Walton

FACTS

Walton enrolled at the District as a postsecondary nursing student in 2017. As part of her coursework, she was required to complete clinical rotations at two local hospitals, where District faculty supervised her work with patients. Walton’s supervisor during her spring 2018 clinical rotations was Diego Garcia, the District’s nursing program director. According to Walton, Garcia subjected her to extensive verbal and physical sexual harassment during those rotations and tried to force her into a sexual relationship in exchange for better grades. When Walton rebuffed his advances, he allegedly retaliated against her by giving her a non-passing grade and by refusing to meet with her to discuss it. In June 2018, Walton sent a letter to the District detailing Garcia’s harassment and discrimination. The District put Garcia on

2 administrative leave and commissioned a third party firm to investigate Walton’s complaint. Meanwhile, Walton sent the District a letter requesting a grade change, asserting Garcia had not taken her grading concerns seriously. The District denied her request in August 2018, finding no discrepancy. The following month, Walton withdrew from the program. She…