During an open forum Q&A session on campus, Central Connecticut State University President Zulma R. Toro and students engaged in a heated exchange regarding a list of questions and concerns on Monday, March 4. 

Student and president of the Intersectional Justice Coalition, Lily Mercado, presented everyone in attendance with a list of 20 questions prepared based on the concerns of various student leaders on campus.

Mercado asked President Toro if she would answer the 20 questions listed in the document, but Toro declined and said that there were things included that she could not discuss. 

“I am not going to respond question by question. I think I have covered a number of topics included in those questions,” Toro said. “If you want to have a conversation, I am willing to have a conversation, but there are things here when it comes, as I mentioned, to personnel matters that I am not at liberty to discuss in public.”

Mercado pushed for more answers but said President Toro just deflected any of the questions she asked.

“It was really disappointing to see Toro denying questions that I had, especially considering it is an open forum,” Mercado said. 

The two questions listed that raised the most concern were about the need for more available space for students to use for prayer during the day and the lack of air conditioning units in some of the residence and dining halls on campus.  

President Toro said that due to limited space on campus, not everyone can be accommodated individually, but there are shared spaces on campus for students to use.

President Toro said that these questions were targeted and that Mercado disrespectfully presented the questions.

“Let me just say that it’s the tone of the questions and the way you are phrasing the questions,” Toro said. “You deserve respect, but I deserve respect.”

Another Central student, Nylamar Samuels, continued the conversation about allotting spaces for religious practice.

Samuels recently converted to Islam, she said, and is calling for designated areas for prayer on campus. 

“We need to have prayer rooms in every building on campus,” Samuels said. 

Samuels also confronted the fact that Ramadan is near, and she cannot eat anything from sunrise to sunset. The dining halls on campus close before sunset, she said.

Alex Zupan, the vice president of the sociology club, raised concerns about the lack of air conditioning units in some of the residence and dining halls.

Zupan said that Memorial Hall, where she works, could become a liability for the university due to the lack of air conditioning.

“I personally work there, and I talk to the cooks there, and it’s really hot in the summer,” Zupan said. “People deserve proper A/C because what if someone has heat exhaustion? Isn’t that on you guys?” 

Chief Operating Officer Salvatore Cintorino said that there is currently a $17 million project planned using auxiliary funds to add air conditioning to Memorial Hall.

Zupan said multiple times that she felt Toro was being distant toward students with concerns. She said Toro lacked eye contact during the exchange.

“I’m sure you’re a wonderful person, but you’re kind of coming off as cold, and you’re not even looking at me right now,” Zupan said. 

After the open forum, Zupan said she was asking legitimate questions but felt that President Toro was coming off as cold and purposefully attempting to avoid questions.