Campus Citizen Review Board to begin work in October

In June, following months of unrest across the nation, Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger announced a number of initiatives the University would undertake to address racism and social injustice. Among those initiatives is the establishment of the Campus Citizen Review Board (CCRB) to review the University Police Department’s policies, procedures, actions and resources.

“The board will provide independent and evidence-based assessment of the operation of our University Police Department to advise me about issues and recommend changes,” Stenger said. The CCRB is being co-chaired by Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Karen Jones and Associate Professor of Human Development Myra Sabir. Jones and Sabir are also co-chairing the selection panel that is reviewing applications for the CCRB, which, when operational, will include 11 members: three each of students, faculty and staff members, plus the co-chairs.

Among its activities, the CCRB will assess campus support of underserved aspects of mental health support and community policing, review the UPD annual budget and arrest record, determine if current UPD policies and procedures are consistent with best practices, evaluate training programs for UPD personnel and review community policing practices.

“It will be important for our committee to ensure the University Police Department is helping to keep the members of the community safe, but also to examine the philosophy guiding its work — how such aligns with the institutional values of unity, identity and excellence,” Jones said.

“As we review the policies, procedures, actions and resources of our University Police Department, we must also grapple with aspects of this challenge that are non-legislatable,” Sabir said. “Such aspects are deeply personal to all parties, so this service will require a level of respect and finesse not typical of other campus service commitments.”

Those interested in serving on the CCRB still have time before the Oct. 9 deadline to send a statement of interest for consideration by the selection panel to ccrbpanel@binghamton.edu.

Members of the selection panel include:

• Baaba Annan, Graduate Student Organization
• Khaleel James, Student Association
• Sharon Bryant, Faculty Senate Executive Committee
• Sean Massey, Faculty Senate Executive Committee
• Randall Edouard, appointed by Stenger
• Kelly Clark, Professional Staff Senate
• Angella Kim, Professional Staff Senate

It’s the intent of the CCRB to begin its work in October and to hold monthly meetings at a minimum, Stenger said.

“I will update the campus annually on the board’s activities and recommendations,” he said.