Petition in Support of and to Reinstate Mark Hartwell and Peter Kuryla sign now

We, the students of Finger Lakes Community College (hereinafter referred to as the Students), are appalled, shocked and amazed at the actions taken by the governing body of Finger Lakes Community College (hereinafter referred to as the College) concerning the events surrounding Mark Hartwell and Peter Kuryla- leading to and affecting their current and future employment by the College.

All actions aside and understood, we find Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Kuryla to be educators of the caliber that inspire, enlighten, and makes a student feel worthy of themselves and the education they deserve. Most students see education as something that is expected or forced upon them to do. They may find something that interests them to allow their time to be somewhat bearable, and now and then enjoy their time at any educational facility. However, when students encounter the caliber of education that Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Kuryla give impart and expect to and from their students, they experience something that they will never forget. Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Kuryla leave an indelible impression on every student they encounter, inside a classroom and in mere passing, throughout the hallways of the College.

We also understand that there are events surrounding Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Kuryla as of late that have forced the hand of frightened individuals of influence and power at the College. When an aging and wounded leader is in fear of their seat in their professional or personal lives, it is a known psychological and sociological defense pattern for them to allege, and use the waning influences at their command, to effectively limit the impending threat at their feet.

We understand that Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Kuryla are not your typical run-of-the-mill, cookie cutter educators that are commonly seen in this educational arena. They do not see the body of students before them as their job, or as what they have to do. They wants to do what they are doing, and never merely teach a subject. Independent thinking and problem solving skills are the gifts Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Kuryla give freely to each willing student they encounter. Inspiration and dedication are the tools elicited by Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Kuryla to develop the minds of the future that the College is producing for the coming ages.

By the attached signature pages, the concerned students and faculty of Finger Lakes Community College, hereby request and demand that our educational leaders act now to have the employment statuses of Mark Hartwell and Peter Kuryla fully reinstated to their positions at Finger Lakes Community College, a formal statement of apology to be published to the student body and also to be read into the Board of Trustees monthly minutes upon said reinstatement.

The Concerned Students/Faculty
for Quality Education