UNITED UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONS
2007 Spring Delegate Assembly Highlights and Resolutions

The 2007 Spring Delegate Assembly of United University Professions was called to order by President William E. Scheuerman at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2007 in the King Street Ballroom of The Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY.

In pre-plenary activities:

• Academic Delegates heard from Laura Rhoads (Potsdam), Chair of the Task Force on Recruiting Academics.
• Professional Delegates held a general discussion on Professional Issues.

In the Friday evening Plenary Session, Delegates heard the reports of President Scheuerman, Treasurer Blackman-Stroud, Vice President for Academics Floss, Vice President for Professionals Marino and Secretary Landy.  Delegates approved the 2007-2008 UUP Budget.

Delegates adopted a Resolution of Condolences to Virginia Technical University.
Whereas, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a great public university that has served the people of Virginia and this nation since 1872; and
Whereas, the Virginia Tech community has suffered a grievous loss of students and teachers, of family and friends in a horrific attack that defies explanation; and
Whereas, we remember the heroic response of many individuals, and especially a colleague who sacrificed himself for the well being of his students; and
Whereas, we as members of the public higher education community mourn the loss of these innocents and deeply regret the consequent loss of a sense of peace and confidence that defines academe; therefore be it
Resolved, that the 2007 Spring Delegate Assembly of UUP conveys our prayers, our solidarity, our friendship, and our heartfelt compassion to the entire Virginia Tech community as all of us in higher education seek to recover our optimism and hope for the future.

At the Friday night Delegate Assembly dinner:

• Raymond D. Strother, President of the political consulting firm of Strother-Duffy-Strother, addressed Delegates on the 2008 elections and the decline of civility in politics.
• UUP Journalism Awards were given in the following categories:

General Excellence:
Best in Class (I) 
System Administration, System: UUP  Editor: Anne Siddall

Best in Class (II) 
Stony Brook, Insight Co-editors: Dawn Svoboda-Pappas and Diane Rodriguez

Award of Merit 
Farmingdale, Unifier Editor, Yolanda Pauze

Honorable Mention 
Cortland, The Cortland Cause Editor, Alex Reid 

Best Feature Story:
Best in Class
Stony Brook, Sarah Battaglia, UUP Marches for Freedom and Justice

Award of Merit
Oneonta, William Simons, Leadership On and Off the Court

Best Editorial or Column:
Best in Class
Stony Brook, Judith Wishnia, Grandma’s Advice to the Young

Award of Merit 
Farmingdale, Michael Smiles, It’s Just a Matter of Your Priorities

Honorable Mention
Donald Masterson, Oswego, Let’s Not Get Burned by FIRE’s Rhetoric

Best Art or Photo:
Best in Class
Stony Brook, Insight, March for Freedom photos

Award of Merit 
Cortland, The Cortland Cause, Picnic photos, Dawn Van Hall

Best Web Site:
Best in Class
Purchase, www.uuphost.org/puchase, William Lundmark, webmaster

Honorable Mention
Upstate Medical University, www.uupinfosyr.org, Dan Dippel, webmaster

After dinner, Delegates participated in the Candidates Forum.

At the Saturday Plenary, Delegates elected:

• William Scheuerman, President
• Eileen Landy, Secretary
• Ed Quinn, Membership Development Officer
• Executive Board Academics:

Weston Kennison (Geneseo)
Glenn McNitt  (New Paltz)
Laura Rhoads (Potsdam)
Mike Smiles (Farmingdale)
Ezra Zubrow (Buffalo Center)

• Executive Board Professionals:

Caroline Bailey (ESF)
Edison Bond (Brooklyn HSC)
Darryl Wood (Binghamton)

Delegates adopted a Constitutional Amendment to change the name of the Legislation Committee to the UUP Outreach Committee.
To amend Article X, Section 1. Paragraph 1, line 900 and line 935 as follows:

Lines 899 to 903:
The Standing Committees of this organization shall be the Committees on Negotiations, [Legislation] UUP Outreach, Membership, Finance, Grievance, Elections and Credentials, Affirmative Action, Active Retired Membership, Part-Time Concerns, Solidarity, and Women’s Rights and Concerns.

Lines 935 to 940:
The [Legislation] UUP Outreach Committee shall prepare proposals for consideration by the Executive Board as legislative aims of the organization, shall carry out such other functions as may be assigned to it by the President or the Executive Board, and shall report to the President, the Executive Board, and the Delegate Assembly.

Delegates took the following actions:

1. Adopted a Resolution of Appreciation for departing Executive Board Members Harvey Axlerod, Patty Bentley, Candy Merbler and Bob Rees.

Whereas, Patty Bentley has served on the Executive Board since 1999; and
Whereas, Bob Rees has served on the Executive Board since 2003, and
Whereas, Harvey Axlerod served his most recent term on the Executive Board from 2005-2007; and
Whereas, Candy Merbler served on the Executive Board from 2005-2007; and
Whereas, during their service neither Patty nor Candy nor Harvey were ever shy about voicing their opinions or articulating their positions; and
Whereas, Bob was more reticent about voicing his opinion but no less articulate about his positions; and
Whereas, all four, when expressing their views, always kept the best interests of the UUP membership in the forefront; and
Whereas, Patty Bentley, Bob Rees, Candy Merbler and Harvey Axlerod 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.

