For the New Acting President of Hunter College: A Recommended Reading of a 2021 Open Letter

{Note: Just in case “everyone” doesn’t know that Kirschner is replacing outgoing, soon to be gone officially if she hasn’t already turned in her office keys: Jennifer Raab.}

CUNY Believe It Or Not — Open Letter to CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez (March 10, 2021)

By Caroline Ash

[This article was republished in the waning days of the Hunter 2022 COVID-19 spring semester because of a stunning reprimand of Hunter College’s Department of Film and Media Studies by Former Hunter Acting Provost Dr. Valeda Dent about serious allegations of the department’s racism and bigotry. Other stories are in the works.]

Dear Chancellor Félix V. Matos-Rodríguez,

I am sharing with you my story of 30 years of service to Hunter/CUNY. I retired because I could no longer tolerate the racist working conditions on my campus. My last day was May 20, 2020 as an Administrative Assistant with a master’s degree in Urban Affairs, a graduate degree in Advance Public Administration, Level 1, and I am a candidate for a master’s degree in Museum Studies at CUNY SPS, City University School of Professional Services.

My situation is the norm not the exception at my campus. I am hoping that you, Chancellor Felix V. Matos, can make changes that can bring back humanity, empathy, and respect to…