On February 11, John Jay College kicked off the spring semester with an energized Town Hall that addressed concerns over the removal of professor Evan Mandery from teaching in the Honors Program while also providing additional community updates.
The monthly forum was hosted by John Jay President Karol V. Mason, Faculty Senate President Karen Kaplowitz, and Student Council President Yarik Munoz. It drew a lively in-person crowd of about 40 students, faculty, and staff, with an additional 200 attendees who joined via Zoom.
One of the most contentious moments of the meeting was when Amir Rasulov, a junior in the Honors Program and a political science major, publicly challenged the administration over Mandery’s removal from the program.
Mandery, an accomplished faculty member, had taught and mentored Honors students at the college for nearly 25 years.
Rasulov pressed the administration for clarity about Mandery’s removal, demanding answers on who made the decision, why it was made, and what steps could be taken to reverse it.
He noted that the administration had received over two dozen emails from concerned students and presented Mason with 80 pages of testimonials detailing Mandery’s influence on students’ academic and professional success.
In response, Mason stated that she couldn’t comment on personnel matters but accepted the testimonials from Rasulov.
In a follow-up interview, Rasulov expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, emphasizing Mandery’s lasting impact.
“Students like myself were looking forward to completing our Honors capstone project with Professor Mandery, but he is more than just a solid recommendation letter,” he said.
Rasulov highlighted Mandery’s dedication to his students, explaining how Mandery spent countless hours helping them become better writers, thinkers, and individuals. He also noted that Mandery’s mentorship played a key role in refining his own writing skills, leading to his successful CUNY Belle Zeller scholarship application.
Rasulov believes Mandery’s removal fundamentally weakens the Honors Program.
“The Honors Program prides itself on being the best education you can get at John Jay,” he said. “It is the opinion of dozens of students that without Professor Mandery, the Honors Program does not fulfill its duty to challenge a student beyond the ordinary rigor of an ordinary class,” Rasulov added.
In response to a request for comment, Mandery sent an email addressing the matter.
“Advocating for CUNY students has been the focus of my research and public advocacy. Over the past quarter century, I’ve mentored hundreds of smart, motivated John Jay students who have gone on to law school, graduate school, and research careers. Other than my family, this work has been the great love of my life, and I sincerely hope to continue it,” he said.
While the conversation around Mandery’s removal was a key point of discussion, other important issues were also raised at the Town Hall. One such issue was the ongoing effort to reinstate the Women’s Center for Gender Justice, following its abrupt closure in the fall.
Mary Jones, a senior political science major, provided an update on this initiative, crediting student and faculty advocacy for the progress made, and emphasized the importance of preserving the center’s independence rather than integrating it into another department.
“We have tons of programming planned for this semester, and we hope the center will reopen soon,” Jones said. “Since we’re already in the third week, we know how fast the semester can go, and as seniors, we’d also like to enjoy it for our last semester.”
Jones encouraged faculty and staff to join the initiative, reinforcing that the center remains a critical resource for the campus community.
Alongside the discussion about the Women’s Center, recent Title IX updates and their implications were also addressed.
Rubina Shafi, general manager of the Gerald Lynch Theater, sought clarification on responsible employee reporting for gender-based violence, following an email sent to the John Jay community on February 4th.
The email outlined changes to Title IX, highlighting a return to CUNY’s 2020 Sexual Misconduct Policy and a more limited definition of “responsible employees,” individuals who are obligated to report incidents of gender-based violence to the Title IX officer.
The email also emphasized that both students and employees could still access confidential support for sexual misconduct issues. Shafi sought clarity on how these changes would impact reporting moving forward.
President Mason discussed the litigation surrounding the new rules, stating that the shift back to pre-Biden administration policies was required under the current Trump administration.
She emphasized the importance of reporting gender-based violence, regardless of whether one is a mandated reporter, and expressed her desire for a safe, comfortable community. With no Title IX officer currently in place, Mason advised going to the college’s counsel with any information regarding such matters.
Dean of Students, Dominic Stellini was met by applause when he confirmed that the college’s 2025 commencement ceremony will be held at Barclays Center on Wednesday, May 28, with more details to follow.
President Mason thanked the John Jay community for keeping the Town Hall tradition alive and announced that the next Town Hall is scheduled for March 18th at 1:40pm in NB L.61. “Bring a friend,” she said.
