There was an incident at SUNY Purchase this week. A student, or group thereof, graffitied swastikas and nooses in the residence halls.
During my time at SUNY Purchase, I noticed the acts of vandalism increasing. During the March 2011 blackout, I saw graffiti on the Humanities and PAC Buildings saying "We ran the blacks when the lights went out." It went without comment, partly because those areas of campus was closed for long term construction the next day.
But this is a systematic problem. I cannot in good conscience stand by as the campus that so shaped my diversity experience continues to lose ground to impudent voices of hate.
Therefore, Class of 2014 alumna, Laura Meltzer, and I are teaming up to present initiatives to the campus on behalf of alumni. It's called #safepurchase.
In a nutshell, we will implore the administration to enact more stringent admissions criteria where appropriate, and to create a holistic prevention program based on education.
More details to come. If you have any ideas or thoughts use the hashtag #safepurchase.
Let's do this.
John Fallot, Class of 2013, former Coordinator of Public Affairs for the Purchase Student Government Association.