2. Adopted a Resolution from the Affirmative Action Committee to establish an annual statewide UUP Affirmative Action Workshop.

Be it;
Resolved, that the Delegate Assembly support the establishment of an annual UUP Statewide Affirmative Action Workshop, beginning in calendar year 2008, so that members of chapter Affirmative Action committees and other interested members may be apprised of and trained in the role of and implementation of affirmative action in the University.

3. Adopted a joint Resolution from the Solidarity and Labor and Higher Education Committees in support of justice for workers at Smithfield Packing, Inc.

Whereas, the Smithfield Packing plant in Tar Heel NC is the largest pork processor in the world, employing more than 5,000 workers slaughtering more than 32,000 hogs a day; and
Whereas, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union is involved in a bitter fourteen-year long struggle to organize the workers in this facility; and
Whereas, Smithfield Packing, Inc. has twice been found by the NLRB to have violated worker rights in two earlier union recognition campaigns; and
Whereas, the workers in Tar Heel are now engaged in a third effort to organize for collective bargaining representation with the UFCW and need all the support they can get from working people everywhere to overcome management resistance; therefore be it
Resolved, that UUP supports justice for workers at Smithfield Packing, Inc. in their efforts to organize themselves into a union; and be it further
Resolved, that UUP will supply UUP chapters with materials to inform and educate our members about the working conditions at Smithfield and ways to be informed consumers to avoid products made at Tar Heel (see <www.smithfieldjustice.com>), and encourage our chapters and members to be proactive in the pursuit of justice for Smithfield workers; and be it further
Resolved, that UUP President Bill Scheuerman will contact Smithfield Foods, the parent company, and request that management in Tar Heel stop all forms of abuse, intimidation, and violence against its workers and respect the rights of their workers at Tar Heel to a safe place to work with dignity and respect and the protection of a union contract; and be it further
Resolved, that UUP communicate this resolution to its affiliates at NYSUT and AFT with a request that these affiliates take appropriate action to support the Smithfield workers.

4. Adopted a Resolution from the Solidarity Committee supported by the Executive Board recommending UUP not serve Coca-Cola products at its statewide events.

Whereas, more than 3,000 trade unionists have been assassinated in Colombia since 1990; and
Whereas, the Coca-Cola Company and its Colombian bottlers are being sued in the United States under the Alien Claims Tort Act for having "contracted with or otherwise directed paramilitary security forces that used extreme violence and murdered, tortured, and unlawfully detained or otherwise silenced trade union leaders.";
Whereas, a fact-finding delegation of labor, educator and student representatives led by New York City Council member Hiram Monserrate and including members of AFT, AFSCME/CSEA and CWA concluded, based on a 10-day trip to Colombia in January of 2004, that Coca-Cola is complicit in human rights abuses in Colombia" and that its "complicity is deepened by its repeated pattern of bringing criminal charges against union activists who have spoken out about the company's collusion with the paramilitaries.";
Whereas, various courts, government agencies and independent studies have confirmed community concerns in India that the Coca-Cola Company is responsible for polluting the groundwater and soil, distributing toxic waste as fertilizer, causing severe water shortages and selling drinks with high levels of pesticides in India;
Whereas, the Coca-Cola Company uses sugar harvested by children in El Salvador who, in the process of harvesting, suffer from smoke inhalation, burns, and cuts from machetes yet are not provided with health care;
Whereas, union activists in Colombia and throughout the world are calling on their union brothers and sisters to boycott Coca-Cola, therefore be it
Resolved, that the UUP Delegate Assembly recommends to the statewide UUP Executive Board that UUP not serve Coca-Cola products at its events, meetings, conferences, and delegate assemblies; and be it further
Resolved, that the UUP Delegate Assembly recommends to the statewide UUP Executive Board that it urge UUP chapters not to serve Coca-Cola products at their events, meetings, and conferences; and be it further
Resolved, that the UUP Delegate Assembly recommends to the statewide UUP Executive Board that it urge UUP chapters to press for the termination of contracts with Coca-Cola on their campuses.

5. Adopted a Resolution from the Solidarity Committee affirming a woman’s right to control her reproductive life.

Whereas, the Supreme Court of the United States in a 5-4 decision upheld a law passed by Congress that would criminalize a specific medical procedure that is employed, when necessary, according to the judgment of the physician, to save the life and protect the health of a pregnant woman; and
Whereas, this decision prevents a woman’s access to a medical procedure that could save her life; and
Whereas, this decision fundamentally undermines a woman’s right to health care and her right to make her own reproductive decisions; and
Whereas this decision ignored a broad consensus of medical opinion in order to promote a politically motivated result; therefore be it
Resolved, that UUP supports a woman’s right to control her reproductive life; and be it further
Resolved, that UUP opposes the interference of politicians in medical decisions; and be it further
Resolved, that UUP encourages delegates and members to communicate the union’s position to their federal and state elected officials and urge them to take legislative action to reverse the law that was upheld by this Court decision; and be it further
Resolved, that the UUP president communicate this position to our affiliates NYSUT and AFT.
Be it further recommended that members and delegates take this resolution back to their chapters for appropriate action in support of this position, including passing resolutions and communicating the UUP position to their elected officials statewide.

