President Murabito Sends Statement to SUNY Niagara Community On Death of George Floyd

June 2, 2020

SUNY Niagara President Dr. William J. Murabito has issued a statement to employees and students about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and protests across the nation. His email letter reads as follows:

“Dear SUNY Niagara Community,

This past week, we witnessed another appalling act of violence against a person of color in the police officer’s involvement in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Our hearts go out to Mr. Floyd’s family and to the many others whose lives he touched. This incident has raised profound and troubling questions about violence and social inequity in our society — issues that are critical for us to explore, teach about, research, study, and find a way to comprehend in our individual lives.   Although this senseless act was committed halfway across the country it seems to have affected everyone, including our campus community.  It is a reminder to us all that these unfortunate events can happen in any city and community.  

While we all are experiencing pain, anger and frustration over this terrible incident, we must remember the importance of keeping protests peaceful so that we can communicate our thoughts effectively and gain awareness.  Destructive action only serves to detract from the issues at hand.  In the SUNY Niagara mission statement, one of our institutional learning outcomes is that “SUNY Niagara graduates should demonstrate global awareness, civic engagement, appreciation of differences and diversity, civility, ethics, and aesthetics.”  I am confident during these dark days, we will show our commitment to this core value, and support healing, meaningful action, and working together for a better tomorrow.”