to do that. The faculty member volunteered her time to do the name readings. But I looked at the video and I couldn't see any elbowing. No other graduate tried to take over the microphone to read their own name because they didn't like how it had been pronounced. She was the only one. I'm sorry to say I believe it was a vindictive act on the part of the graduate student who filed the complaint.

[@newyorkny9304]

I completely agree with you! The aggressive behavior of the student, compound with entering into the announcers personal space, was extremely excessive and inappropriate. It might be time to seriously look at who made the decisions of termination, without external investigation, and remember this during their re-election. Seems like bullying tactics overshadowed truth!

[@abolisher]

Agreed KAREN FOUND!!!

[@rainbowpandasays8851]

Her last name wasn’t pronounced wrong it was read wrong , different letters were said despite having months of practicing it and written on paper with bold letters - the opportunity to walk at a commencement ceremony for a college graduation is a lifetime achievement especially for lower income community college students. The student just filed the complaint she never asked for her to be fired, the college took it too far.

[@dkstephens]

LBCC trustees you called it wrong. As the LBPD stated in an investigation it’s unclear if there was contact made. Very disappointed in the outcome. This isn’t right and I hope the teacher appeals this decision any way she can.

[@dannytubes]

They FIRED her for that? 🧐

[@abolisher]

That was literally nothing I would know a beating when I see one because a 6th grade teacher did that to me more than once give this teacher her job back NOW!!!! Also the beating’s he gave me built character in me toughness so I’m not even tripping but to be falsely accused of such things is the worst.

[@abolisher]

What a soft world

[@lsureppin225]

This is a setup

[@chiomaokenwa2689]

Has to be cause what?

[@JorgeGonzalez-ui3nb]

It sounds like the student wanted to say her own name and the professor said it first, the student got embarrassed because she was left with saying the beginning of her name only. You can hear her say excuse me because it looks like she thought she was not allowed to say her own name. Looks like a silly story from born out of immaturity.

[@joycebruhn3672]

Omg. First of all student was crowding what kind of big drama really really. She is reaching for Mike re pronouncing it. This is for sure over reaching on this big day. Sometimes things aren’t perfect but really student got really close stayed close just really. A terrible misunderstanding and. I just can’t believe it

[@abolisher]

I would know whether or not a teacher has hit a student or not because I was beat by a middle school teacher more than once back in 2012… when I saw this video she did nothing to her just told her she couldn’t say her own name and got in the way of her by standing in front of her if that’s called for a firing what would they do to my middle school teacher who would actually hit there sons or daughters right now also I’m not even mad since I could beat down on any person regardless of race since he was a black teacher I earned that right but that crap is not cool to be falsely accused of. GIVE HER HER JOB BACK NOW!!!!

[@lisabunnie22960]

I don't understand. What did she do so wrong?

[@Brix098]

nothing

[@newyorkny9304]

Nothing at all!

[@rickyticky6915]

I watched this so many times. I’m a minority but not of African -American nor Hispanic background so I have no “biased” about this story. I did not see any part of the professors elbow hitting her in a disrespectful manner, maybe it was more of a brushed as in “ok, I got it” but it wasn’t hard…I still don’t see the part that everyone is talking about. My last name gets mispronounced all the time, even when I go to my Doctors office but It doesn’t bother me a bit. We don’t know the professors daily interaction with the student but if she is as good as everyone have indicated (saw it in the local news) We the public don’t know the professors history. It could be that she’s a hard person to deal with and this came up and the board figured that they can get rid of her “legally”. I know I’ll never know the real reason but if this is the only reason to get rid of a highly respected professor, then they are wrong.

[@Lawomenshoops]

That's a very loose definition of "elbowing" Her elbow may have touched the student, but that was hardly an elbow. Now, the professor could have allowed the student to say her name.

[@abolisher]

That’s NOT ALLOWED

[@JslickGaming]

Had a Coworker misnamed and called Taco instead of Tako, he laughed about it and moved on. Lol

[@je9833]

Hmmm, there is more to this story that is not being told

[@junkboxxxxxx]

Look upon it as a gift to get out of LBCC

[@newyorkny9304]

I can't imagine working in education. Bless their hearts.

[@lo5182]

You're Fired!!!

[@julie1630]

I didn't see her elbow her.!

[@T_WOOD__]

Wheres the elbow?????

[@Butterfly1798]

Oh please, this graduate is over doing it! She’s mad that the name was not pronounced correctly! Some graduates just be overdoing it! Ridiculous smh

[@Tom_Space]

If it was the other way around the professor would be screaming racism

[@newyorkny9304]

So are you implying racism doesn't exists? Look who brought it up. YOU!!!!!

[@dannytubes]

@@newyorkny9304 ignore the ignorant ppl

[@newyorkny9304]

@@dannytubes you are so correct! The world is one where we must not give in to the ugliness.

[@thevargasj1]

the student is sore because she want to use the mic, and the professor kind of rude to puch her aside to say the name, two alfas in competition. and the student she need to grow up. and didn't need to scalate and complaint.

