Topics discussed at the October 9th Town Hall included the closure of the Women’s Center, ICE’s presence on campus, reiterated concerns regarding what students deem a lack of support for Palestine, and student safety on campus.
President Mason began the meeting with a declaration stating that, “John Jay is trying to create a different atmosphere at Town Hall.”
Mason continued, “While we may disagree with and challenge each other, we do it with respect. We are all part of the same community.”
The first and most heavily raised concern was the closure of the Women’s Center lounge.
Elizabeth Ninaquispe, a senior and political science major, was the first to ask a question.
“Is there a possibility of bringing back the Women’s Center? After recent allegations, I don’t think it is fair to get rid of it,” Ninaquispe asked.
Daniel Matos, interim Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, responded.
“Though the physical space is gone, services will continue to be offered,” Matos explained. “The reality is the Women’s Center isn’t meeting community needs.”
Mary Jones, a senior and political science major, raised similar concerns.
“That lack of communication regarding the closure of the Women’s Center was a demonstration of unprofessionalism,” Jones said. “Deciding to cut funding raises questions about John Jay’s commitment to underserved communities.”
Matos was, again, prompted to reply.
“The Women’s Center has been on a decline for years now with providing student services,” Matos explained. “It is a far cry from the center’s mission.”
Jones countered Matos’s explanation.
“The closure wasn’t told to the student body, so you didn’t give women time to come up with a plan,” Jones said. “We didn’t have a chance to show you guys we could meet the standard.”
Without the Women’s Center lounge, which provided a safe space for female-identifying students to convene, relax, and peer counsel, these students could lose their feelings of safety at John Jay.
Matos took responsibility for not having sent any communication earlier and the floor was given to Professor Rosemary Barbaret, participating on Zoom.
“Some of us listening in are in complete shock about the Women’s Center,” Barbaret commented.
The topic of the Women’s Center was dropped after a John Jay Alumna offered her insight into the way VP Matos handled the closure. “With all due respect, you dropped the ball,” she said.
The conversation then briefly moved to the topic of a student prompting a question about divesting funds in Israel.
“What do I have to do, how many more of my people have to die, for you to divest?” the student questioned.
Mason responded, “It is not a decision I am prepared to make at this time.”
That same student also brought to the discussion the presence of ICE on campus a few days prior to Town Hall for a career fair.
“Where was the care for our safety when you invited ICE to campus without warning students?” she asked.
“We have all talked and realized we made a mistake, and we will fix that. We deeply apologize,” Mason responded.
Mason continued to explain that banning ICE from the John Jay campus wouldn’t be right, as many students that attend John Jay look to them for potential employment.
It is about, “balancing the needs of different parts of our community,” she concluded.
An online participant raised another question in the Zoom chat, asking after the sexual assault of a John Jay student in the women’s bathroom, “What is the college doing to address safety? I myself don’t want to be unsafe for the sake of inclusivity.”
A representative from public safety responded.
“All bathrooms are equipped with emergency alert systems and public safety patrols the halls constantly,” he said. “If you hear or see something suspicious, come to public safety and we will do our best to help.”
When it comes to an apparent lack of concern for John Jay students and their desires, a student speaker offered her insight. “We are sick of it,” the student said.
After a lively set of questions, President Mason ended the Town Hall by offering an unofficial mission statement.
“You’ve seen you can challenge us respectfully. This is the Town Hall we all want,” Mason said.
