Silver: Stony Brook holiday plan 'hostile'

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has asked Stony Brook University to scrap plans to have classes on some religious holidays, implying it's a "hostile" maneuver that will hurt the campus and students.

In a letter Thursday to university president Dr. Samuel L. Stanley Jr., Silver, an Orthodox Jew, labeled the change "unacceptable."

"By taking away these holidays, Stony Brook has created an environment that can be seen as hostile to observant students of all faiths," he wrote. The letter was also sent to H. Carl McCall, chairman of the State University of New York's board of trustees.

Silver's protest comes after Newsday's story Thursday on the university's decision not to cancel classes on major Jewish and Christian holidays. The plan will start this fall, and Stony Brook says it is putting itself in line with other major research universities by ending a practice that honors only some religions.

"Students should not have to choose between going to class and observing their religious holidays," Silver (D-Manhattan) wrote. It "punishes students who observe religious holidays and puts them at a disadvantage," he said.

The university issued a statement last night, saying it "deeply respects" the speaker's concerns and will work with the campus Interfaith Center to provide more worship space and accommodate special dietary needs on religious days.

"The university is completely committed to do what is necessary to accommodate students and faculty who choose to observe their religious holidays while classes are in session -- no one will be penalized, no tests given, no papers due," the statement said.

The new calendar has upset some students and faculty, who say they were not consulted. But Charles Robbins, who spearheaded the change as vice provost for undergraduate education and dean of the undergraduate colleges, had previously said the changes are more respectful to students.

"We believe this provides two essential things -- a sound educational calendar and at the same time an equal level of respect for all religions and faiths," Robbins told Newsday.Silver thinks the changes will damage the university's reputation: "I worry that this new policy may discourage those who observe religious holidays from attending or serving on the faculty."