[@mlanae20]

But this isn’t worth being fired over. My name has been mispronounced my ENTIRE life by every teacher/professor and employer I’ve had and not a SINGLE one of them was fired nor did I PUSH for them to be as this student did because that would be narcissistically ridiculous. So I suspect there’s an undercurrent of racism (not to mention hateful PRIDE) involved in this because had the pronouncer been Hispanic as well, I DOUBT very seriously that she would have lost her job. Pride causes one to be so indignant that they have the attitude of, “How dare someone mispronounce my name!” Jesus is getting ready to step down on the scene, and those who can’t see it are seriously spiritually disconnected from The Creator. God have mercy on us all.

[@jessicaayala7872]

So fucking ridiculous poor doctor Moore

[@santana968]

The video is grainy, that certainly was not an elbow though but she did hold her arm against the student in a hostile manner. The way she said “no” to the student was also rude so it probably made the student say “fuck you” and then gave her the want to say her own name. They both had attitudes except the teacher had more to lose.

[@philliplewis3754]

If she had a speech impediment then don't volunteer to read names at a commencement speech!

[@newyorkny9304]

So are you implying that individuals with disabilities should not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies? How small of you!

[@philliplewis3754]

@@newyorkny9304 nope, I'm suggesting that you check yourself so other people don't have to. If she was legally blind at 20\200 vision should she volunteer to read names and would they have to let her. I'll bet $100 this woman has never once in her 10 years at the school uttered one word about a speech impediment. Does she have a faulty elbow, is that her disability then, elbowing people randomly? She did not like being corrected by that woman, she just wanted to make sure she was actually being called. You can hear the irritation in her voice the second time she said the name, she was unprofessional and wasn't remorseful at the graduation. Oh she was remorseful after 19 witnesses and Long Beach PD were brought in before she got fired. It's a shame that your mind is so small that you feed on emotions instead of fact's.

[@newyorkny9304]

@@philliplewis3754 so you know we do have technology that can assist even the blind to call names at a commencement ceremony right? You might want to broaden your horizons. Just to let you know Google is free. Furthermore, skipping over all of your ill informed babble, the police, who were internal, reviewed the video quite a few times, they could not and did not confirm that an actual assault took place. They advised the student to go to the district. Now, bless your heart, I don't know if you know anything about how unbiased investigations are handled, wait, of course you don't just like the vp of hr didn't. Whelp, I think most people get my point. Today's culture and the power play. Tisk tisk!

[@newyorkny9304]

@@philliplewis3754 wait is this, by any chance, the agitator that was pouncing back and forth across the stage snatching cards and making a real spectacle on stage, so much, that she cheated students out of the opportunity to be seen on video as their names were being called? Is that you?

[@philliplewis3754]

@@newyorkny9304 DON'T CARE, SHE GOT FIRED THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME! They investigated, she got fired, case closed.

[@rainbowpandasays8851]

Karina Barajas Karmina Baraza 🤦‍♀️ I’m sure with a PhD can find a job somewhere else , should of kept her temper down and apologized for reading the name wrong you could hear the attitude in the tone of her “ NO!” 19 witnesses and most agreed on the elbow - video evidence and all

[@llamaArdiente]

You can see that she nudged her with her elbow, and that kind of behavior was not necessary...

[@dirratt]

Just looking at that name. I’m not trying to pronounce that 😂. That’s not a easy word to say for English speakers.

[@mlanae20]

But it’s not worth being fired over. My name has been mispronounced my entire life and no one has ever been fired over it. I suspect there’s an undercurrent of racism involved here because had the pronouncer been Hispanic as well, I doubt very seriously that she would’ve lost her job.

[@dirratt]

Not only is it a difficult name to pronounce… people often get embarrassed when they pronounce names wrong.

[@drumtwo4seven]

NOT FAIR ID BET 100% ANYTHING LIKE THAT WOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN IF SHE KEPT HER JOB NOT RIGHT IMHO

[@miketheike1506]

I legit seen people saying that she deserves this because she was rasict for the way she pronounced her name wrong on purpose when that wasnt the case.

[@vdo3000]

Why is someone with a speech impediment given the job to announce the names?

[@rainbowpandasays8851]

Call bullshit on that one

[@qsumter]

She wasn’t given the job. She volunteered. In higher Ed most don’t want to call names so they ask for volunteers from faculty and staff.

[@rodericligart4907]

Its a Community College .

[@booster1469]

About time some real punishment for a real crime. Investigation prove this was not a Hoax. She did it.

[@williamwalker9442]

Lol only if there was a safe space somewhere on that stage This might of been avoided🤣

[@jo8726t]

She didn't do anything. Sad!

[@TheaterAtReference]

that did not looked like an accident, looked more like a passive aggressive elbow to the student

[@jimmydishkawnt]

I think They fired her because she has an 'attitude'. Its very obvious she has an ego problem. Didnt even give the student a chance to correctly say her own name. Good riddance.

