To the Editor:

To Nancy Zimpher, the board of trustees, and whom else it may concern, § 500.2 of SUNY Standards claims that the students have a right to due process and the right to a hearing from an impartial body; in reality this is not being implemented to provide equality and fair for students at SUNY Potsdam. Having spent four years at Potsdam, and now as an alumni I have witnessed these standards continuous fail to be met. Section 500.2 also refers to the authority invested in the chancellor of SUNY to review the regulations established at each school. This is a request for a full review of SUNY Potsdam’s judicial process.

I have serious concerns about SUNY Potsdam quasi-judicial review process lead by the Chip Morris, dean of students, and Annette Robins, director of student conduct and community standards. I suggest that the investigations of on/off campus incidents involving students be left up to police officers. They are trained to do investigations in an efficient systematic fashion, and are held to a more stringent system of checks then the current school officials. All of the acts of misconduct at SUNY Potsdam are also crimes. If there is not enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, then there should not be enough evidence to suspend or expel an individual. Overall converting to a system like this could save the school money, and provide a fair system to oversee student affairs. Over the last few years we have had several temporary college presidents, and none of addressed the issues with our student judicial review process. Unfortunately I have seen time and time again some of Potsdam's brightest students either suspended or expelled, because of the less then fair judicial process. These cases are just typical examples of the ongoing situation at Potsdam. Many of which rely on solely circumstantial evidence, or none at all. Incidents like these create a culture of fear at the school, lower graduation rates, and lead to unfair outcomes for students.

It is well known that the school, among other schools, has over stepped its boundaries when examining incidents of domestic violence, and various degrees of sexual misconduct. These typically are “he said / she said” situations with little physical or testimonial evidence. Unfortunately the school has taken the policy to suspend or expel any student accused, with or without legal charges being filed. The school has no place in these proceedings, and should not get involved unless charges are filed, and the student is convicted.

I have another friend, a freshmen, that was jumped twice by the same five identifiable guys, and he is too afraid of getting kicked out based on the same zero tolerance policy for fighting back to defend himself. This culture of fear steams from the simple realities of the situation. I understand his fear especially when the consequences for coming forward could be the thousands of dollars, and the countless hours spent on his education. Now he is fearful that these delinquents will continue to harass him in the upcoming school year. In other cases there is no disagreement or conflict between students, and the school still ends up suspending students for an accident or rough housing. Two friends of mine were wrestling, and one got his nose broke. Unfortunately the school insisted on getting involved, suspended one of the individuals, despite the student with the broken nose coming to his best friend’s defense. Friend B came in to defend Friend A saying over and over again “it was only an accident. “Zero criminal charges were filed. Yet despite that Friend A was suspended based on the same zero tolerance fighting policy by Annette Robins. Friend A will not be returning to any school in the SUNY system.

In addition to these accounts there are a countless number of students that have been suspended, and/or expelled in similar situations. How can we rely on circumstantial evidence that could never hold up in a court of law? I ask you, Nancy Zimpher, the Chancellor of the State University of New York, and your board of trustees. Why do we subject our young women and men, to a system that is significantly less than fair? Would you want your children, and grandchildren subjected to the same system?

The school is unable to correct this problem on its own, and has demonstrated their inability to look after what is best for the current students. I have only highlighted the larger problem, and something needs to change. I am sure similar problems exist at other SUNY campuses as well. I hope this message is taken seriously by each, and every one of you.

David Mansor

SUNY Potsdam class of 2015