http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/upimage/VF_I18G_037.pdf

Media

Part of Letter to the editor: President Satish Tripathi's open letter to The Spectrum, September 25, 2015

Text

Letter to the editor: President Satish
Tripathi's open letter to The Spectrum

September 24, 2015

SPECTRUM
Dear Students,
Starting last week, our campus
community has been deeply affect­
ed by the controversial student art
project -that has sparked consider­
able response and dialogue acro'ss
our university.
From my personal conversa­
tions with many of you, I know
that our students continue to
feel deeply hurt, saddened, confused, and angered by the events
of the past week. While I contin­
ue to have. daily conversations with
our students, faculty, and universi­
ty leadership about this issue and
its campus impact, I've asked the
Spectrum to print this ,open letter
so that I can have the opportunity
to share my thoughts with the stu­
dent body at large:
I feel strongly that _continuing
to discuss this issue is critical for
our entire university community.
As an academic community, we are
always seeking to understand the
boundaries around academic free­
dom and freedom of expression.
Exploring difficult, even pain­
ful topics from diverse. points of
view is part of what we do as an
academic community. At the same
time, it is absolutely critical that we
do so in a safe, inclusive, and wel-

coming environment in which all grounds and points of view.
our members feel respected, val­
Last night's forum, hosted by
ued, and heard.
the Black Student Union, contin­
This student art project has ued that effort in a very positive
propelled us into what is evolv­ • way by providing a platform for
ing into a productive campus dia­ many voices to be heard and perlogue about how to balance free­ - spectives to be exchanged.
dom of expression with the need
Regrettably, I was not able to at­
to foster the welcoming and inclu- tend the forum, as I was en route
sive educational environment that to Albany for the Chancellor's fall
is necessary _to learning. This is an meeting of the SUNY presidents.
important conversation, and by no However, I have had extensive dis­
means an easy one.
cussions about the forum and its
Throughout this ongoing dia­ outcomes with members of the
logue, I have been deeply impressed university administration who
by the leadership role that many of were in attendance. They have
our student groups are taking in shared with me the many concerns
moving this campus conversation our students and faculty raised at
the forum . .
forward in a constructive way.
.This Monday, as part of this on­
The questions we are grappling
going dialogue, I met with a group with are big ones-from the scope
of student leaders and other con- of First Amendment rights and
cerned students, including Stu- the nature of protected speech to
dent Association President Mina- questions about campus safety, inhil Khan and Vice President 'Sean equity, and what it means to fos­
Kaczmarek, Black Student Union ter a truly diverse and inclusive ac­
President Micah Oliver and Vice ademic community.
President Deidree Golbourne, AfThese questions won't be anrican Student Association President ' swered overnight. It will take time,
Charles D'Onigbinde, Caribbean ·effort, and careful consideration,
Student Association Vice President on each of our parts to address
Shawn Gibson, PODER: 'Latinos them. But doing so is of critical
Unidos President Azalea Rosario, importance for all of us, and will
and People of Color Council Coor- have lasting value.
dinator Jessica 'Calderon.
Toward this end, let me briefly
This meeting was a valuable op- outline a few of the steps our uni­
portunity for me to hear further versity administration is taking to
from our student leadership about address these larger issues.
our students' strong concerns over
As . announced at last night's
how this project has impacted the forum, ' Dean of Students Barb
campus climate. It also advanced a • Ricotta will be convening a stu­
very positive dialogue about how, dents of color advisory commit­
going forward, we can work to- tee to the University Police De­
gether to foster the open exchange partment that will meet monthly
of ideas while ensuring that this to sustain a dialogue with campus
discourse takes place in a campus officers and students about ensur­
culture characterized by mutual re- ing a safe and welcoming campus
spect, understanding, and a genu- environment for all students.
Similarly, I have asked Provost
ine appreciation for diverse back-

Zukoski to work with our facul­
ty across the disciplines to engage
in an ongoing conversation about
negotiating the boundaries around
academic freedom and freedom of
expression.
We continue to explore the pol­
icy implications of this event, in­
cluding the enforcement of our
Environment, Health & Safety pol­
icy which states that "experimen­
tal apparatus, demonstration or art
projects ... " placed in common ar­
eas must be reviewed in advance
for safety and security purposes.
As we continue this dialogue
across our campus community, our
Vice Provost for Equity and Inclu­
sion Teri Miller, in her role as UB's
chief diversity officer, will contin­
ue to provide guidance for our on­
going university-wide efforts to en­
sure that our UB practices and pro­
grams are characterized by the fair,
indusive, and equitable treatment
of our diverse campus population.
I am also reaching out to the
student leadership groups I met
with earlier this week to continue
our dialogue in the months ahead,
with the hope of meeting with this
group on a regular basis so we can
continue to assess our origoing ef­
forts to foster a welcoming and in­
clusive campus culture.
I urge us all, as a campus com­
munity, to continue this dialogue
over the coming days, weeks, and
months. And
as president, I am
committed to ensuring our uni­
versity community remains a -safe,
welcoming, inclusive, intellectually
op,en space in which . to have this
dialogue.
Sincerely,
Satish K. Tripathi
President