2010 SPRING DELEGATE ASSEMBLY
HIGHLIGHTS AND RESOLUTIONS

The 2010 Spring Delegate Assembly was called to order by President Phillip H. Smith at 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 14, 2010 in the King Street Ballroom of the Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY.

In Pre-Plenary Activities:

• AAUP General Secretary Gary Rhoades addressed all interested Delegates during the time normally reserved for constituent meetings.

In the Friday evening Plenary Session:

• Delegates voted to adopt the schedule extending the Saturday Plenary to 2:00 p.m.

• Delegates heard the report of President Phil Smith.

• Delegates heard the report of Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud.

• Delegates adopted the 2010 – 2011 UUP budget.

At the Friday night dinner:

• Journalism Awards were given to the following:

Class I (fewer than 500 members)

Cobleskill: Unity

Honorable Mention General Excellence Editor: Jennifer Schorf

Delhi: The Delhi Voice

Best in Class General Excellence Editor: John Taylor

Best in Class Best Editorial/Column Writer: John Taylor

Class II (500-1,000 members)

Brockport

Best in Class Best Website Webmaster: Kristen Adduci

Cortland: The Cortland Cause

Best in Class General Excellence Editor: Karla Alwes

Best in Class Best Feature Story Writer: Karla Alwes

Best in Class Best Art/Photo Photographer: Brian Tappen

Honorable Mention Best Editorial/Column Writer: Jamie Dangler

Farmingdale: Unifier

Honorable Mention General Excellence Editor: Margaret Porciello

Honorable Mention Best Website Webmaster: Margaret Porciello

Oneonta: The Sentinel

Award of Merit (tie) General Excellence Editor: Jill Attanasio

Oswego: In Touch

Best in Class Best Editorial/Column Writer: Steve Rosow

Award of Merit (tie) General Excellence Editor: Don Masterson

Award of Merit Best Website Webmaster: Maureen Curtin

Plattsburgh: The Union News

Award of Merit Best Editorial/Column Writer: Dave Curry

Class III (more than 1,000 members)

Albany

Honorable Mention Best Website Webmaster: Michael Knee

Binghamton: Connection

Best in Class General Excellence Editor: George McKee

Award of Merit Best Feature Story Writer: Jim Dix

Award of Merit (tie) Best Editorial/Column Writer: Peter Knuepfer

Stony Brook: Insight

Best in Class Best Website Webmaster: Pam Wolfskill

Honorable Mention Best Editorial/Column Writer: Ed O’Connell

Stony Brook HSC

Honorable Mention Best Website Webmaster: Bruce Kube

Upstate Medical University: The Advisor

Best in Class Best Art/Photo Photographer: Brian Tappen

Award of Merit Best Website Webmaster: Colin Massulik

Award of Merit (tie) Best Editorial/Column Writer: Colin Massulik

UUP Retirees: The Active Retiree

Best in Class Best Editorial/Column Writer: Judy Wishnia

Best in Class Best Feature Story Writer: Mac Nelson

Award of Merit General Excellence Editor: Judy Wishnia

Writer: Judith Wishnia of Stony Brook

After dinner, Delegates participated in the Candidates Forum.

In the Saturday morning Plenary Session, Delegates elected:

• Fred Floss (Buffalo State), Vice President for Academics

• John Marino (Stony Brook HSC), Vice President for Professionals

• Rowena Blackman-Stroud (Brooklyn HSC), Treasurer

• Executive Board, Colleges of Technology:
Ray Gleason (Alfred)

• Executive Board Academics:
Jamie Dangler (Cortland)
Jim Engle (Morrisville)

• Executive Board Professionals:
Philippe Abraham (Albany)
Carolyn Kube (Stony Brook HSC)

Delegates took the following actions:

• Adopted by acclamation a Resolution thanking departing Executive Board members:

A Special Order of Business: A Resolution of Appreciation for Two People Leaving the Executive Board:

Whereas, Peter D.G. Brown and Raul A. Huerta served on the Executive Board since 2008; and

Whereas, during their service Peter and Raul when expressing their views, always kept the best interests of the UUP membership in the forefront; and

Whereas, Peter and Raul will not be continuing their service on the Executive Board after today’s elections; therefore be it

Resolved, that the Delegate Assembly recognize and thank each of them for their years of distinguished service to UUP as members of the Executive Board.

• Adopted a Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Three Civil Rights Leaders from the Affirmative Action Committee:

Whereas, the Affirmative Action committee recognizes the accomplishments of the following civil rights leaders who recently passed away; and

Whereas, we as UUP members desire to honor their memories; therefore be it

Resolved, that we ask the 2010 Spring DA to honor their memories with a moment of silence.

