In response to the horrific attack and massacre of innocent Israeli civilians by the terror group Hamas, leadership at SUNY-Broome chose to remain silent.  When given the opportunity to sign an open letter in support of a coalition co-founded by SUNY Chancellor King of over 100 colleges and universities, amongst them some 18 SUNY campuses condemning, “the brutality and inhumanity of Hamas.”, SUNY Broome President Hawkins took a pass.

After multiple efforts to contact Hawkins, he finally responded and excused his inaction by writing his own “official message”, which was frankly political pabulum that said nothing, meant nothing, and condemned nothing.

SUNY Broome Board Chair Connerton was also silent and failed to respond to my request for an explanation of why SUNY Broome made the conscious decision to not sign this statement in support of Israel.

Hawkins and Connerton should follow in the foot-steps of fellow-travelers, former University of Pennsylvania President Magill and former UPenn Board Chair Scott Bok and both resign immediately.

Raising their fingers to the political winds and offering empty and meaningless platitudes indicates a sickening silence of complicity without saying it out loud.  That level of failed moral leadership has no business in shaping students ideologies.