After months of inaction, a letter from TWU International President John Samuelsen and Local 264 President Joseph Rose calling out the conduct of a Barnard College’s associate director for campus security is generating action.
Last week, Samuelsen and Rose wrote to Barnard President Laura Rosenbury saying that Assistant Director of Community Service Rosemarie Ronde made “very troubling comments” in November instructing that security officers should “have female Islamic students remove their hijabs when going through routine security checks to enter school grounds.”
The public letter, following a lack of action from Barnard’s Title IX and CARES departments, received media attention and led to a petition from Barnard College students, alumni and parents expressing “strong frustrations” and demanding a response to TWU’s letter.
“All current Barnard and Columbia students, parents, alumni and allies are encouraged to sign in solidarity,” the petition reads.
Columbia Muslim Life, a group representing Muslim students on campus, strongly condemned the comments from Ronde and urged administrators to take action.
TWU is planning a leafleting event on March 18 to reach out to students as they return from spring break to educate them on the situation.
“Barnard College’s inaction is unacceptable,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “Religious bigotry is an abomination and the TWU won’t tolerate it from Barnard or any other employer.”