Benjamin Hooks: Native of Virginia, Director of the Federal Communications Commission;

Dorothy Height: CEO National Council of Negro Women, Former President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority;

Lena Horne: Native of Brooklyn, New York, 1st African American female to entertain the troops in the 1940’s, Civil Rights advocate, Lifetime member of the NAACP, Famous singer.

• Adopted a Resolution in Support of a National Cesar Chavez Holiday from the Solidarity Committee:

Whereas, the story of Cesar Chavez contains exceptional lessons in citizenship and social morality; and

Whereas, Cesar Chavez made heroic contributions to the cause of labor in the United States; and

Whereas, Knowledge of his life can serve to counteract erroneous stereotypes about unions and union leaders; and

Whereas, that knowledge can serve also to correct erroneous stereotypes about Hispanic citizens and their contributions to the culture of the United States; and

Whereas, the principle of solidarity demands that unions and union leaders cooperate with the campaign of the United Farm Workers; be it

Resolved, that the United University Professions encourages its Executive Board To reach out to NYSUT and AFT to actively support this campaign by publicity and lobbying the campaign for a national Cesar Chavez holiday; and be it further

Resolved, that UUP and its affiliates NYSUT and AFT encourage the United Farm Workers Union to return to the AFL-CIO.

• Adopted a Resolution in Support of a National Day of Action against the Privatization of Public Education from the Solidarity Committee:

Whereas, UUP has been involved over many years in efforts to stop the privatization of public higher education in New York State, an effort that has intensified because of the statewide effort to privatize SUNY and CUNY through the PHEEIA, the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act; and

Whereas, a March 4th 2010 Day of Action against privatization of public higher education featured actions in 23 states, including numerous universities across the nation, among others SUNY-Stony Brook, SUNY-Binghamton, several CUNY campuses, the University of Wisconsin, UMass Amherst, University of Central Florida, and University of California-Berkeley, among others; and

Whereas, these organizations have involved broad coalitions of trade unions, public sectors unions, student groups, and numerous community organizations, which are calling for a national day of action against privatization of public education on October 7^th of this year; be it

Resolved, that UUP supports the call for a national day of action against the privatization of public education, asks its Executive Board to promote similar resolutions with AFT and NYSUT, and encourages all UUP chapters to become involved with student, community, and other labor allies for actions on their campuses and communities on that date.

• Adopted by Acclamation a Resolution in Opposition to Changes and Initiatives in SUNY resulting from PHEEIA, SUNY’s Strategic Plan and General Education changes from the Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee, Affirmative Action Committee, Committee on Latino Affairs, Disability Rights and Concerns Committee, EOP Committee, Globalization and Corporatization Committee, LGBTQ Committee, Nursing Professions Work Group, Task Force on Emerging Issues of Diversity, Task Force on Pay Equity Based on Race:

Whereas, a number of recently proposed initiatives within SUNY will bring significant and questionable changes within the university; and

Whereas, these changes include 1) the proposed legislation euphemistically entitled the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act (PHEEIA), which will cause disproportionate harm to various members of the bargaining unit and to those students with less disposable income, because it suggests limited access, less state funding per student, a multi-tiered system based on students’ ability to pay, and inconsistent educational quality; and,

Whereas, 2) the university’s recently published strategic plan entitled The Power of SUNY: Strategic Plan 2010 and Beyond eloquently encourages everyone “to put New York State in a category of one, just like SUNY already is”…so that SUNY will “become New York’s home advantage” since “we’re on a journey of a lifetime”; and

Whereas, this plan fails to emphasize research and learning and, instead, highlights economic initiatives among its “Six Big Ideas,” which include A)“SUNY and the Entrepreneurial Century” that proposes, among other things, “inviting successful local entrepreneurs on to our campuses to advise and serve as mentors for our students and professors”; B) “the Seamless Pipeline” that will “help our population retool”; C) a “Healthier New York” identifying “the economic potential and global influence of a unified SUNY system”; D) an “energy smart New York,” since SUNY is “New York’s renewable resource for ideas”; E) SUNY and the Vibrant Community” in which SUNY “forms the steppingstones in the development of a new creative economy”; and F) SUNY and the World” in which SUNY is named a transnational enterprise of the highest order”—all because “citizens are justifiably weary of the failings of public institutions...[and] SUNY must make significant changes ”; and

Whereas, diversity, once the “Seventh Big Idea,” is transformed into the Plan’s repeating footnote, casting “minorities and other groups” not as contributors to a more vibrant university, but rather as persons “vastly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math”; lacking in high school diplomas; disproportionately likely to become sick and injured; destined to live near toxic sites where land is cheap; and lacking in cultural fluency.—in other words, a problem to be solved; and

