***UPDATE: RALPH HAS RESPONDED BUT WE ARE STILL TAKING SIGNATURES***

ATTN: SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA

Ralph Zito, Department Chair

After speaking with current students and multiple alumni from Syracuse University’s Department
of Drama, we have come to the conclusion that the pervasive institutional racism that has
plagued the department for years must be addressed and corrected. Black students in
particular have been repeatedly manipulated, tokenized, discriminated against, and ultimately
traumatized by their experiences at SU Drama. The following are just a few examples from
testimonials provided by past and present students:

“You bitches aren’t even thick.” - A white professor to two Black female students,
in a class setting, as a ‘note’ on a scene.

“A casting director might ask you to do that line again, and more urban.” - A white
professor to multiple Black students, perpetuating coded language rather than preparing
them to refuse the request with professionalism.

"Let's ask the 'Black-tors' in the class what they think." - A non-Black professor
during a class.

“No respectable person would have those nails on TV.” - To a Black female
student during an office hour meeting.

The education that Black students receive at the hands of these educators is a different
education than is received by their white peers. It is a lesser education. Racist remarks and
internalized beliefs from department faculty and educators that have been both passively dealt
with and voiced in complaints from multiple students need to be handled immediately.

“I was told [that] I passed the paper bag test and that [it] was a good thing.”

“Telling someone to get a tan to look ‘blacker’ - especially when they are
not Black - should be forbidden.”

“I literally had to beg a professor to allow me to do monologues/scenes

that were opposite of the angry Black women.”

“A white professor said the n-word to a group of white students and no one
said a word, no one reported it.”

“The systemic racism at Syracuse University permeates in the Drama

Department so deeply that even after graduation I felt it.”
As one of our alumni said in their testimonial, “The pain that is felt by students of color when
these things happen cannot be described.” In order to prohibit history from repeating itself
again, we are calling for the following immediate actions to be taken:

● An investigation and swift removal of faculty who are guilty of initiating and encouraging
racial micro and macro aggressions, cultural appropriation, and verbal abuse against
BlPOC students.
● Any faculty member who is removed for engaging in any of the aforementioned actions
will be replaced by a BIPOC hire. The overall numbers for BIPOC faculty must be 50%
of the Department of Drama faculty by 2025.
● Hiring an Accountability and Student Experience Representative. This person must be
an outside hire to establish true neutrality and accountability.
● Hiring an Intimacy Director.
● Abolishing the phrase “colorblind casting” from the department’s vernacular.
● Faculty will undergo Implicit Bias, Equity and Diversity training.
● A complete reorganization of Senior Showcase, in which all graduating senior
performance majors are given the opportunity to participate and have a voice in the
creation, rehearsal process, and production of Showcase.
● Any and all forms of media that perpetuate racist stereotypes can no longer be used for
promotional purposes for the Department of Drama.
● A formal apology on behalf of the Department of Drama to its past and current BIPOC
students.

We are calling for the following practices to be implemented beginning in the Fall 2020
semester:

● Commitment to diversifying the student body by providing greater accessibility for

prospective students from marginalized communities to apply and audition.
● Establishing financial aid and scholarships specifically for BIPOC.
● An anti-racist curriculum and syllabus review system at the beginning of each semester
to ensure a range of diversity in the theatrical material being assigned across all majors.
This includes but is not limited to Acting scenework, Design/Tech assignments, and
Musical Theater songs.
● Faculty will be required to provide structure and transparency in their grading process to
their students.
● Creating appropriate policies and accommodations for Black students’ hair & makeup
needs in department productions. Hairdressers should be educated in styling all types of
hair textures.
● The selection and casting of department productions will be made on the basis of best
practices to serve the student body as a whole, regardless of the artistic ambition of the
faculty or guest director. Core cultural, sexual, or gender identities of marginalized
students will not present a barrier to casting opportunities.
● The student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Representative candidates will
undergo an interview process and application before they are approved to run for this
 position. The current EDI Rep will head this committee, with the new Accountability and
Student Experience Representative assisting as needed.
● If one or more students decline casting in a department show, or later drop out during
rehearsals due to a race-related incident, the show must be immediately put on hold and
put under review by the EDI Rep and the Accountability and Student Experience
Representative.
● A wider selection of scenes written by BIPOC playwrights must be made available to
students as Sophomore Evaluation options.
● The department will host more masterclasses with BIPOC professionals from outside
Syracuse University.
● More effective forums than “Town Halls” will be instated for BIPOC students to share
their experiences and voice their concerns about racism and discrimination within the
department.

