ITHACA, NY (WSKG) — The New York State Assembly’s Higher Education Committee chair, Deborah Glick, is among the latest state legislators calling for SUNY Chancellor James Malatras to resign.
Last week, investigators with the New York Office of the Attorney General released emails and text messages from Malatras mocking Lindsey Boylan, an ex-aide to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, after she called the work environment toxic in 2019. Boylan was one of several women who later accused Cuomo of sexual harassment.
Malatras apologized to the SUNY Board of Trustees last week for the remarks. The board accepted the apology.
But Republicans like Binghamton-area state Sen. Fred Akshar said they think Malatras’ departure is imminent.
"Governor Hochul has made clear that she wanted a working reset, and anybody involved in that process would in fact be gone," Akshar said at a press conference Monday morning.
Before Malatras was appointed as chancellor in 2020, he served in several different roles in the Cuomo administration. All appointed positions on the SUNY Board of Trustees are currently filled by Cuomo appointees.
It’s disturbing to see @SUNY board chair Merryl Tisch suggest that Malatras “gave a full-throated apology.”
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) December 6, 2021
Jim has not apologized to me & he continues to lie about his actions.
He retaliated against me when I spoke up about a toxic environment. https://t.co/vhEtq2xtir
Boylan, the former aide who was the target of the insults, tweeted Friday that she did not receive an apology from Malatras.
Update 12/6/21 5:15 PM: The president of CSEA, the union representing SUNY's administrative services staff and other non-student facing employees, released a letter in support of Malatras on Monday afternoon.
Monday's letter comes after the president of UUP, the union that represents SUNY's student-facing employees, sent a similar message of support for Malatras on Friday. Some UUP members have since criticized that move, calling for Malatras to resign.