Whereas, 3) in three SUNY Board of Trustees Resolutions adopted between November 2009 and March 2010, alterations in General Education, beginning in September 2010, will allow, for example, SUNY students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree signifying competence not in the current ten General Education skill and knowledge areas, but only in seven-- with further exemptions for specialized colleges and colleges of technology—an academic change that will not only devalue degrees granted and the education provided to graduates, but also limit the number and permanence of faculty positions on our campuses; therefore be it

Resolved, that President Phil Smith direct appropriate UUP committees to explore additional options and develop an action plan before the next Delegate Assembly in order for UUP to combat the current challenges and respond to these efforts at diminution and corporatization through PHEEIA, the Strategic Plan 2010, and resolutions concerning General Education; so that the State University of New York may continue to support the discovery, dissemination, and accessibility of knowledge that leads to a great and distinguished university and a prosperous, healthy, and just society.

• Adopted a Resolution that UUP Recognize Contributions of People with Disabilities from the Disability Rights and Concerns Committee:

Whereas, approximately 20% of the U.S. population has one or more disabilities; and

Whereas, any UUP member can become disabled at any time; and

Whereas, policies for people with disabilities are not consistently applied across campuses; and

Whereas, people with disabilities continue to be marginalized on our campuses and in our society at large; and

Whereas, 2010 is the 20^th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act; therefore be it

Resolved, that UUP recognize the contributions of people with disabilities; and be it further

Resolved, that UUP train and educate its members on disability and accessibility issues; and be it further

Resolved, that UUP actively work to insure inclusive campuses that provide quality experiences and work lives for all of its members.

• Adopted a Resolution Condemning the Actions of Marquette University in Rescinding the Appointment of Dr. Jodi O’Brien as Dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences from the LGBTQ Committee:

Whereas, Marquette University claims "it is firmly committed to and reaffirms its policy of nondiscrimination and affirmative action in its recruitment practices;" and

Whereas, Marquette University states "As a Catholic, Jesuit university, Marquette recognizes and cherishes the dignity of each individual regardless of age, culture, faith, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, disability or social class;" and

Whereas, Seattle University professor Jodi O'Brien was offered a position as dean of the Milwaukee-based Catholic university's Klingler College of Arts and Sciences; and

Whereas, Dr. O'Brien accepted the job but then said job offer was allegedly rescinded because Dr. O'Brien is a lesbian; and

Whereas, UUP has historically supported the civil rights of all employees of higher education; therefore be it

Resolved, that UUP condemns any action by an institution of Higher Education that restricts or redacts personal, intellectual or academic freedoms under the guise of religious intolerance and that UUP will register such concerns by letter to the President and Board of Marquette University, as well as with Dr. O'Brien; and be it further

Resolved, that this Delegate Assembly request that President Phil Smith send these letters forthwith.

• Adopted a Resolution Condemning Arizona Immigration Law SB1070 2010 from the Committee on Latino Affairs:

Whereas, authority over immigration rests exclusively with the federal government; and

Whereas, policies that affect the treatment of individuals based on their perceived immigrant status are particularly vulnerable to constitutional attack; and

Whereas, Arizona Immigration Law SB1070 2010 is a law will only make the rampant racial profiling of Latinos that is already going on in Arizona much worse; and

Whereas, if this law were implemented, all persons would effectively have to carry ‘their papers’ at all times to avoid arrest, and

Whereas, it is a low point in modern America when a state law requires police to demand documents from people on the street, therefore be it

Resolved, that UUP condemn Arizona Immigration Law SB1070 2010; and be it further

Resolved, that the President of UUP send a first class letter to each of our members residing in Arizona calling their attention to our grave concern for these violations of civil and human rights and urging them to join the struggle to repeal the legislation; and be it further

Resolved, that the President of UUP send a letter to the Governor and Legislature of Arizona, to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and to the AFT convention conveying the sentiment of this resolution.

• Adopted a Resolution that the Committee on Latino Affairs send a letter to the UUP Executive Board asking the Board to consider supporting legal action in reference to the Arizona Immigration Law.

• Adopted a Resolution Asking UUP President Smith to Condemn the Actions of the Iranian Government in Executing Leaders in Labor and Elections Reform from the Labor and Higher Education Committee.

• Adopted a Resolution to Refer the Resolution on AAUP (The UUP Executive Board recommends to the 2010 Winter Delegate Assembly that UUP end its relationship with AAUP immediately) to the 2011 Winter DA.

The 2010 Spring Delegate Assembly adjourned at 12:10 p.m.