If any of these demands cannot be met due to legal restrictions, we are open to discussing
alternate solutions. However, they cannot and will not be written off entirely. We expect a good
faith effort to be put into addressing the underlying concerns behind each demand.

The faculty have a responsibility as educators and fellow artists to create a safe space where
anyone of any background can feel supported in their education. They have failed and continue
to fail us in that regard. Through their continued inaction, they have taught their BIPOC students
to endure mistreatment while teaching their peers to sit back and watch.

As alumni and current students that represent Syracuse University’s Department of Drama, we
feel it is our responsibility to hold this institution accountable for its repeated offenses. It is our
job to ensure these wrongs are never inflicted on current and future students again. We cannot
in good faith recommend this school to prospective students until changes are made. Of course,
we understand that this will take some time. We look forward to hearing from you in 72 hours.

Signed,
Courtney Rikki Green ‘18 - courtneyrgreen@gmail.com
Casey Boykins ‘18 - boykinscasey@gmail.com
Kara Cooper ‘18 - karacooper22@gmail.com
Allisha Edwards ‘18 - allishamewards@gmail.com
Austin Holmes ‘16 - austinmholmes@gmail.com
Sophie Balaban ‘16 - balaban.sophia@gmail.com
Libby Hall ‘18 - libbyhallactor@gmail.com
Alyssa Smith ‘18 - alyssacsmith14@gmail.com
Djuna Knight ‘18 - djunaknight@gmail.com
Barbara Woodall ‘19 - barbarawoodall96@gmail.com
Abby Boglioli, Current Adam Saifudeen, Current Adeline Livingston, Current
Student Student Student
Abigail Gjurich, ‘17 Adele Fish, ‘19 Adeline Santello, Current
Student
Adriana Schaps, ‘18
Aeryn Michelle Williams,
‘12
AJ Hernandez, ‘20
Alana Barker, Current
Student
Alen Ghavami, ‘17
Alessandra Casanova,
Current Student
Alethea Shirilan-Howlett,
Current Student
Alex Alcheh, ‘11
Alex Cortinas, ‘20
Alex Giganti, Current
Student
Alex Griffin, ‘17
Alex Keane, Current
Student
Alex Thompson, ‘15
Alexander Aranyi Low, ‘19
Alexandra Ley, Current
Student
Alexandra Moon, ‘15
Alexandria Montesanto,
‘19
Alexandria Petersen, ‘15
Ali Whitwell, Current
Student
Aliana Kilmer, ‘19
Alice Juengling, ‘19
Alice Meyer, Current
Student
Alison Bennett, ‘05
Alison Franck, ‘91
Allison Fifield LeDent, ‘16
Allison P. Shumway, ‘13
Allison Turlo, Current
Student
Alyeska Reimer, Current
Student
Alyssa Castellano-Smith,
‘14
Amaan Khan, Current
Student
Amanda Luke, ‘18 Brady Dalton Richards, ‘16
