The Daily Bulletin Archive

I would like to thank Chairman Linda Dobmeier and the members of the Buffalo State College Council for meeting on Friday and taking quick action to remove the name of Peter Buell Porter, a documented slave owner, from our residence hall and approving the building’s temporary name of Bengal Hall. Because the new name is temporary, we can move forward immediately—before the State University of New York Board of Trustees review—with changing signage and online references to the former Porter Hall. We will, however, still notify the State University of New York Board of Trustees of the College Council’s action today so the matter can be reviewed at an upcoming trustee meeting. As we look for a permanent name for Bengal Hall and review additional campus buildings and facilities for any connections to slave ownership, it is important to note that any new permanent names for these spaces, including Bengal Hall, will require SUNY Board of Trustees approval. I have charged Chief Diversity Officer Crystal Rodriguez, who will work alongside our College Senate, with developing a process to engage students and the campus community at large regarding the renaming of Bengal Hall and any other buildings that may emerge. Again, I thank the College Council for its action and steadfast commitment to Buffalo State College and our mission of supporting social justice for all.