6. Adopted a Resolution from the Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee to hold a Women’s Health Open Hearing at the 2007 Fall Delegate Assembly.

Whereas, CLUW liaison asked the Committee to support a Women’s Health Open Hearing to be held at the Fall Delegate Assembly; and
Whereas, the Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee is supportive of collaboration with CLUW; therefore be it
Resolved, that UUP schedule a Women’s Health Open Hearing at the Fall DA and that Carol Jacobson be invited to speak on women’s health at this open hearing; and be it further

7. Referred to the Executive Board a Resolution from the Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee.

Resolved, that UUP purchase T-shirts from CLUW to be worn by members of the Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee at the Fall DA showing our support for the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

8. Adopted a Resolution from the Human and Civil Rights Committee in Support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Whereas, Federal labor law specifically provides employees the right to choose union representation;
Whereas, recent decisions of the NLRB and the Supreme Court have greatly diminished the right of private sector employees to choose union representation;
Whereas, the percentage of private sector employees who are represented by unions has dwindled to below 10%;
Whereas, there is a bill currently impending in Congress, the Employee Free Choice Act that would greatly help  to restore the right of private sector employees to be represented by unions.
Whereas, at the Employee Free Choice Act has already been endorsed by the AFL-CIO and many unions in the country; it is hereby
Resolved, that UUP publicly declare support for the Employee Free Choice Act and it is further resolved, that the President of UUP will encourage members of UUP to communicate their support for the Employee Free Choice Act to their Legislators.

9. Adopted a Resolution from the Veterans Affairs Committee that the national anthem be performed at the opening of Delegate Assemblies.

Whereas, we are all members of UUP, the American Federation of Labor, the American Federation of Teachers, AAUP, and the New York State United Teachers; and
Whereas, to recognize, appreciate and honor that sacred right to assemble; be it
Resolved, that the National Anthem be performed at the opening of the Delegate Assemblies.

10. Adopted a Resolution from the Executive Board in support of the Faculty and Professional Staff of Marymount College of Fordham University.

Whereas, the consolidation of Marymount College with Fordham University was announced in 2000 as a benign transition, to have little impact on the terms or conditions of employment for the faculty, who have been organized for 30 years as a unit of AAUP; and
Whereas, the commitment has been violated by the stunning announcement that the faculty’s contract employment is terminated as of May 21, 2007; and
Whereas, Fordham University has made little effort or commitment of employment for the displaced faculty; and
Whereas, this represents the violation and termination of tenure and contractual bargaining; and
Whereas, such termination is untenable and strikes at the heart of faculty rights, attacking the very bedrock of tenure and collective bargaining; therefore be it
Resolved, UUP strongly recommends that President Scheuerman bring the plight of the Marymount College faculty to the attention of AAUP and appropriate accreditation agencies, and request that AAUP demand Fordham rescind its actions; and be it further
Resolved, that the actions of Fordham University be reviewed by Committee A, and that Fordham University be placed on the AAUP list of censured colleges; and be it further
Resolved, that President Scheuerman convey the facts of the attacks on tenure and collective bargaining at Marymount College to the AFT and ask for action on behalf of the Marymount faculty; and be it further
Resolved, that President Scheuerman send a letter of support to the faculty of Marymount College; and be it further
Resolved, that UUP Delegates convey to the Marymount College faculty information on employment possibilities at their campuses and facilitate the application for employment of our colleagues at Marymount College; and be it further
Resolved, that UUP bring a Special Order of Business to the NYSUT RA condemning the outrageous treatment of our colleagues at Marymount College.
                       

11. Referred to the Executive Board a Resolution for all News Media Regarding Coverage of Spree Violence and Similar Tragic Events.

Whereas, the recent tragedy at Virginia Polytechnic and State University has been followed by several smaller incidents for which the Virginia Tech massacre may be seen as a flashpoint;
Whereas, historically, similar spree violence has occurred in waves that may be seen as fads, such as the many school shootings of the Nineties;
Whereas, some media (but not all) have packaged images, video, and audio of the assailant in ways not dissimilar to representations of fictional characters in popular culture, ranging from film to television to graphic novels; and
Whereas, some such representations have given massive though posthumous attention to a disturbed individual and dwarfed coverage of the lives and accomplishments of the innocent victims of this tragedy; and
Whereas, such glorified overage may inspire other disturbed individuals to make their marks upon the world by going out in an erstwhile blaze of glory; and
Whereas, the purpose of freedom of the press, a fundamental principle of our democracy, is to serve the well-being of the American people rather than their destruction; be it
Resolved, that the 2007 Spring Delegate Assembly of United University Professions take a public position in support of the principle that a free press informs and educates but an irresponsible press inflames and exploits and that UUP convey said principle to all relevant media outlets in the hope that future coverage of inevitable tragedies will not be packaged as entertainment.

The 2007 Spring Delegate Assembly adjourned at 1:00 p.m.