CUNY Chancellor Faces Scrutiny Over Safety and Discrimination Concerns
Follow-up Hearing Reveals Concerns Over Enforcement of Rules, Lack of Data, and Student Safety
In a tense follow-up hearing, the City Council Higher Education Committee scrutinized CUNY’s efforts to address discrimination and ensure campus safety, following the release of the governor-mandated Lippman Report. The report revealed considerable discriminatory and antisemitic incidents on CUNY campuses, leaving many students feeling unsafe.
Lack of Data and Clarity on Enforcement of Rules
The committee, led by Bronx Council Member Eric Dinowitz, pressed CUNY leadership, including Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, for clarity on how rules are enforced system-wide, data on behavioral incidents, and how CUNY communicates safety report results to students. Dinowitz expressed concerns over the absence of identification at on-campus protests or demonstrations and the lack of policies banning face coverings during actions.
Chancellor’s Response
Rodríguez cited the school’s adhesion to Henderson Rules, the list of rules and regulations governing campus conduct, when policing students, employees, and visitors. He also stated that there are no plans to ban masking on campus or any form of face coverings, even during demonstrations. Rodríguez shared that CUNY has taken action to address the needs listed in the Lippman Report, including the creation of the Center for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging, a centralized effort to combat discrimination on campus.
Council Members’ Concerns
Brooklyn City Council Member Inna Vernikov urged CUNY to commit to abiding by the list of recommendations made in the Lippman Report, including the need for reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of demonstrations, as well as timely responses to student inquiries through a campus complaint portal. Vernikov expressed concerns over the lack of protective measures on campus, citing allegations of verbal harassment and targeted online comments.
Conclusion
As the council continues to challenge CUNY on these critical issues, the overarching concern remains: ensuring that every CUNY student can pursue their education safely and free from discrimination. The committee’s scrutiny of CUNY’s efforts to address discrimination and ensure campus safety highlights the need for increased transparency, accountability, and action.
FAQs
Q: What is the Lippman Report?
A: The Lippman Report is a governor-mandated report that investigated and made recommendations related to antisemitism and discrimination on CUNY campuses.
Q: What are some of the concerns raised by the committee?
A: The committee raised concerns over the lack of data on behavioral incidents, the absence of identification at on-campus protests or demonstrations, and the lack of policies banning face coverings during actions.
Q: What are some of the recommendations made by the Lippman Report?
A: The report made 13 recommendations, including enhancing collaboration with law enforcement and security professionals to create safety protocols, developing a clear definition of antisemitism, creating centralized resources, and creating an independent monitor to handle reports of antisemitism and discrimination.
