PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Christopher Colos, Student at Baruch College, on Campus Safety and Antisemitism at CUNY
3:19:53
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112 sec
Christopher Colos, a junior at Baruch College, testified about his experiences with antisemitism and safety concerns at CUNY following a volunteer trip to Israel. He emphasized the need for increased security measures on CUNY campuses to protect all students and staff during times of heightened tensions.
- Colos described how Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) targeted him and his classmates after their trip to Israel, making them feel unsafe on campus.
- He referenced Judge Lippman's 4th recommendation regarding coordination with law enforcement and the need to improve safety measures at CUNY.
- Colos called for CUNY to increase, fix, and upgrade campus security, including officers, video monitoring, and entry security.
Chris Colos
3:19:53
Thank you very much, And my name is Christopher Colos.
3:19:57
I am a junior at Baruch College.
3:19:59
I wanna go back about a year when our Hillel offered me an opportunity to go on a non CUNY related volunteer trip to Israel.
3:20:06
In January, my classmates and I went on this trip, and it turned out to be a very meaningful trip for us.
3:20:11
Our return from this trip back to school was something of a nightmare.
3:20:15
SJP, Mina, and many individuals took it upon themselves to spread photos of us around CUNY schools, calling us all the names and telling people to watch out for us.
3:20:25
We stepped back onto campus knowing that every student from this trip now had a target on their back.
3:20:31
Walking through the hallways, sitting in our classes, and even entering the buildings, no one felt safe.
3:20:37
I understood that we cannot control what others think and say about us.
3:20:41
I came to understand that my safety at school could not be guaranteed, which is something that is controllable and something no student should feel.
3:20:51
Excuse me.
3:20:52
Over time, this sense of a lack of safety spread from the few of us to many, if not most, Jewish students at CUNY.
3:20:59
In judge Lippin's 4th recommendation, to coordinate at all times with law enforcement to protect everyone at CUNY, he states that although CUNY has numerous effective rules and proceed processes related to safety, it must still strive to improve.
3:21:13
Not only does this apply to the problem of encampus judge Lippmann was talking about, but all measures of public safety, such as officers, video monitoring, and entry security.
3:21:23
Students have been asking for an increase in security for months, with our requests mainly falling on deaf ears or tied hands.
3:21:30
I am here now to ask that CUNY be pushed to increase, fix, and upgrade the security of our campuses.
3:21:36
In a time of heightened tensions caused by various worldwide events and opinions, we need to ensure the protection of all students and staff across CUNY campuses.
3:21:45
Thank you.
