(An Iowa Capital  Dispatch report) – A former psychology instructor is suing Western Iowa Tech Community College for alleged discrimination in its handling of her complaint that she was being stalked by a student. Mariana Pacheco, who describes herself in court papers as a young, Hispanic academic from Costa Rica, is suing WITCC in Woodbury County District Court.

The lawsuit alleges that in 2022, when Pacheco was teaching a beginning-level course in psychology at the Sioux City college, a student, identified in court filings by the initials M.U., exhibited “odd behavior” toward her, would wait for her after class, and would block her from leaving the classroom. At one point, the lawsuit alleges, M.U. told Pacheco he had been “kicked out” of the military and not allowed to become a police officer due to several psychiatric conditions.

Throughout the fall 2022 semester, Pacheco alleges, she noticed M.U. following her around campus. She then notified her direct supervisor and the school’s dean of opportunity of engagement, but no action was taken, according to the lawsuit. In the spring of 2023, when Pacheco taught developmental psychology, M.U. allegedly enrolled in the course.  In one class exercise, students were instructed to use ink pens as a device, but M.U. allegedly substituted AR-15 bullets for the pens.

Pacheco reported her concerns to WITCC officials who dismissed those and other serious concerns she had, according to the lawsuit. Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for negligence; third-party sexual harassment; discrimination based on race, skin color or national origin; retaliatory discharge, and violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

WITCC has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the school indicated it does not comment on pending litigation.