SIGMA PI PHI FRATERNITY

ALPHA KAPPA BOULE (BUFFALO, NEW YORK)

For Immediate Release

December 28, 2016

To Whom It May Concern:

Alpha Kappa, the Buffalo Area Member Boul of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, is comprised of local men of
achievement who have been active in various aspects of the Buffalo community and have invested
countless hours in improving the quality of life for African-Americans and our entire community. We are
extremely disheartened and appalled by the recent remarks of Carl Paladino that were directed towards
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. We find these comments to be distasteful, repugnant
and repulsive under any circumstances and certainly not reflective of the principles of respect,
brotherhood and inclusion that have served as cornerstones of basic human decency. The fact that
these remarks come from an individual who serves on the Buffalo School Board and is charged with
helping to set direction and provide quality educational opportunities for our school-aged children is of
special concern given the emphasis placed on the education of children by Sigma Pi Phi globally and
Alpha Kappa Boul in our local community.
There is no question that Mr. Paladinos comments must be repudiated by men and women of good
conscience who have a care and concern for what is right for our community. With something upwards
of 70 percent of the students in Buffalo Public Schools being minorities, it is untenable to think that
someone who expresses such racist views can enjoy the confidence of those he is supposed to
represent. We call on Mr. Paladino to immediately resign his seat on the Buffalo Board of Education.
Failing that, we strongly urge the New York State Education Department and Commissioner Mary Ellen
Elia to remove Mr. Paladino from his seat.
Sigma Pi Phi is the first Greek-letter fraternity to be founded by African-American men and was formed
for the purpose of binding men of like qualities into a union so that they may know the best of one
another and by concerted action bring about those things that seem best for all, that cannot be
accomplished by individual effort. Through its member bouls throughout the world, Sigma Pi Phi seeks
to aid the community by being informed of, and engaged in issues of concern to the community; and by
supporting and providing initiatives that especially benefit black youth, families and communities. This

includes Boul Scholars Programs throughout the country as well as other academic and educational
programs supported by the Boul Foundation
The attached list represents the membership of Alpha Kappa Boul, all of whom endorse and are
signatories of this letter.

Sincerely
Bernard A. Tolbert

Sire Archon
Alpha Kappa Boul