POTSDAM -- A SUNY Potsdam alumnus is circulating an online petition calling on SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher to address what he sees as violations of students’ rights in the campus judicial process.

David Mansor created “Stop SUNY Potsdam’s Abuse of Student Rights” on change.org, which as of 10:30 a.m. Thursday has gathered 585 signatures with a goal of 1,000.

He criticizes the school’s Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for being “unfair to students, many of whom do not fully understand the gravity of the situation they are in or the rights they possess.”

He says accused students are entitled to a better understanding of their rights and are often either scared into or not allowed to build a proper defense of their case.

“Young students, many living on their own for the first time, are extremely vulnerable to manipulation, and pressure tactics from within the Office of Student Conduct,” Mansor says on the petition. “Students are susceptible to these tactics, because they are frequently misinformed of their rights, and the process.”

He includes 11 points he feels need changing, including better documentation of witness testimony and the right for the accused to cross-examine witnesses.

The petition is online here.