[@newyorkny9304]

Your bigotry is sad. Just for the record students are not allowed to say their names. The aggressive nature of the student and Chico showed angry out of control individuals that should have been more professional.

[@femmebrulee5053]

I've worked at a college before and worked at least 2 different commencement ceremonies. As a faculty member, you're not supposed to allow students to speak on that open microphone. That student could've gotten up there and started ranting and using homophobic slurs, racial slurs or saying God knows what else. That would've ruined the whole ceremony for thousands of people. A student can't just go up and grab a microphone. It's not allowed. It's just standard protocol. And really it was disrespectful on her part. She was also holding up the other graduates behind her waiting to walk. It looked a little ghetto to me. Some kids make it thru 2 years of college but they don't learn sh*t. That student acted as if her name was the only one mispronounced that day. And honestly, the student had an attitude. Who gets that bent out of shape over a simple name mispronunciation. Is she gonna act that way when she goes for a job interview and the interviewer mispronounces her name? I swear to God this generation is so entitled. So what your name is mispronounced. Geez, grab your faux degree certificate and move on. People still call Kanye West , 'Kane' but he doesn't let that stop him from getting those checks. She really acted like she was Kanye trying to snatch that microphone from Taylor Swift.

[@jimmydishkawnt]

Well too bad, those in charge found her guilty and kicked her out... and boohoo too sad for you simps... but for me, its an awesome day. Justice was served and it was gooooood

[@06snydernancy]

The student said her own first name and the Professor lifted her arm and elbowed while attempting to block the graduate. The graduate had grounds to make the complaint. I’d be pissed. Stop pretending you don’t see it. Dismissing the Professor for that is too severe because although she was physically reactive, I think it was a slip up to stop the graduate from saying her own name, where she just should have said of course instead of lifting her elbow and competing for the mic. After all, she earned it but not an elbow and her family must have been upset by what they saw. The student complained but she did not fire the Professor, LBCC did. Hope she keeps her job but there may be more to this story than we’re seeing regarding the Professor’s time at LBCC.

[@rrvtjd]

I’m just not seeing it. It looks like another millennial college student creating mountains out of molehills. Again.

[@KN-eh2fh]

Fired because of mispronouncing a name? Give me a fxxxing break!

[@rainbowpandasays8851]

I think your comprehension skills need tune up.

[@KSS5]

It may have not been intentional the professor was in work mode and was hurrying to get them kids off the stage and in the process was just rude about the whole thing.

[@livemusic1693]

She's a little selfie entitled and now she got her fired. I guess she's happy now.

[@daledoback8380]

She pulled a Pelosi

[@John_Q]

Most professors are egotistical and pretentious.

[@dannytubes]

Irrelevant comment

[@John_Q]

@@dannytubes Not really. The actions of this disgraceful "professor" can be chalked up to having an inflated ego and pretentious nature about her. Imbeciles like her need to be weeded out of the higher education system. I applaud the actions of the student, and I'm glad the professor was removed from her position. Professors need to remember that they aren't untouchable, and they better act right and do their job properly or they will be dealt with.

[@rainbowpandasays8851]

@@dannytubes Because the reader was a professor at the college, her attitude was the problem that got her fired. Investigated, video evidence, case closed

[@newyorkny9304]

@@rainbowpandasays8851 you keep saying case closed. Doubt it!

[@thegracienetwork7847]

I say fire the Professor regardless and who the f**k cares how the woman's name is pronounced.

[@tw4134]

The professor seems put off and rushes saying the name. it's still not clear the 2nd time. The student says, Oh, excuse me and even looks back in disbelief, like wtf, after receiving her diploma. Put yourself in that student's shoes. It's the biggest day of your life, that you'd been waiting for all year, and your name is wrong in front of friends and family who may be recording the moment. If I was reading students' names during graduation and was told I mispronounced it, I would listen carefully and say it right. If I were the student I'd be so embarrassed. If the student leaned into the mic to say her own name, that's wrong but that does not give the professor the right to elbow her, which did probably happen, even if it was a reflex. I saw a zoomed in image on the news and it looked like she did. They interviewed 19 Other witnesses who were much closer than this camera is. A student would not make that up because it probably ruined her memory of that special day. The professor does not seem remorseful. She did nothing wrong at all? If it was a black student and a Latina or white professor mispronounced her name, wouldn't they be accused of being racist?

[@Di_777]

I heard she was only mispronouncing Hispanic last names...

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

sure you did. liar

[@newyorkny9304]

Who told you those voices in your head?

[@Butterfly1798]

Hush shut up

[@gematenoriovelazco]

I don’t agree with any student being elbowed or touch no one should have to go through that! Period!

[@abolisher]

That was not an elbow much less a hit and I would know because I was an actual victim of being hit as a child when I was in middle school it’s something you never forget but learn to live with and move on it builds character and strength..

[@38NDY]

Once upon a time, people shook hands. I guess your point is that touching is a bad thing.

[@newyorkny9304]

@@38NDY lol bingo!!!!!

[@WestCoastUSA546]

GOING THROUGH THIS STUPIDITY, FOR SURE 🤦