Hunter College Professor Placed on Leave After Racially Offensive Comments at School Meeting

Hunter College placed Associate Biology Professor Allyson Friedman on leave after racially offensive comments were inadvertently broadcast during a February 10 New York City School District 3 Community Education Council meeting. The remarks, made while a Black eighth-grade student spoke about a potential school closure, sparked widespread criticism and prompted a formal investigation under the college's conduct policies. Friedman apologized, stating her comments were taken out of context and not directed at any student. Local officials condemned the remarks amid ongoing discussions on racial inequality during Black History Month.