Ramón De Los Santos
Dear City College Community,
We are aware of a recent social media post concerning the cancellation of an inter-MSA Jummah event planned for Friday, October 11th, on the South Lawn. We want to clarify that this narrative misrepresents City College’s policies and values: we are committed to maintaining an environment where all voices can be heard, respected, and celebrated.
First and foremost, City College has not banned Muslim students—or any students—from praying on campus. The allegation of Islamophobia is categorically false and contrary to our mission. The event in question was not approved because it did not go through the proper channels, which is a standard procedure required for all student events to ensure safety and compliance with city regulations (see our communications with club leaders). This policy is uniformly applied to all student groups to ensure fairness and safety, not as a measure to suppress any particular group. The recent social media post incorrectly suggests that this student club is being singled out, when in reality, the same rules are applied to all student clubs.
City College is proud of its diverse and inclusive community. Our commitment to fostering an environment where different perspectives strengthen us is unwavering. In alignment with this commitment, we have launched initiatives like our Sustained Dialogue series, partnered with the Human Rights Commission to host a series on dehumanization that discusses the lived experiences of our Muslim (Nov 7), Jewish (Nov 14), and people of color communities (Jan 30) and held two Interfaith Council meetings with 16 faith-based student clubs this semester.
For those interested in organizing events, we encourage you to familiarize yourselves with our Events Policies and CUNY Rules and Regulations for the Maintenance of Public Order known as the Henderson Rules, including our Student Demonstration Policy available on the college website and the student handbook. These guidelines help ensure that while you exercise your freedom of expression, you also support the uninterrupted operations of the College and the educational experience of all students.
Creating misleading narratives can also foster a hostile environment that goes against everything we stand for at CCNY. We urge everyone to approach such issues with a spirit of understanding and cooperation.
For any further information or to discuss how to properly organize events and demonstrations on campus, please contact the Office of Student Life. We are here to assist you in navigating these processes and to support your right to express and assemble peacefully and respectfully.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Regards,
Ramón De Los Santos, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs