This petition calls for the reinstatement of Carolina Rodriguez as Spanish Language Lecturer and the honoring of an agreement between Carolina Rodriguez and Manhattanville College, signed by President Berman in 2000.

Carolina is the widow of beloved professor Kennieth Pittman who was an exemplary social justice advocate and world cultures expert. It has been their mission together to educate and inspire students at Manhattanville College, one that she has done for the past 37 years, and done alone for the past 23 years since his untimely death. 

In addition to the threatened discharge of Carolina's livelihood, Manhattanville College is also forcing her to move out of the only home she has known for over 25 years. In 2000, then-current President of Manhattanville College, Richard Berman, issued a formal and binding promise on behalf of the College with regards to campus housing for Carolina. In part, President Berman stated that Manhattanville College " has offered you the opportunity to stay in your current housing...rent free for as long as you...desire to make this your permanent residence." President Berman was the long-time Chief Executive Officer of Manhattanville College and had the authority and power to bind the College. Therefore, Manhatanville College, with their current threat to force Carolina out of her home, is breaching their binding contractual promise to her. 

Carolina is currently the only Spanish lecturer on the faculty roster and has continued to give students support beyond the classroom to create an inclusive environment for both native and non-native Spanish-speaking members of the college community. For those fortunate enough to have worked with either Ken, Carolina, or both, it has always been clear that they deeply loved this community and have dedicated their lives to educating students in the Spanish language as well as Hispanic culture. This directly correlates with the college's claim to be a Hispanic Serving Institution whose mission is to prepare leaders for the global community. 

Unfortunately, all attempts to resolve this matter privately and through administrative channels have not been successful. We ask that you support us in our petition to reinstate Professor Carolina Rodriguez. So she may continue to strengthen Manhattanville's diversity and inclusivity, as she has been doing from the very beginning.