To whom it may concern,

    The recent events in the Hunter dance department deeply sadden and disturb the students of Hunter College Dance. We are writing to demand the removal of Professor Laura (Lori) Brungard from the faculty at Hunter College and have her replaced with one of the many other knowledgeable staff. We intend to do everything in our power to make this happen. The below signatures prove how strongly the students feel about this.

    Laura (Lori) Brungard is currently teaching Global Dance History (DAN 23200) at Hunter College. This course is a required course for all dance majors and it also satisfies “Pluralism and Diversity Group D: European Societies," meaning many non-majors enroll in this course as well. Lori Brungard has taught manly deeply racist lessons rooted in the ideas of white supremacy. She does not understand why her actions were wrong and she has not apologized.

     Her class, which is supposed to encompass the entirety of dance throughout the world, has focused on ballet in Italy, France, and Russia for seven weeks. There has been one lesson on “the East” –focused mainly on Indian dance– and one lesson on African dance. The lesson on "the East" was haphazardly taught because of a workshop brought by the department and was only taught for about thirty minutes of class. This one lesson on “African” dance was problematic, offensive, and degrading. She referred to African people as “those”, referred to Africans who were kidnapped and enslaved as “imports”, and referred to the Transatlantic Slave Trade as “convenient”. In a joking manner, Laura Brungard asked, “why would you want to abolish slavery?” Her lesson on African dance was centered on the slave trade and barely touched on the actual continent of Africa. She belittled the atrocities of slavery in the Americas as a “cultural exchange”. Her Prezi slides showed white people demonstrating various African American dance forms, the first documentation of slavery, and rudimentary definitions of complex racial issues. Several current students brought this issue to MFA students who informed them that this is not a new issue in her class. Lori Brungard taught Graduate Global Dance History (DAN 74200) this past summer and has since been removed from teaching that class due to similar issues; however, she was still allowed to teach the BA Global Dance History class. On top of all of these concerns, she has committed multiple acts of micro-aggression against students of color. We feel that our education has been jeopardized due to her actions and we are deeply saddened and frustrated. Laura Brungard is causing harm to the students of Hunter College. While we are aware of the complications of removing her, below are policies and values that Lori Brungard has violated which should take precedence over her employment contract. 

    CUNY's Policy on Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination states that “Diversity, inclusion, and an environment free from discrimination are central to the mission of the University.” Discrimination is a prohibited behavior and is defined as “treating an individual differently or less favorably because of his or her protected characteristics—such as race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, or any of the other bases prohibited by this Policy.” Laura Brungard is in violation of this rule. 

    President Jeniffer J. Raab herself stated, “We have committed to an examination of Hunter's policies and practices to ensure they reflect our values of diversity, inclusion, and racial equity. As we navigate this reflection and reform, we are guided by Hunter's motto, Mihi Cura Futuri—the Care of the Future Is Mine.” The actions of Lori Brungard conflict with this statement to the highest degree and her values clearly do not align with Hunter’s mission of inclusivity.  

There is no amount of anti-racism training that will undo the harm caused or that will make Laura (Lori) Brungard see her mistakes. We demand that action be taken and that Lori Brungard be fired from her faculty position at Hunter College.