Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
On Campus Blog
Alex Friedrich

What some St. Cloud State students and faculty are protesting

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

According to the UTVS video above and accompanying story, St. Cloud State University is seeing a little unrest over the firing last month of Mahmoud Saffari, its associate VP for enrollment management.

The Students and Faculty of Color Caucus at SCSU on Thursday protested the apparently abrupt Sept. 20 dismissal of Saffari, who'd had the job for eight years. They say he was fired for being a person of color who was critical of the university, the St. Cloud Times reports.

Tamrat Tedeme, St. Cloud State professor of human relations and multicultural education, told a student government meeting:

“You don’t suddenly evict somebody from their office unless their name was Mahmoud I suppose -- or unless they are ... a person of color."

President Earl Potter, in a letter to the faculty caucus, reportedly wrote:

“I will state that I have not, and would not, dismiss a person from employment for having criticized university processes and procedure. You suggest that people of color who access leadership roles are not treated professionally and that they are penalized for disagreeing with senior level administrators. That is not the way I work.”