The State University of New York at Brockport said in a statement that the possibility of "large numbers" of police officers on-campus during an event featuring a convicted cop killer could be "traumatizing," and is allowing students to skip class during the day of the event.
Fox News Digital reported earlier in March that SUNY Brockport is hosting "History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim." The event is scheduled to take place April 6.
Muntaqim, who was previously named Anthony Bottom, was part of a Black Liberation Army radicals group who conducted the assassination of two New York City police officers Waverly Jones and Joseph A. Piagentini in 1971.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Brockport Linda Delene wrote in a March 22 announcement that the large number of police officers on-campus during the event may be "traumatizing" to some students, and said that they can choose to not attend classes.
"For some students, if the event proceeds in person, the possible advent of large numbers of police on campus may be another traumatizing event. Further, some students may choose to not attend classes due to personal safety concerns on April 6, 2022," the statement reads. "Our attendance policy includes the phrase ‘other circumstances beyond the control of the student’ which will be accepted in this particular situation."
After Fox News Digital reached out to the university for comment, SUNY Brockport President Heidi Macpherson released a statement saying that the event has been moved to a virtual format.
A spokesperson for SUNY Brockport did not clarify whether the university expected the "large numbers" of police officers to be on-campus as a safety measure or to protest the event.
"We are grateful for the various law enforcement agencies and partners who will be supporting the safety of our campus during the upcoming days and weeks," the spokesperson said.
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokesperson for the National Police Association, told Fox News that the university's action is an example of the "misplaced vilification" of police officers.
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