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
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
'Dioxin Dorms' Goes Live
Journalist Eric Francis Coppolino has created another info site for students and parents to research the issue at hand. Please visit www.dioxindorms.com
Friday, July 13, 2007
Student Leaders, County Legislators and Concerned Community Members Meet with NY State Health Department Officials
On May 16th, 2007, in a student meeting with the SUNY New Paltz administration, President Steven Poskanzer and other administrators claimed no responsibility for developing the testing protocols and administering the campus cleanup following the 1991 PCB & Dioxin explosion. They asserted that the NY State Department of Health maintained complete authority over the situation and offered to set up a meeting with Health Department officials in order to alleviate any concerns students may have regarding PCB & Dioxin contamination and exposure on the SUNY New Paltz campus.
As a result of that meeting, on June 22nd, 2007, student leaders, Ulster County legislators, environmental advocates and concerned community members met with officials from the NY State Department of Health and SUNY New Paltz administrators in a meeting coordinated by John Shupe, the Head of Facilities for the SUNY New Paltz Campus. The intention of this meeting was to clarify who was responsible for the cleanup and maintenance of the campus over the 16 years following the incident and to determine what further steps to take in order to ease the increasing concern among citizens about the seriously adverse health effects of exposure to PCBs and Dioxin.
The New York State Department of Health stated that SUNY was indeed responsible for the cleanup. When asked why we were told in a previous meeting that SUNY wasn't responsible, Shupe replied, "WE NEVER SAID THAT." I'm sorry, Mr.Shupe, but we recorded the meeting and it is on record.
Jessica Coleman, president of the Student Association, and Jenna Dern, president of the student activist group Synthesis, presented the State Health Department and SUNY New Paltz administration with a cohesive list of desired protocols for peer-review testing of the four buildings in question. Dean Palen of the NY State Department of Health, the person responsible for overseeing the re-opening of the buildings 16 years ago, and the man who ordered the "arms-length cleanup" of the ventilation units in Gage Hall in 1994 (after tests taken by Eric Francis showed extremely high levels of contamination) agreed to review the students' requests and come back with an answer at a meeting scheduled for several weeks later. At that meeting, on July 2nd, the answer to the students call for re-testing was denied. Ed Horn of the NY State Dept. of Health reasserted, as he did in the June 22nd meeting, that although they acknowledge there is contamination in the buildings, students do not have direct contact with the toxins (because they are located in ducts, vents and inside the walls) and there is no danger. Therefore, according to their logic, the buildings are safe and there is no risk.
We, as students of SUNY New Paltz, believe that the NY State Department of Health and the SUNY New Paltz administration are taking unnecessary risks with people's lives and future generations in order to avoid potentially significant financial liabilities, when they can simply close down buildings that are known to be contaminated. There is much evidence to support this claim. Please read the attached information and articles to educate yourself more fully about the risks of PCB and dioxin exposure and the negligence of the people in charge of handling this issue with true integrity.
As a result of that meeting, on June 22nd, 2007, student leaders, Ulster County legislators, environmental advocates and concerned community members met with officials from the NY State Department of Health and SUNY New Paltz administrators in a meeting coordinated by John Shupe, the Head of Facilities for the SUNY New Paltz Campus. The intention of this meeting was to clarify who was responsible for the cleanup and maintenance of the campus over the 16 years following the incident and to determine what further steps to take in order to ease the increasing concern among citizens about the seriously adverse health effects of exposure to PCBs and Dioxin.
The New York State Department of Health stated that SUNY was indeed responsible for the cleanup. When asked why we were told in a previous meeting that SUNY wasn't responsible, Shupe replied, "WE NEVER SAID THAT." I'm sorry, Mr.Shupe, but we recorded the meeting and it is on record.
Jessica Coleman, president of the Student Association, and Jenna Dern, president of the student activist group Synthesis, presented the State Health Department and SUNY New Paltz administration with a cohesive list of desired protocols for peer-review testing of the four buildings in question. Dean Palen of the NY State Department of Health, the person responsible for overseeing the re-opening of the buildings 16 years ago, and the man who ordered the "arms-length cleanup" of the ventilation units in Gage Hall in 1994 (after tests taken by Eric Francis showed extremely high levels of contamination) agreed to review the students' requests and come back with an answer at a meeting scheduled for several weeks later. At that meeting, on July 2nd, the answer to the students call for re-testing was denied. Ed Horn of the NY State Dept. of Health reasserted, as he did in the June 22nd meeting, that although they acknowledge there is contamination in the buildings, students do not have direct contact with the toxins (because they are located in ducts, vents and inside the walls) and there is no danger. Therefore, according to their logic, the buildings are safe and there is no risk.
We, as students of SUNY New Paltz, believe that the NY State Department of Health and the SUNY New Paltz administration are taking unnecessary risks with people's lives and future generations in order to avoid potentially significant financial liabilities, when they can simply close down buildings that are known to be contaminated. There is much evidence to support this claim. Please read the attached information and articles to educate yourself more fully about the risks of PCB and dioxin exposure and the negligence of the people in charge of handling this issue with true integrity.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Student Senate Passes Resolution Demanding Peer Review Testing of Key Locales in Dormitories
On April 24, 2007, the SUNY New Paltz Student Senate unanimously passed a resolution demanding that the school's administration participate in a split-sample testing scenario with the Student Association.
43rd Student Senate Resolution 42
2nd Session
4/24/2007
A Resolution By Ms. JORDAN (for herself and Mr. HOLMES),
WHEREAS electrical transformers exploded and spread PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) and Dioxins in several locations on campus, including Capen Hall, Scudder Hall, Gage Hall, Bliss Hall, the Coykendall Science building and Parker Theatre.
