Q&A
Debate on mask-wearing policy during protests at CUNY
2:43:34
·
81 sec
Council Member Kalman Yeger questions Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez about CUNY's policy on mask-wearing during protests on campus. The discussion centers around the legitimacy and potential risks of allowing masked protests.
- Yeger argues there's no legitimate purpose for protesters to wear masks
- Rodriguez suggests masks might be worn for fashion or to hide identity
- Yeger presses on whether mask-wearing during protests is considered inappropriate behavior
- Rodriguez states that breaking campus rules or destroying property would be necessary for intervention
Kalman Yeger
2:43:34
Talked about masks at protests before, and and I understand that that you're not able to say today that you would commit to, instituting a policy against wearing masks on campuses.
2:43:44
But let me ask this question.
2:43:45
What would what legitimate purpose would there be in a group of students standing around yelling, screaming about whatever it is that they're upset about that day, all wearing masks?
2:43:57
Is there is there a legitimate purpose Again that you can imagine?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
2:44:00
It's it's a hypothetical.
2:44:01
I mean, students wear different things for different reasons, for, fashion statements.
2:44:08
It might be also to hide their identity.
2:44:10
At the end of the day, if they engage in behavior that is inappropriate, we have the tools to be able to engage with them and say, you know, identify yourself and and face a consequence.
Kalman Yeger
2:44:22
But standing around and protesting or marching or or occupying a particular area of a campus building or field or grass or whatever, wearing a mask in and of itself is not disturbing behavior, is not inappropriate behavior?
2:44:42
What do they need to do?
2:44:44
They need to burn something down?
2:44:45
What do they need to do?
2:44:46
They need to get somebody up?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
2:44:47
Well, they, they, they need to, break some of the the rules on the campus.
2:44:52
Destroy property
Kalman Yeger
2:44:53
So fraud.
2:44:53
So that that is the that
Eric Dinowitz
2:44:55
is that
Kalman Yeger
2:44:55
is the Wouldn't it a nerd to the public safety of all the students and and faculty and people who are present on CUNY campuses to have a rule that says don't cover your face on our campuses.
