Binghamton University President Responds to Racial Inequality Concerns

Binghamton University President Doctor Harvey Stenger says the University is establishing a Campus Citizen Review Board to look at improving practices and policies in light of the concerns of racial inequality. 

In a letter to the BU Community, Stenger says the past several months have been “traumatic” and even more-so for Binghamton’s Black students, faculty and staff through a combination of a disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on minority communities and the recent deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police.

The University president says BU not only supports calls for change but the campus is taking action by establishing the Campus Citizens Review Board to review and improve the University Police Department policies and practices.

With input from that board, Stenger says a portion of funds is being shifted from the police department to other campus services to respond to campus emergencies, including mental health.

B-U is also establishing a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship to support future African American leaders seeking racial justice.

An endowment of $1.5 million is being put into the fund to support deserving students and $200,000 is being reallocated to the budget for the Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowships for Graduate Students.