DACC investigating president following complaint by Danville mayor

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — The Board of Trustees at Danville Area Community College is conducting an investigation into its president following a complaint filed by the Mayor of Danville regarding a recent series of conversations the two of them had.

Mayor Rickey Williams took to social media on Thursday to share images of the texting exchange between him and Dr. Stephen Nacco, as well as an open letter he sent to the Board regarding these exchanges. In his letter, Williams called Nacco’s behavior “aggressively disrespectful, dishonest, and threatening” and asked that the Board take action to prevent it from happening again.

The dispute between Williams and Nacco started when Williams said in his open letter that he received an email from Nacco on Aug. 2, which Williams provided in his social media post. In that email, Nacco said the Immigration Project, a Chicago-based program, is seeking Illinois grant money to recruit undocumented people as workers in downstate Illinois. Nacco added that he believed Danville and DACC to be a good fit for “20 or so people” and that he would be signing a letter of support for the grant.

He asked Williams if the City of Danville would like to send a similar letter of support. Williams declined, calling the idea “a terrible idea for a host of reasons.” He offered to call Nacco to explain.

Williams said in his letter that during that call, he reiterated his disapproval of the idea and asked if the Board of Trustees was aware and supportive of his efforts.

“He rather emphatically stated, “I don’t have to ask them, I RUN THE COLLEGE, I’M IN CHARGE!” Williams alleged.

Williams further alleged that their dispute continued days later at a Vermilion Advantage Executive Committee meeting, which both of them attended. He said that while discussing the Immigration Project and explaining why the City of Danville could not support it, without mentioning Nacco by name, Nacco interrupted him by calling him a liar and a “political hack.”

Williams alleged that the two of them came face-to-face, just inches apart, and that Nacco called him “boy” during that exchange. Williams explained in his letter to the Board of Trustees that “boy” has been historically used as a racial slur.

Williams alleged that Nacco denied his use of the word when immediately confronted but admitted and apologized for it in a text message to Williams, a text Williams provided in his social media post.

“Despite asking him not to contact me via text, he then texted me again on Friday, August 9th asking if we could meet so he could offer me a proper apology,” Williams said in his letter. “Respectfully, after the continuous deluge of disrespect, dishonesty, and nearly violent behavior, I do not feel comfortable or safe around him. As such, I have also taken action to protect myself to the fullest extent of the law.”

Williams also added in his social media post that because of his refusal to write a letter of support for the Immigration Project, they rescinded their application for grant money.

The DACC Board of Trustees confirmed to WCIA that following their receipt of Williams’ letter, they are conducting a review into his allegations.

“Once the investigation is completed, the Board will take appropriate action,” the Board said in a statement. “Dr. Nacco trusts the process and the board implicitly to resolve the issue.”

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