SUNY Potsdam president denies student demands to fire personnel, grants some others, after online release of list POTSDAM — After releasing their list of demands online earlier this week, the students of Potsdam’s Oppressed Working Every Resource got only partial support from SUNY leaders following a private meeting Friday. SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg, said Friday afternoon that the college will not respond publicly to the first two demands on POWER’s list, namely to remove its dean of students and director of student conduct and community standards. “Any actions that are related to individuals, I don’t think it’s appropriate to respond to them in a public forum,” she said. “I think that’s been my stance all along.” But Ms. Esterberg did say that the college is responding to POWER, pointing to a message she sent to the SUNY Potsdam community earlier that day. In the message, which reiterated the college’s current efforts to make its campus more inclusive, Ms. Esterberg partially addressed the group’s eight-item list. She said SUNY Potsdam will respond to POWER’s call to create a plan to increase retention rates of marginalized students, sustain diversity curriculum and training and promote a safer and more inclusive campus, stating that the college will develop a strategic diversity plan “aimed at eradicating disparities in student success rates and ensuring a safe and inclusive campus climate that supports the success of all students.” While students asked that this be done by May 1, Ms. Esterberg did not set a deadline. In response to POWER’s demand to increase the number of faculty and staff members of color, the president’s message indicated that SUNY Potsdam will “develop a program to identify talented students, provide them with opportunities for academic and professional development and mentoring, aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented students who apply to graduate school.” Though POWER asked for a 10 percent increase in the number of faculty and staff members of color by 2017-18, Ms. Esterberg did not commit to a percentage or deadline. Concerning the group’s demand to amend the college’s judicial system to advocate for fair practice and procedure, Ms. Esterberg referenced the college’s current review of its student conduct policy and process, which she said will now be conducted by “external” and “internal” reviewers, with assistance from SUNY’s legal team and chief diversity office. She reported that internal reviewers are holding forums this week, while external reviewers are scheduled to start their work in January. She said students going through the conduct process before the review is complete will have access to an independent advocate appointed by the college. Ms. Esterberg’s message also said the college will develop “campus procedures for dealing effectively with racial bias,” which may address POWER’s demand to create a protocol exclusively for handling hate crimes. “I really do believe that we’re turning a corner here,” said Ms. Esterberg, who argued that her main priority is to get students successfully through the semester. “In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, we have a lot of things to put in place to make sure the campus is the diverse and inclusive place that we want it to be.” Ms. Esterberg’s message did not specifically address POWER’s demands for more funding for mental health professionals and programming, more transparency about hiring decisions, guaranteed job security for faculty and staff who support POWER’s demands, or that the college’s dean of students be chosen by a collective of students, faculty and staff. POWER leaders Aryol T. Prater, Adonis Richards and Erika Gabrielle Plaza, who attended the meeting, were not available to speak Friday due to other academic commitments, according to fellow POWER leader Kevin O. Agyakwa. Also attending Friday’s meeting were SUNY Potsdam School of Arts and Sciences Dean Steven J. Marqusee and SUNY Chief Diversity Officer Carlos Medina, according to college spokeswoman Alexandra J. Wilke.