September 30, 2025
The Voice of the Students
Students for Justice in Palestine Reinstated BY ARPAN JOSAN Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is a campus club at Adelphi University that, according to their description, “is a united movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people.” The club originated during the fall of 2023 and has held numerous protests and events throughout the years. Their first being outside the University Center on April 29th, 2024. This protest was held in response to the ongoing conflict happening in Palestine, and protestors played music, prayed and chanted throughout the event. At the end of the 2025 spring semester, SJP was suspended by the Adelphi administration due to reported claims of harassment and their Instagram page was changed to say “Not Affiliated with Adelphi University.” Adelphi’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Sentwali Bakari explained the process for the club’s suspension. He said, “As outlined in the University’s Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment Policy,
after a complaint is made to the Office of Community Concerns and Resolution, the University will conduct a thorough investigation. Upon conclusion of the investigation, an outcome is determined.” Bakari emphasized Adelphi’s commitment to fostering an environment where both students and faculty can express themselves freely while also following the University’s
demonstration policy and code of conduct. He said, “This commitment enables us to support the safe exchange of differing viewpoints, enriching our community with diverse perspectives and promoting meaningful dialogue among our community members.” On August 20th, it was announced on SJP's Instagram that the club was Continued on page 2
Students for Justice in Palestine were present at this year’s annual fall club fair. Photo by Arpan Josan
Meet Adelphi’s New Interim President Dr. Christopher Storm BY ARPAN JOSAN Dr. Christopher Storm was appointed as Adelphi University’s interim president after the resignation of Dr. Christine Riordan this past summer. Dr. Storm, who previously served as Adelphi’s Provost and Executive Vice President, was appointed by Adelphi’s Board of Trustees effective on July 1st. Dr. Storm assures students that this change will not interfere with their daily experiences. He said, “In terms of our students’ day-to-day lives, the transitions in leadership will have no impact. We have an outstanding team in place that has ensured your classes, clubs and other activities are moving forward without a hitch.” One goal of Dr. Storm is to have a strong presence on campus. He said, “I’m also working on some more structured engagement initiatives such as opendoor periods which I’ll be announcing closer to the start of the semester.” As interim president, Dr. Storm will serve while the Board of Trustees conducts a national search for the next president. However, the work continues and Dr. Storm is focusing on Adelphi’s Middle
States process. “Preparing for our Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaccreditation is not only an affirmation of the quality of our academic programs, but a federal requirement for institutions with students and faculty applying for funding from federal agencies,” he said. Dr. Storm plans to build on the progress already made for such initiatives as the Momentum Campaign, the launch of the Manhattan Center in 2026,
planning adjustments around changes in loan programs due to federal budget cuts and building on undergraduate student research with the help of the SPARK and Innovation Centers. To fill the provost vacancy left when Dr. Storm became interim president, Dr. Susan Dinan was appointed interim provost after serving as the Honors College dean. Nicole Rudolph, PhD, will take over as interim dean for the Honors College. �
Interim President Christopher Storm takes on a new position after Dr. Riodran steps down. Photo by Adelphi University
Volume 81, Issue 1
Students Provide Input into Adelphi’s Presidential Search TROY COFIE Adelphi University hosted community input sessions in order for faculty, staff and students to provide thoughts and visions for the next president. The forums were held on September 8th and 9th in the University Center and on Zoom. These forums were facilitated by DSG Storbeck, an executive search company that finds leaders for higher education institutions. Susan VanGilder, Carly Rose DiGiovanni and Danielle Merbert of DSG Storbeck led the forums asking participants what qualities they are looking for in the next president and what the next president should focus on. Students who participated advocated for various causes that the next president should focus on such as accommodating for the large commuter population at Adelphi and how social engagement can be strengthened on campus. Three-time alumnus of Adelphi University Danielle Merbert expressed her desire to help Adelphi University’s presidential selection because of what the school gave her. “I’m passionate about this work and, even more so, this search. This is where I got my start. I owe all my success to Adelphi, especially the Honors College and the English department,” she said. Senior political science major and president of Student Government Hussein Rifath attended the student forum and stressed how hard-working Adelphi students are. He offered that this should be highlighted more by the next president. This was seconded by other students who participated in the event. Attendees were pleased with the opportunity for input. Junior neuroscience major Errah Fawad said, “I thought the event was necessary because it allowed students to exercise their civic rights and directly express their administrative concerns without intermediate relaying.” She added, “It also gave an enriching insight into how academic frameworks approach presidential candidacy. However, I was disappointed by the turnout and the lack of student interest. The university could have Continued on page 2