A recent online petition is calling for a ban of NFL quarterback Michael Vick from the New York Jets training camp site at SUNY Cortland.
The petition, posted to Change.org, refers to Vick as a “sociopath” and condemns his past involvement in illegal dog fighting.
The former Philadelphia Eagle served an 18-month prison term for the crimes and was reinstated by the NFL nearly five years ago.
By midday Tuesday, the petition, which is addressed to SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum, had received over 3,500, of the 5,000 signatures it needs.
I love SUNY Cortland, and cannot abide welcoming this sociopath onto our campus with open arms. We need to stand by what is right as a university by barring him from the grounds. I don’t want him anywhere near my beloved college or community. We MUST send the message that we won’t be party to the torture of animals by conveniently forgetting what he has done. If we welcome Vick onto our campus, we are complicit in his crimes.
In the years since serving time, the NFL star has talked to students about his mistakes and even took his anti-dog fighting message to Congress in an effort to prohibit attendance at animal fights and teach children the dangers of such events.
Vick became a free agent earlier this year, and recently signed with the Jets. He is expected to compete with the Jets’ current first-string quarterback, Geno Smith, for the starting position.
Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.