Dear President Bloom,

We, the NJIT Community, are outraged that Lynn Riker, the Director of Residence Life, was placed into sudden administrative leave. We are requesting for an immediate and complete evaluation of the circumstances and decisions that led to the situation.

Lynn is a well loved and valued member of the NJIT Community. For over 18 years, she has tirelessly dedicated countless hours to expanding ResLife and improving the lifestyles of the students under her care. She has guided and mentored hundreds of students. She has supported and advanced ResLife policies to reflect the needs of the diverse resident population.

Lynn has always been on the forefront in evolving the campus. Thus we fear that she may have been unjustly targeted. Anyone currently associated with ResLife has been forced to remain silent for fear of backlash from the Division of Academic Support and Student Affairs. This lack of details and secrecy of the administrative leave is very suspicious. 

No one should be afraid to express their opinions. No one should be bullied into surrendering their individualism. THAT IS NOT WHAT NJIT REPRESENTS!

We, the students and alumni, want to ensure that Lynn will be treated with the same respect and integrity that any member of the NJIT community deserves. We are asking for a full independent review of the personnel action. We are asking for complete transparency of the situation. So we are appealing to you, President Bloom, to take action to ensure the circumstances surrounding Lynn's administrative leave are ethical.

More details of student concerns along with Lynn's accomplishments can be found in this Vector editorial: A Response to the Administrative Leave of Lynn Riker 

The photograph used in this petition is borrowed from the Vector.