Q&A
State of Jewish students on CUNY campuses since previous hearing
1:13:42
·
71 sec
Council Member Vernikov questions Chancellor Matos Rodriguez about whether the situation for Jewish students on CUNY campuses has improved or worsened since the hearing two and a half years ago. The chancellor provides a nuanced response, citing the impact of recent events like the Hamas attack.
- Chancellor acknowledges the complexities in assessing the situation, especially given recent global events
- He highlights CUNY's efforts to improve the situation for Jewish students
- Council Member Vernikov presses for a simple 'better or worse' answer, which the chancellor is reluctant to provide
Inna Vernikov
1:13:42
We had a hearing 2 years ago, two and a half years ago.
1:13:46
As everyone knows, you didn't attend that hearing.
1:13:48
Since then, we've had multiple meetings with you.
1:13:50
Some stuff was done.
1:13:52
Since then, just very briefly, based on the information you have and the knowledge you have of everything that's been going on since that hearing, had things gotten better or worse for Jewish students on campus?
1:14:06
Just better or worse?
1:14:07
One word answer, please, chancellor.
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:14:09
Well, one thing that I just noticed about that, that hearing also happened before, the October Hamas attack, right, in which the world changed.
1:14:18
So, clearly, that has changed the landscape, here in New York.
1:14:22
I think that members of the Jewish community would acknowledge that we have worked very hard in improving situations, but we have still work to do.
Inna Vernikov
1:14:29
So they've got worse since the hearing?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:14:33
I I don't know that I can characterize it better or worse.
Inna Vernikov
1:14:37
It either got better or worse.
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:14:40
Again, I it it's not a better or worse scenario for me.
1:14:43
We have worked very hard.
1:14:44
I think that the members of the community have seen the efforts that we have done to to improve things, but it's also been a much more complicated, worse in that hearing.
