HOUSTON -
It's a lesson in discrimination on a Houston Community College campus; a former student has filed a lawsuit accusing the college system of racial profiling.
In February, Thalia Vouchides was finishing up her second year at HCC's Westgate campus in Katy. In an instant a conversation with another student about a murder on the news changed her course.
"Asked me questions, why do I speak the way I speak with my accent, and if I was documented and, which country I was from. And locked up in the room and left us there," said Vouchides of her ordeal.
The former student said she was interrogated for an hour after being singled out by HCC Police Officer Colleen Adams who accused her of being a terrorist.
"It's just very hurtful. So now, it's a constant battle you got to watch over yourself, you don't have that freedom any more," said Vouchides.
She filed a complaint against the officer and felt safe to resume her studies.
"Even after I made the complaint, the officer still kept harassing me banging into me, following me around campus," said Vouchides. "It just go to the point were it was so much harassment from faculty members and the cop that I couldn't even go back to school to finish up my semester."
A spokesperson with HCC said Officer Adams was transferred to another campus and the school launched an investigation. However, HCC could not comment on the outcome of that investigation.
Adams has since been terminated as an officer with HCC.
Even so, it comes a little too late for Vouchides who filed a lawsuit against the college and former officer for violating her civil rights and wrongful imprisonment.
"We gave the school their opportunity to investigate and to take action. When we saw no action was commencing then the remedy Ms. Vouchides has left is to file the lawsuit," said Vouchides attorney, Mickey Washington.
Vouchides said she has been emotionally drained by the ordeal and her confidence shaken by HCC's handling of the matter.
"They never apologized, they actually never acknowledged my complaint," she said.
In February, Thalia Vouchides was finishing up her second year at HCC's Westgate campus in Katy. In an instant a conversation with another student about a murder on the news changed her course.
"Asked me questions, why do I speak the way I speak with my accent, and if I was documented and, which country I was from. And locked up in the room and left us there," said Vouchides of her ordeal.
The former student said she was interrogated for an hour after being singled out by HCC Police Officer Colleen Adams who accused her of being a terrorist.
"It's just very hurtful. So now, it's a constant battle you got to watch over yourself, you don't have that freedom any more," said Vouchides.
She filed a complaint against the officer and felt safe to resume her studies.
"Even after I made the complaint, the officer still kept harassing me banging into me, following me around campus," said Vouchides. "It just go to the point were it was so much harassment from faculty members and the cop that I couldn't even go back to school to finish up my semester."
A spokesperson with HCC said Officer Adams was transferred to another campus and the school launched an investigation. However, HCC could not comment on the outcome of that investigation.
Adams has since been terminated as an officer with HCC.
Even so, it comes a little too late for Vouchides who filed a lawsuit against the college and former officer for violating her civil rights and wrongful imprisonment.
"We gave the school their opportunity to investigate and to take action. When we saw no action was commencing then the remedy Ms. Vouchides has left is to file the lawsuit," said Vouchides attorney, Mickey Washington.
Vouchides said she has been emotionally drained by the ordeal and her confidence shaken by HCC's handling of the matter.
"They never apologized, they actually never acknowledged my complaint," she said.
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