Amanda McCormick, ‘19 Brandon Richards, Current
Amanda Varcelotti, ‘10 Student
Amber Gatlin, ‘19 BreAnna Gladney, ‘14
AnaBella Kalish, Current Bria Patrick, ‘20
Student Brian Sandstrom, ‘16
Andi Voigt, Current Bridget Anderson, ‘15
Student Bridget Perrotta, Current
Andrea Baker, Current Student
Student Brina Rosen, Current
Andrea Pilar, ‘12 Student
Andrew Garrett, ‘15 Brittany Adebumola, ‘20
Andrew Ryan, ‘18 Brittany Visser, ‘11
Andrew Weimerskirch, ‘19 Brooke Steuckrath,
Andy Jacobson, ‘20 Current Student
Andy LiDestri, ‘17 Bryn Dolan, ‘17
Andy Striph, ‘13 Bryn Lagoni Frisina, ‘11
Ania Majsterek, ‘18 Bryn Newell, ‘17
Anju Cloud, ‘20 Caleb Grochalski, ‘19
Ann Beyersdorfer, ‘14 Caleb Sheedy, Current
Anna Livingston, Current Student
Student Callie Baker, ‘15
Anna Mintzer, ‘15 Callista McMaye, ‘19
Annie Wilkens, ‘14 Calvin Keener, Current
Annika Gullahorn, ‘17 Student
Aria Sivick, ‘19 Camila Pentland, ‘21
Ariana Prappas, Current Camille Theriault, ‘20
Student Candice Hatakeyama,
Arielle Lever, ‘10 Current Student
Ashlee Kyker, ‘17 Cara Spindel, Current
Ashley Judge, ‘16 Student
Austin Brannan, Current Carl Fisk, ‘16
Student Carly Augenstein, ‘11
Bailey Thompson, ‘14 Carly Blane, ‘14
Banji Aborisade, ‘15 Carly Caviglia, ‘20
Ben Bauder, Current Carmen A. Quiñones, ‘16
Student Caroline Festa, ‘18
Ben Holtzman, ‘13 Caroline Portner, Current
Ben Odom, ‘15 Student
Benji Railton-Ashe, ‘13 Caroline Wolfson, ‘12
Bianca Boller, ‘16 Casey Lessinger, ‘18
Blair Beasley, ‘13 Catie Kobland, Current
Blake Brewer, Current Student
Student Charity Van Tassel, ‘16
Charlie Hough, Current Dan Reardon, ‘14 Emily Decker, Current
Student Dani Bae, ‘14 Student
Charlie Towle, Current Daniel Kornfeld, ‘14 Emily Edwards, Current
Student Daniel Ramirez, ‘18 Student
Cheech Manohar, ‘17 Daniel Wilde, Current Emily Harkins, ‘18
Chelsea Gonzalez, ‘11 Student Emily Hernandez, Current
Chelsea Rolfes, ‘11 Danielle Spinello, ‘14 Student
Chloe Hechter, Current Danny Longoria, ‘08 Emily Liberatore, ‘18
Student Danny Skinner, ‘11 Emily Robinson, ‘11
Chloe Miller, ‘14 Darcy Beazley, Current Emily Timmerman, ‘16
Chris Hutton, ‘12 Student Emma Antenen, ‘18
Chris Marzulla, Current Daria Maidenbaum, ‘10 Emma Ettinger, ‘17
Student David Siciliano, ‘13 Emma Ritchie, ‘10
Chris Pesto, ‘11 Delphi Borich, ‘16 Emma Roos, ‘17
Christian Palmer, ‘14 Diane Cervelli, Current Emma Stripling, Current
Christina DiMare, Current Student Student
Student Dionna Vereen, ‘19 Emma Vielbig, ‘19
Christy Soeder, ‘16 Dolores Pereira, ‘15 Emma Yehle, Current
Claire David, Current Dom Martello, ‘19 Student
