POTSDAM -- In the wake of a student protest group demanding the resignation of two administrators along with other diversity-related actions, there will be changes at SUNY Potsdam’s Division of Student Affairs in the spring semester.

“Dean of Students Chip Morris has requested to take a leave of absence in the Spring 2016 semester. Following his leave, he will continue in a new role reporting to me, utilizing his skills in risk management, an area that the College needs to focus on, in light of the many new mandates from SUNY,” said SUNY Potsdam Executive Vice President Rick Miller.

In December, a student protest group calling themselves POWER (Potsdam’s Oppressed Working Every Resource), blocked downtown traffic as part of a demonstration. Days later, they called for resignations from Dean of Students Chip Morris and Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards Annette Robbins.

Miller said other changes effective in the spring include:

• University Police will now report directly to Miller.

• The Center for Diversity will report to Miller on a temporary basis, until a chief diversity officer is appointed. The Chief Diversity Office will then assume the supervisory responsibility of the CFD.

• After “a careful analysis of organizational structure,” the school president has moved the Student Success Center and the Educational Opportunity Program to the provost’s responsibility.

• Eric Duchscherer and Ruth Policella have agreed to divide the remaining dean of students responsibilities in the interim, reporting directly to Miller.

• Director of Campus Life Policella will oversee the offices of Campus Life, Campus Ministries and Career Planning.

The POWER group formed in reaction to what they considered an inadequate response to racial tension on campus following racist death threats against John Youngblood, a black professor. The school described the threats as racist and homophobic in nature. This was the second time in less than a year Youngblood was targeted by such threats. A former SUNY Potsdam student was charged with leaving the initial threats. No arrests have been made for the second instance.

Read more about the protest and the group’s demands here.