Q&A
Discussion of anti-Semitic chants near Hunter College Hillel
1:17:22
·
144 sec
Council Member Yeger questions Chancellor Rodriguez about an incident involving anti-Semitic chants near the Hillel at Hunter College. The discussion centers on whether these chants constitute anti-Semitism and if they violate CUNY policies.
- Yeger presses Rodriguez on whether the chants are definitively anti-Semitic
- Rodriguez's responses are somewhat equivocal, stating the chants 'could be' anti-Semitic depending on intent
- The exchange touches on CUNY's Henderson rules regarding unauthorized occupancy and blocking access to facilities
Kalman Yeger
1:17:22
Okay.
1:17:23
No problem.
1:17:25
The chairman described an incident that occurred at Hunter College, and he, and he spoke the chants that were done right outside the hillel.
1:17:36
And he described it as a foot or 2, 3 maybe, away from the door.
1:17:41
Do you believe that the chants are anti Semitic?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:17:44
Excuse me?
Kalman Yeger
1:17:45
Do you believe that those chants that were that the chairman read out loud
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:17:50
If they were made to to harass and to discriminate against Jewish students, yes.
Kalman Yeger
1:17:54
If they were just made in the air and not at any particular person, but just said out loud standing outside the hillock?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:18:03
They they could be anti Semitic.
1:18:04
Yes.
Kalman Yeger
1:18:04
Okay.
1:18:05
But that's, that's equivocal.
1:18:07
It's not necessarily that they are.
1:18:09
Either they are or they aren't.
1:18:10
This is kind of like can't be half pregnant.
1:18:13
Or is it is it anti Semitic or not?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:18:15
If it's if it's meant to be harassing towards, individuals because of a Jewish, ancestry and personality?
1:18:22
Yes.
Kalman Yeger
1:18:23
Okay.
1:18:25
The Henderson rules preclude unauthorized occupancy of CUNY facilities or blocking access.
1:18:31
Right?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:18:31
I had a hard time hearing you.
Kalman Yeger
1:18:32
The Henderson rules Yeah.
1:18:34
Preclude blocking access to CUNY facilities.
1:18:37
If people are standing 2 feet outside the Hillo door, which is a CUNY campus, although on a city street, they're blocking access to CUNY facilities.
1:18:46
Right?
1:18:47
Can we agree that that's true?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:18:49
So if the students are purposely blocking that, yes.
Kalman Yeger
1:18:52
Okay.
Kayla Aaron
1:18:52
Let me
Kalman Yeger
1:18:53
go to a different question.
1:18:54
You testified, that you have 240,000 students, 40,000 employees.
1:18:59
You've been there five and a half years.
1:19:01
How many employees have been fired from CUNY, have the employment terminated for incidents related to anti Semitism?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:19:10
I wouldn't I wouldn't know.
Kalman Yeger
1:19:12
Do you know if there are any?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:19:13
I I don't have that that information.
1:19:15
Okay.
Kalman Yeger
1:19:16
So we don't know yes or no.
1:19:17
It's not that we don't know the number.
1:19:19
We don't even know if that occurred.
1:19:20
Okay.
1:19:21
How many, students do you know have been expelled from CUNY during your time as chancellor for incidents related to anti Semitism?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:19:31
Again, I wouldn't I wouldn't know the number.
Kalman Yeger
1:19:33
Do we think that there are any?
1:19:35
I don't know.
1:19:36
Okay.
1:19:36
If a student is standing outside Hunter College's Hillel as described by mister chairman and chanting as the chants as described by Mr.
1:19:46
Chairman.
