By Bailey Cummings
“ONE NATION AGAINST INVASION,” read the Patriot Front flyer posted on a light pole in Collins Circle.
This is not the first time such material from the white supremacy group (as designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center) has appeared on campus.
“Sadly, this is not the first time that groups with hateful or divisive views have taken advantage of our large, open campus to get attention,” Director of Media & Community Relations for the UAlbany Office of Government and Community Relations Jordan Carleo-Evangelist said. “This same organization targeted campuses across the state late last year.”
According to a Feb. 11 publication of findings from a study conducted by the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, groups have been increasingly targeting college campuses, resulting in 630 incidents of white supremacy propaganda appearing on campuses across the country during the 2019 school year.
Between 2018 and 2019, three incidents of white supremacy propaganda being distributed were reported in Albany according to the ADL. Two of those incidents occurred on UAlbany and The College of Saint Roses’ campuses.
The most recent sighting of the white supremacy group poster occurred on Feb. 10 as a student waited for a bus in Collins Circle.
“It is difficult given the size of our campus to stop them from doing it,” said Carleo-Evangelist. “But when we see it we should call it out for what it is: abhorrent and totally at odds with what makes UAlbany great as a community that values equity, diversity and inclusion.”
While the university has the Freedom of Expression policy that was permanently approved on March 4, 2019, and includes third parties in its protections, the University’s exterior posting guidelines are strict and require that all flyers that are to appear on the campus are authorized through the Department of Student Involvement.
“As always, any material found defacing the campus or otherwise posted in violation of university policy will be removed, regardless of the content,” Carleo-Evangelist said.
Students are encouraged to contact the University’s Office of Facilities Management at (518) 442-3480 to report any posters found on campus.