WHEREAS following the explosions there was a cleanup in the affected buildings after which two types of testing occurred to determine the extent of toxic contamination - wipe samples and air sampling analyses. The tests were conducted by a contracted environmental remediation firm hired by SUNY New Paltz, in conjunction with the Ulster County and New York State Departments of Health.
WHEREAS comprehensive testing of ventilation systems, heating units and electrical conduits has not occured.
WHEREAS The Senate understands that scientific consensus is that exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Dioxins can result in Cancer, suppressed immunity, damage to the hormonal system and birth mutation.
That the Student Senate demand that the SUNY administration at New Paltz willingly participate in comprehensive split-sample PCB and Dioxin testing of ventilation systems, heating units and electrical conduits in the four dormitories in question (Capen, Gage, Bliss & Scudder). Split-sampling will consist of simultaneous sampling by two separate New York State certified laboratories, one chosen by the SUNY Administration at New Paltz and the other by the President of the Student Association.
Educational Forum on PCBs and Dioxins at SUNY New Paltz Held May 3rd in Gage Hall
On May 3, 2007 the first ever student-led public forum on the PCB/Dioxin contamination issue at SUNY New Paltz was held in the student lounge at Gage Hall, one of the dorms affected by the 1991 chemical fires incident. Speakers at the forum included Brian Shapiro, an Ulster County Legislator and Chair of the Ulster County Environmental Commission, Mannajo Green of The Hudson River Clearwater Sloop, Inc., Russel Schindler, an environmental lawyer (and formerly the Student Association lawyer at SUNY New Paltz), and George Farrel, an five-time award winning sicence teacher and concerned parent whose daughters attended SUNY at the time of the incident (one of whom lived in an affected dormitory at the time.) The event was moderated by SYNTHESIS coordinator, Aliza Hava. About 100 students were in attendance. The college physician, Peter Haughton, and the head of facilites, John Shupe, were present.
Each speaker had the opportunity to explain their understanding of the incident and the environmental factors and health risks associated with it. Brian Shapiro urged the students to organize in an effort to get sufficient data on the actual extent of contamination of the dorms.
The forum was followed by a Q&A session where students addressed the speakers with their questions and concerns.
The SUNY New Paltz administration maintains that the dormitories, Bliss, Capen, Gage and Scudder Halls have been cleaned to below the federal standards of PCB exposure. However, independent tests by investigative journalist Eric Francis reveal contamination in ventilation units that were never thoroughly inspected or cleaned following the initial incident. For more details, please read through the articles by Eric Francis Coppolino posted in the right hand column.
More to follow......
Each speaker had the opportunity to explain their understanding of the incident and the environmental factors and health risks associated with it. Brian Shapiro urged the students to organize in an effort to get sufficient data on the actual extent of contamination of the dorms.
The forum was followed by a Q&A session where students addressed the speakers with their questions and concerns.
The SUNY New Paltz administration maintains that the dormitories, Bliss, Capen, Gage and Scudder Halls have been cleaned to below the federal standards of PCB exposure. However, independent tests by investigative journalist Eric Francis reveal contamination in ventilation units that were never thoroughly inspected or cleaned following the initial incident. For more details, please read through the articles by Eric Francis Coppolino posted in the right hand column.
More to follow......
Investigative Journalist Eric Francis Coppolino speaks at SUNY New Paltz
Thursday, May 10th
LC 102
7:35pm
Since 1991, Eric Francis Coppolino has been researching and reporting
on the electronic transformer fires that released extreme amounts of
dangerous chemicals into six buildings, air, soil and water on the
SUNY New Paltz Campus. He maintains that the University is
intentionally withholding information from students and parents about
the extent of present contamination in the dorms due to the excessive
amount of clean up costs and liability.
The administration admits there are low levels of PCBs present in the
buildings, but that the levels are below state standards and are
"safe." However, the standards they use were created in the 1980's,
and have not taken into account newer research which concludes that
there are NO SAFE LEVELS for exposure to PCBs and Dioxin.
With the help of SYNTHESIS, the Student Senate recently passed a
resolution demanding that the SUNY New Paltz Administration
participate in a peer review testing scenario that will prove the
actual extent of contamination in the dorms. With the support of the
Ulster County Environmental Commission, the Ulster County Legislature
and The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., we intend for the
administration to honor this resolution.
Please spread the word to anyone you know who lives or has lived in
Capen, Gage, Scudder and Bliss Halls that their health may be at risk.
To read Eric Francis Coppolino's articles, please visit
http://www.planetwaves.net/mediakit/
LC 102
7:35pm
Since 1991, Eric Francis Coppolino has been researching and reporting
on the electronic transformer fires that released extreme amounts of
dangerous chemicals into six buildings, air, soil and water on the
SUNY New Paltz Campus. He maintains that the University is
intentionally withholding information from students and parents about
the extent of present contamination in the dorms due to the excessive
amount of clean up costs and liability.
The administration admits there are low levels of PCBs present in the
buildings, but that the levels are below state standards and are
"safe." However, the standards they use were created in the 1980's,
and have not taken into account newer research which concludes that
there are NO SAFE LEVELS for exposure to PCBs and Dioxin.
With the help of SYNTHESIS, the Student Senate recently passed a
resolution demanding that the SUNY New Paltz Administration
participate in a peer review testing scenario that will prove the
actual extent of contamination in the dorms. With the support of the
Ulster County Environmental Commission, the Ulster County Legislature
and The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., we intend for the
administration to honor this resolution.
Please spread the word to anyone you know who lives or has lived in
Capen, Gage, Scudder and Bliss Halls that their health may be at risk.
To read Eric Francis Coppolino's articles, please visit
http://www.planetwaves.net
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