Senator Biaggi Calls For The Resignation Of SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras

“The series of revelations over the last several months regarding the actions of SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras and his conduct in the workplace are deeply disturbing and have made it increasingly apparent he is unfit to lead SUNY. The SUNY Chancellor must exemplify the ideals of public service to its hundreds of thousands of students. Chancellor Malatras has failed to act as such.

The revelations regarding Chancellor Malatras’ retaliation against Lindsay Boylan for raising issues about workplace misconduct, and his support for others’ retaliation efforts against Ms. Boylan regarding sexual harassment complaints against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, display poor conduct and a lack of judgement. Chancellor Malatras was also revealed to regularly verbally demean and berate subordinates in his roles prior to his appointment as chancellor of SUNY. In addition to these recent revelations, Chancellor Malatras participated in the Cuomo administration’s misrepresentation of nursing home deaths at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These accounts are extremely concerning, and further solidify that Chancellor Malatras is no longer fit for the role of Chancellor of SUNY. 

I am calling on Chancellor Malatras to do the right thing and resign. If he fails to resign, the SUNY Board of Trustees must remove him. Allowing Chancellor Malatras to continue to serve  only perpetuates further harm, ultimately damaging the reputation of the institution and serving as an example to faculty, staff, and students that such misconduct is acceptable. The resignation of Governor Cuomo closed a dark chapter in New York State government, one that has made clear that in our state institutions and agencies, we will not tolerate the abusive and unethical behavior associated with the previous administration -- especially in leadership positions as important to New York, as the SUNY Chancellor.”

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