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What’s Going On at VCCCD — And Why Our Community Must Speak Up Now

Most people don’t track every meeting of the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) Board of Trustees. Normally, you shouldn’t have to.


But this year, the district has taken a sharp and alarming turn.


A small bloc of trustees, led by Joe Piechowski, joined by Lou Lichtl and backed politically by Joshua Chancer, has used their power to target LGBTQIA+ students, censor curriculum, intimidate employees, and drag extremist politics into our community colleges. These aren’t policy disagreements. These are deliberate actions that threaten students’ safety, academic freedom, and the stability of our colleges.


And unless the community pushes back, the situation is bound to escalate.


A Pattern of Targeting LGBTQIA+ Students and Staff

The clearest and most consistent thread has been the targeting of LGBTQIA+ students.

First came the Pride flag ban, pushed by Piechowski, a symbolic but unmistakable message about who is “welcome” on campus.


Then came attempts to restrict all-gender restrooms, despite student and staff testimony outlining the harm such bans create. Instead of listening, this bloc pressed forward.

And now, the fight has escalated to Title IX.


Piechowski has repeatedly tried to advance a so-called “Title IX support” resolution that is openly transphobic. The original draft was so extreme that trustees pulled it from the agenda in October after immediate backlash. But he’s bringing it back, again, at the upcoming PASS subcommittee meeting, in an attempt to get it back to the full board.


Make no mistake: This resolution misuses Title IX to justify excluding transgender and intersex athletes from women’s sports. It frames discrimination as “fairness,” leans on cherry-picked science, and attempts to pressure state leaders into adopting anti-trans athletic policies.


This is not about protecting women’s sports. It’s about establishing a door through which broader anti-LGBTQIA+ policies can enter our colleges.

Our community cannot ignore this.


Injecting Extremist Politics Into Curriculum Decisions

Piechowski has repeatedly voted to block courses on:

  • Chicano/a history

  • Race and politics

  • Women in sports


These are standard academic subjects taught nationwide. His pattern of “no” votes isn’t about academic standards, it’s about importing national culture-war politics into local classrooms.

When trustees start deciding which histories or identities count as “acceptable,” academic freedom disappears.


Putting Accreditation (and Thousands of Students) At Risk

Perhaps the most dangerous development: Accreditation reaffirmation for all three colleges was delayed by the AACJC because of trustee interference.


Accreditation delays are extremely rare. When they do happen, it’s a red flag for governance problems.


The consequences are severe:

  • Delayed or denied student transfers

  • Threats to financial aid

  • Jeopardized degrees and certificates

  • Long-term institutional instability


Trustees who claim to be protecting students are actively endangering them.


Retaliation, Doxxing, and Abuse of Power

These patterns are not limited to policy, after the Glasshouse immigration raid, classified Senate leaders circulated basic legal rights information for students and staff, a standard and necessary action.


In response, Piechowski:

  • Tried to push for staff terminations

  • Filed targeted PRAs searching for “pro-Democrat” language

  • Doxxed a classified staff member by posting their name and workplace on the social media platform Nextdoor, inviting the public to demand their firing.


And this isn’t the only instance of dangerous behavior.

On September 14, during an inflammatory discussion on Facebook about a community protest at Toppers Pizza, Piechowski responded to a threatening comment by posting “round up the usual suspects.” In a context where activists were already being targeted, this amounted to a call for harassment, and potentially violence, against community members.

This is not normal trustee behavior, this is an elected official weaponizing his position against students, staff, and residents.



Above left- Threatening Facebook responses to a planned peaceful protest, including Piechowski's comment.
Above right- Screenshots of Piechowski's doxxing of an individual on Nextdoor.

The Academic Senates Are Sounding the Alarm

On November 13, the Academic Senates of Moorpark, Ventura, and Oxnard College issued a rare and powerful joint statement formally condemning the actions of Piechowski and Lichtl.


Their report documents:

  • Interference in academic processes

  • Public doxxing

  • Retaliation against employees

  • Harm to LGBTQIA+ students

  • Behavior that violates the core mission of the colleges


When all three campuses unite to condemn trustees, it signals a crisis.


Why This Matters

VCCCD serves more than 31,000 students, including:

  • First-generation students

  • LGBTQIA+ youth

  • Working adults

  • Veterans

  • Immigrant families

  • Students rebuilding their futures


They deserve colleges that are safe, not battlegrounds for extremist politics.

This pattern of conduct is not incidental. It’s strategic, escalating, and harmful.

And the only thing that can stop it is community action.


What You Can Do Right Now

1. Write to the VCCCD Board of Trustees: Tell the PASS Committee to reject the discriminatory Title IX resolution (agenda item 3.1 link) and to stop the pattern of retaliation, censorship, and anti-LGBTQIA+ policy.


Pass Committee meets December 2, please submit written comment by December 1st, 3pm. Email- boardoftrusteesclerk@vcccd.edu

Include: Subject-Written Comment for PASS Subcommittee 12/2/25 Oppose Title IX Resolution agenda item 3.1.


2. Attend the December 16 Board Meeting: Show up in person or join online. Public pressure matters.


3. Write to the Acorn and the VC Star: submit a letter to the editor or ask them to cover the full pattern, not isolated incidents. Community colleges are being politicized, and the public deserves to know.


4. Share this information widely: Most people do not know what is happening. Your voice can help protect students.


Upcoming Meeting

VCCCD Board of Trustees Meeting

📅 Tuesday, December 16, 2025

🕔 5:00 PM Closed Session

🕡 6:30 PM Open Session (public comment)

📍 761 E. Daily Dr., Suite 200, Camarillo

▶️ Livestream on the VCCCD Board YouTube channel

Written comments due by 3:00 PM on December 15.


Reference Links & Important Documents

Board Meetings & Documents

YouTube livestreams:

Meeting documents (pre-June 2025):

Meeting documents (post-June 2025):

Key Meetings & Reports

Joint Academic Senate Condemnation (Nov 13): (link)




 
 
 
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