Student Dustin Kahn, ‘14 Eric Bilitch, ‘08
Claire Kenny, ‘20 Eleanor Leh, Current Erica Lustig, ‘06
Claire Rudden Govoni, ‘19 Student Erik Olson, Current
Claire Smedeby, ‘15 Eli Blodgett, Current Student
Claire Sorlie, ‘18 Student Erika Garcia, Current
Claire St Marie, ‘20 Eli Schwartz, Current Student
Clara Napolitano, Current Student Erin Bodine, ‘03
Student Eliot Grigo, ‘17 Erin Christine Walsh, ‘16
Clare Crane, ‘18 Elizabeth Carson, ‘17 Erin Nishimura, ‘13
Cody Hernden, ‘12 Elizabeth Gardner, ‘18 Ethan Harpole, Current
Cole Francum, ‘17 Elizabeth Lachnit, ‘18 Student
Cole Mathewson, Current Elizabeth O’Malley, Ethan Saviet, ‘15
Student Current Student Eve Steuer, ‘12
Cole Russoniello, Current Elle Walker, ‘13 Ezekiel Edmonds, ‘17
Student Ellen Kingman, Current Gabe Girson, ‘20
Connor Johnson, Current Student Gabi Samels, ‘20
Student Ellie Kallay, Current Gabriela Fernandez, ‘11
Corey Steiner, ‘13 Student Gaelyn Smith, ‘20
Corinne Ferrer, Current Emerson Glick, Current Garvin Hastings, ‘20
Student Student Geneva (Allie) Naqvi, ‘16
Corinne Tyo, ‘13 Emilia Smart-Denson, ‘20 Georgi Hughes, ‘17
Cormac Bohan, ‘19 Emily Bollman, ‘19 Georgiana Cassell, ‘18
Crawford Horton, ‘19 Emily Britt, ‘20 Georgina Morillo, ‘15
Crystal Ferreiro, ‘16 Emily Cribbins, ‘16 Giochino Orrico, Current
Crystal Heller, ‘20 Student
Giovanni Da Silva, ‘17 Jasmine Thomas, ‘12 Katie Tulin, ‘16
Giuliana Augello, Current Javier Prusky, ‘16 Kayla King, ‘20
Student Jenna Najjar, ‘18 Kayla Mattocks, ‘20
Gloria Walsh, ‘18 Jennifer Taylor, ‘17 Kayleen Honan, ‘18
Grace Gentile, ‘19 Jenny Leon, ‘12 Kelsey Brodeur, ‘16
Grace Martin, ‘19 Jerrod Everett, ‘17 Kelsey Crouch, ‘06
Greg Dassonville, ‘11 Jesse Roth, ‘15 Kelsey Roberts, ‘17
Gregory Mytelka, ‘20 Jessica Crawford, ‘17 Kelsey Stalter, ‘10
Haley Ayers, ‘20 Jessica Feder, ‘14 Kennedy Campbell,
Haley Parks, ‘17 Jessica Stamp, ‘14 Current Student
Haley Wright, Current Jillian Wipfler, ‘17 Kevin Morrison, Current
Student JJ Sheehan, ‘20 Student
Hannah Daly, ‘15 Jodi Snyder, ‘16 Kiara Brown, Current
Hannah Dolan, Current Joe Becherer, ‘15 Student
Student John Aric Cleland, ‘19 Kiersten Kozbial, ‘17
Hannah Shaffer, ‘18 John Owen, Current Kim Roth, ‘18
Hayley Eicher, ‘20 Student Kristen Brown, ‘19
Hayley Palmaer, ‘13 Jon Paul Roby, ‘16 Kristen Misthopoulos, ‘18
Heather Boysenberry Jon Schoss, ‘11 Kristin Kelleher, ‘11
Spencer, ‘14 Jonathan Hayes, ‘20 Kristin Kelly, ‘10
Hector Aguirre, ‘20 Jordan Rosin, ‘11 Kristin Morris, ‘11
Hyesoo Cho, ‘20 Jordan Siegel, ‘11 Kyle Patrick Scanlon, ‘16
