UPDATE [2/26/23]: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED THIS PETITION! As we move forward in our organizing, we will strategize next steps, including bringing this petition to SUNY Brockport Administration. THANK YOU for your support in fighting racism and restructuring power at SUNY Brockport! 

SUNY Brockport, particularly under President Heidi Macpherson’s leadership, has a long history of blatant racial discrimination.

President Macpherson, alongside other high-level officials at SUNY Brockport, continuously uphold White Supremacist infrastructures that harm students, faculty and staff. These actions include but are not limited to: the wrongful termination of Black professors and faculty members, repeatedly facing documentation for racial bias and discrimination, and retaliation against faculty and staff members who advocate for racial equity. 

This petition is meant to highlight some of the racist instances at SUNY Brockport under Heidi Macpherson’s leadership and demand accountability and action. These instances include (but are not limited to):

-WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF DR. RAFAEL OUTLAND: Dr. Rafael Outland, the professor who invited Jalil Muntaqim to give an educational talk about the impact of White Supremacist ideology, was wrongfully terminated from the college. He was let go without a formal conversation - instead, was received two emails and was given no concrete reason as to why he was fired. Would an institution that aims to “have an actively engaged campus community that is aware of and appreciates multiculturalism” separate from a professor who spent his entire career championing multicultural awareness and empathy?

-WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF DR. CEPHAS ARCHIE: Former Diversity Officer Dr. Cephas Archie repeatedly confronted President Macpherson and Macpherson’s Cabinet on issues like racial exclusion, racially-biased hiring and promotion practices, socio-economic barriers for BIPOC students at Brockport, and discrimination within SUNY Brockport as a whole, and was dismissed from his position with little to no explanation. More information here.

-THE RESIGNATION OF SANDRA VASQUEZ: Sandra Vasquez, who was hired to promote the recruitment and retention of diverse employees, resigned after Dr. Archie’s removal. She specifically acknowledges that “events that have occurred will make it nearly impossible to recruit and retain underrepresented employees.” More information here.

-RACIAL DESCRIMINATION AGAINST VICTORIA ELSENHEIMER: Victoria Elsenheimer, a Black woman, was intentionally denied promotion and title change, when three White females in comparable positions had been given the promotion and title changes. SUNY Brockport, Macpherson, and other high-ranking officials refused to change Elsenheimer’s title even though she had more experience than her White counterparts. More information here.

-INVITING JOHN FASO TO SPEAK AT GRADUATION: SUNY Brockport invited John Faso, US Republican Congressman and avowed Trump Supporter, to speak at the 2018 undergraduate commencement ceremony. Faso openly expressed his support for Trump administration policies, which included building a wall along the U.S./Mexico border, family separation of undocumented migrants at the border, as well as forced deportation of undocumented U.S. refugees. Many students, faculty, staff, and community members were appalled by the invitation. Faso was originally invited by Macpherson’s Cabinet member Mike Andriatch, and his speaking engagement confirmed by the President Heidi MacPherson. More information (from the college) here and (from a student) here.

-THE RACIAL MAKEUP OF ALL COLLEGE COMPLAINT REPORTING STRUCTURES AT SUNY BROCKPORT IS RESOUNDLY WHITE: This includes University Police, Title IX Officer, Employee Relations, Affirmative Action Officer, and Human Resources. 

Our aim is to transform the decision making process at SUNY Brockport and take the power back from Heidi Machpherson and those upholding white supremacist ideology. 

Some of our demands include (but are not limited to):

-HOLDING HEIDI MACPHERSON, ALONG WITH OTHER HIGH-RANKING COLLEGE OFFICIALS WHO UPHOLD WHITE SUPREMACIST PRACTICES AND POLICIES, ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR RACIST ACTIONS.

-REDISTRIBUTE POWER FOR TERMINATION AND EMPLOYMENT: A diverse committee of students, faculty, and staff members, alumni, etc., should have the final say in any hiring and termination occurring at SUNY Brockport. This committee should reflect the diversity of all SUNY Brockport stakeholders.

-ESTABLISH A PROCESS OF RECOGNIZING BIAS (race, class, gender…etc.) IN EVALUATIONS THAT IMPACT HIRING, TENURE, AND PROMOTION. 

-DR. OUTLAND, DR. ARCHIE, AND OTHER WRONGFULLY TERMINATED FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS RECEIVE A PUBLIC APOLOGY AND ARE GIVEN THE OPTION TO BE REINSTATED AT SUNY BROCKPORT.

Your support in signing this petition is crucial to make change. Please join us in the fight against structural racism at SUNY Brockport.