By: Andrew Salomon
Editors note: Andrew Salomon, Professor and Faculty Presiding Officer, sent the following statement to "The Purchase Phoenix" as per request.
The chalked statement that was found and removed on Wednesday morning was violent, anti-Semitic, and antithetical to a healthy living and learning community. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms, as I would any form of hate speech.
I spoke with a reporter at LoHud and gave her my thoughts. You can find the story here. It's important to understand that the placement of my statement in the article comes after the mention of an earlier chalking incident, which read "Free Palestine." My statement only refers to Wednesday's incident. I do not consider the expression "Free Palestine" to be anti-Semitic. It is clearly a political statement.
Nevertheless, I strongly object to any act of graffiti and vandalism. It is clearly and consistently communicated to everyone, especially students, that graffiti isn't protected speech at Purchase; it is never tolerated; and that offenders will be punished. I strongly endorse these policies. Graffiti and other acts of vandalism convince no one, and the people who have to deal with their removal and/or repair--maintenance personnel--have no impact on any policy regarding this college's financial relationships, and they played no part whatsoever in the administration's actions last May. With an understaffed facilities department, any time cleaning up graffiti is less time spent on routine maintenance, which negatively affects the entire campus.
I will address all of these issues in my class today (Friday, Aug. 30) with students. I will ask for their questions/comments, I will listen actively, and I will express my personal opinions (the statement was clearly violent and anti-Semitic; all forms of graffiti are wrong). I ask all faculty to condemn this hateful act, and to engage in dialogue with students that could enable the Purchase community to find common ground, even as we will continue debate the most urgent issues of the day—a vital act at any institution of higher learning.
It is important for me also to acknowledge the following, which I failed to say to the LoHud reporter: About 70 members of our community experienced actual violence last May—not violent speech. Further, this administration has failed to acknowledge physical, mental, and emotional harm done to students, faculty, and staff; it views these acts as justifiable; and it has so far refused to commit to taking responsibility for this harm, and to humbly and rigorously address its lasting effects so that we can have substantive healing on campus. I did, however, mention this to the Cabinet Wednesday in a regularly scheduled joint meeting with the executive committees of the Senate and F@L. I hope that Cabinet members hear us. Addressing, acknowledging, and repairing this harm remain the top concern for substantial majorities of faculty, staff, and students.
It should be obvious that acts of physical, mental, and emotional violence are worse than violent, hateful speech; but actual violence does not justify more hateful speech, which also leads to mental and emotional harm for the Purchase community. This mental and emotional harm leads to more fear, alienation, and disengagement for all.
Too much silence and too little engagement exacerbated our problems last year. I ask faculty, staff, and students to join me in speaking out against this hate-filled incident, in speaking out against graffiti and all acts of vandalism, and to work toward healing and common ground. I told President Peña that I will work with administration in condemning these hateful acts, concurrent with faculty, staff, and student demands for necessary changes for a better Purchase.
Sincerely,
Andrew Salomon, Faculty Presiding Officer
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