Hyrum Judkins, ‘16 Joseph Fierberg, ‘13 Kyra Stevens, ‘18
Ian Joseph, ‘19 Joshua Keen, ‘20 Landon Lee, ‘19
Ian Soares, ‘20 Joshua Kring, ‘20 Lauren Jackson, ‘17
Imri Leshed, Current JT Tully, Current Student Lauren Krohn, Current
Student Julia Catalano, Current Student
Iniki Mariano, ‘14 Student Lauren Miller, Current
Isabella Moore, ‘17 Justin Nichols, ‘11 Student
Isaiah Brooks, Current Justine Rappaport, ‘15 Lauren Mosier, ‘19
Student Justise Hayward, ‘18 Leah Nappi, ‘13
Jack O'Brien, ‘15 Kaitlin Leddy, ‘18 Leah Slater, ‘14
Jack Rento, Current Kaitlyn Leonard, ‘18 Leola Powell, ‘17
Student Kare Khoo, ‘15 Lexie Smychynsky, ‘21
Jackie McKenna, ‘19 Kat Eaton, ‘20 Lila Coogan, ‘15
Jackson Norman, Current Katarina Kelly, Current Lilian R Schmidt, ‘20
Student Student Lily Meaker, Current
Jacqueline Gold, ‘17 Kate Jarecki, ‘20 Student
Jacquelyn Incerto, ‘18 Katharine Dinneen, Lindsay Ortmeyer, ‘16
Jaelle Laguerre, Current Current Student Lindsey Marcus, ‘18
Student Katherine McCombs, ‘13 Lindsey Newton, ‘17
Jamie Olen Kupka, ‘11 Katherine Simmons, ‘19 Lisa Graye, ‘17
Jane Margolis, ‘20 Kathleen Kennedy, ‘16 Lisette Piette, ‘13
Jarlene Cabrera, ‘09 Kathryn Bailey, ‘16 Liv Dei Dolori, ‘19
Liv Herz, Current Student Matthew Mueller, ‘18 Olivia St. Peter, Current
Liz Tancredi, ‘11 Matthew Steriti, ‘18 Student
Logan Becker, Current Max Evans, Current Olivia Tyrrell, ‘20
Student Student Pascal Portney, ‘17
Louisa Britt, ‘16 McKay Marshall, Current Pauline Pauwels, Current
Lucy Rose Morgan, ‘17 Student Student
Lucy Sheftall, ‘11 McKenna Batterson, ‘18 Phil Blechman, ‘12
Luke Brau, ‘16 McKenna Vargas, ‘20 Praycious Wilson-Gay, ‘16
Lydia Stinson, ‘17 Megan Wilcox, Current Quinn Hemphill, ‘19
Mackenzie Rohan, Current Student Rachel Frost, ‘12
Student Meghan Michalski, ‘20 Rachel Gentile, ‘18
Maddie Allen, Current Melanie Johnson, ‘20 Rachel Ingram, ‘13
Student Melissa Beaird, ‘16 Rachel Kay, ‘20
Maddie Ince, ‘20 Melissa Lawson, ‘18 Rachel Langetieg, Current
Maddie Lentz, Current Meredith Bechtel, ‘16 Student
Student Michael Cagnetta, Current Rachel Lauren Ackerman,
Madelyn Geltch, ‘19 Student ‘20
Madi Beumee, ‘19 Michael Roach, ‘17 Rachel Towne, ‘15
Madie Polyak, ‘16 Michael Sloan, Current Reagan Rees, Current
Madison Mulvey, ‘16 Student Student
Maggie K Walter, Current Michaela Honea, ‘15 Rebecca Gibson, ‘13
Student Michaela Vivona, ‘20 Rebecca Malamud,
Maggie McPherson, Michelle Arotsky, ‘19 Current Student
Current Student Michelle Kinney, ‘04 Rebecca Voss, Current
Maggie Randolph, ‘14 Mieke Moll, Current Student
