By Bianca Dinkha
After beloved Cyber Café employee Tiana Pagan was suspended, students quickly came to her defense; now she’s back and ready to tell her side of the story.
According to Pagan, her and three other Cyber employees were told to wait outside after a fire alarm went off last month.
They retreated to the bathroom after waiting out in the cold. Pagan says that she was not allowed to get her coat after security told them to come out of the bathroom.
This led to a two and half day suspension.
Pagan says that out of the four employees who went to the bathroom, she was the only one who received disciplinary action. Her ID and name tag were confiscated, and she was escorted out of the building without reason.
“I just sat there, and I never thought that they would escort me out. I just thought that this was just like a little warning.” she said.
Connie Chambers, general manager of Guest Food Management Services, declined to comment, citing it as a private HR matter.
Although Pagan was only gone for a few days, her absence had a major impact on students who connected with her personally. She was flooded with support from students and coworkers while she was away.
Some students took it upon themselves to boycott Cyber, like sophomore Fatima Cabrera, who “Didn’t get coffee or food from Cyber that whole week.”
“It’s not Dominican without Tiana,” she said. “She’s always there to listen to you when you’re having a bad day. She’s like my school mom; she’s my family here.”
Two and a half days later she received a call to come back.
“Students were very happy,” Pagan said. “They hugged me and said, ‘Oh my God, Tiana, we didn’t know what was going to happen, but we do know that we’re going to do anything for you.’”
Student Alondra Correa voiced her support for Pagan, sharing that her sense of community is what makes her stand out.
“I feel like the first day that I walked into Cyber that was the day that we connected,” Correa said. “Like it was that quick; she connects with people so instantly. And every time she’s there, you just have to put a smile on your face.”
The Star previously covered Pagan’s impact on the DU community, highlighting her positivity, support, and connections she makes with students.
When asked what’s the best part about working at Dominican, Pagan said, “The students. That’s what I’m here for. That’s what makes me happy and keep going.”
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