State police, Gov. Hochul meet with college administrators to prepare for possible campus protests this fall – The Legislative Gazette

After widespread protests on college campuses last spring, Gov. Kathy Hochul and state police met with campus leaders from more than 200 colleges and universities in late August to discuss college security and new emergency procedures.

Among those present at the meeting were public safety experts who stressed the importance of having an emergency plan. State police and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services were among those who met with university officials on Aug. 26.

In anticipation of potential problems and protests during the fall 2024 semester, the State Police Superintendent has asked troop commanders across New York State to visit college administrations on “concerning campuses” before the start of the fall semester.

Troop commanders were tasked with discussing each college’s position on campus protests, their intended course of action in the event of protests, and obtaining an overview of the college’s expectations for police assistance.

“The safety of all New Yorkers remains our top priority and we have zero tolerance for individuals who commit hate crimes, acts of violence and harassment in our communities,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven James. “No student should feel vulnerable in their place of education.”

According to the governor’s office, the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services conducted reviews of emergency plans on individual college campuses and held training sessions with universities last summer.

“Public safety is my top priority, and as classes resume, it is critical that all students feel safe and secure,” Governor Hochul said as she met with college administrators in late August. “Last spring, I directed college campuses to review and update their emergency response plans, and as tensions may be high as we resume classes, I will continue to ensure that all campus leaders and public safety officials have the resources they need to keep students safe.”

The colleges participating in these recent meetings and training sessions are from the SUNY and CUNY systems as well as private colleges affiliated with the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities and the Association of Private Colleges.

According to City and StateProtests took place on nearly a dozen New York college campuses last spring, including New York University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Syracuse University, SUNY Purchase, SUNY Stony Brook, The New School, the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY New Paltz.

At SUNY New Paltz, state police arrested 133 people on May 2, mostly students, creating a persistent rift between campus leaders and parts of the student body and faculty.

Governor Hochul wrote a letter this past spring semester to all New York colleges and universities, reiterating the obligation of these places of learning to provide students with an education in a safe environment consistent with New York State human rights laws and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.

“At SUNY, safety is paramount and we have always been and remain fiercely committed to ensuring safety, civil dialogue and inclusion on our campuses,” said SUNY Chancellor John King. “We stand with Governor Hochul in his rejection of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, hatred and bigotry in all its forms.”

The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services advises campuses to utilize both the updated emergency response plans and emergency action plans. All of this has been taken into consideration before the start of the fall 2024 semester to be better prepared after the events of late spring.