Mallory Astrow, ‘19 Student Rebecca Witt, ‘14
Manda Borden, ‘20 Mitch Gerding, Current Reid Watson, ‘15
Mar Regan, ‘18 Student Richard Westfahl, ‘17
Mara Dale, ‘12 Mitchell Harrison, ‘16 Rose Gulant, ‘18
Mara Reltien, ‘18 Molly Goldberg, ‘18 Roslyn Palmer, ‘18
Marc Wasserman, ‘13 Morgan Price, ‘18 Ross Baron, ‘12
Margot Correa, Current Myya Martin, ‘16 Row Walters, ‘11
Student Natalie Oliver, ‘17 Ryan A. Ross, ‘17
Maria Bufalini, ‘17 Nenad Vukovic, ‘17 Ryan Byrne, ‘20
Maria Victoria Polanco, Nicholas Turturro, ‘19 Sabrina Fosse, ‘18
Current Student Noah Lentini, ‘20 Sabrina Knaack, Current
Marilyn Wechsler, ‘20 Noah Schindler, ‘19 Student
Mario Marqués, ‘19 Nowani Rattray, ‘11 Sal Neslusan, ‘11
Marissa Sumiko Cohen, Olamide Candide Sam Swinnerton, Current
‘14 Johnson, ‘16 Student
Mark Blane, ‘11 Olivia Barbieri, ‘18 Samantha Blinn, ‘13
Markcus Blair, ‘19 Olivia Gjurich, ‘13 Sammi Lappin, ‘11
Mary McGowan, ‘17 Olivia Hayhurst, ‘16 Sammy Haines, Current
Matt Maretz, ‘14 Student
Sammy Lopez, ‘13 Soumya Tadepalli, Current Tori Dedo, Current Student
Samuel Brownstein, Student Traci Stiffler, ‘12
Current Student Spencer Lombardo, Troy Hussmann, ‘16
Sara Shaygan, Current Current Student Tucker Breder, ‘18
Student Stella Schwartz, Current Tyler Jimenez, ‘15
Sara Vaccaro, Current Student Tyler Lyons, ‘18
Student Stephanie Lane, ‘16 Valeria Ivette Berdecía
Sarah Cassell, ‘14 Stephen Sanow, ‘14 Martínez, ‘20
Sarah Herrman, ‘18 Suhail Kumar, Current Veronica Hersey, Current
Sarah Hubner, ‘19 Student Student
Sarah Olbrantz, ‘10 Summer Ainsworth, Victoria Huston-Elem, ‘06
Sarah Preston, ‘21 Current Student Victoria Madden, ‘19
Sarah Sakita Mozeson, ‘15 Sydney Miller, ‘19 Victoria Montalbano, ‘06
Sarah Schieffelin, ‘18 Tai Brown, ‘13 Wallis Dean, ‘20
Sarah Schultz, Current Talia Fossum-Wernick, ‘19 Weston Barnwell, ‘20
Student Tatiana Fenner, ‘16 Will Foohey, Current
Sarineh Garapetian, ‘16 Taylor Cooley, ‘15 Student
Sasha Falsberg, ‘19 Taylor Feldman, ‘18 William Schuyler, Current
Savannah Devlin, Current Taylor Janney, ‘14 Student
Student Terrence Mosley, ‘07 William Serri, ‘14
Scott Selman, ‘04 Tida Niles, Current Willow Funkhouser,
Semaj Miller, ‘09 Student Current Student
Shamel Fadloun, ‘19 Tim Simon, ‘15 Yasmin Ranz-Lind,
Shanel Bailey, ‘19 Tom Hayes, ‘16 Current Student
Shaun Collins, Current Tom Riggleman, Current Yvette F. Carruthers, ‘17
Student Student Zofia Weretka, ‘18
Shay Garber, ‘11 Tommy Montgomery, Zora Iman Crews, ‘14
Sofia Morrow-Schap, ‘14 Current Student Zora Moynihan, ‘19
Sophia Blayney, ‘18

Total: 490 signatures