Letter from Jenna Dern, President of Synthesis

Speaking up, in my own words...


On August 20th, Move In Day, the administration prepared an nformational 'factsheet' which was both handed out and posted on their website to update the public on the ongoing PCB investigation.

The informational sheet, prepared by the administration and New York State Department of Health, said after a series of meetings this summer, students "appeared to be satisfied" with the administration's answers to their questions about the PCB and dioxin contamination of those dorms:

"At the conclusion of the two meetings, the group had no more questions and appeared to be satisfied with the information that the scientists and other administrators shared," the sheet claims.

In point of fact, I was one of two students, the other being SA President Jessica Coleman, at the meetings and we were not satisfied. I never gave my approval, nor signed or stated I was in agreement in regards to this issue. The administration and the Health Department are directly misrepresenting my views.

Members of Synthesis, the SA, and Student Senate whom last semester passed resolution 42, demand the administration participate in comprehensive split sample testing of the ventilation systems, heating units and electrical conduit systems. Instead of complying with this resolution the administration wrote that the dorms pose no health dangers saying that there are no elevated levels of exposure to either students or workers in the dorms.

As coordinator of Synthesis, I will continue to educate students about their toxic environments and through the senate resolution number 42, will demand split sample testing of the areas not found in the "informational" sheet.

At our next Synthesis meeting on Wednesday, September 19th we will be discussing the strategy students will be taking during the next semester about this issue; it will be held in SUB 418 at 8 pm.


Sincerely,


Jenna Dern