Also at the DA, delegates will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment (text below). The union will also hand out several awards, including its Nina Mitchell Award for Distinguished Service to longtime activists Judith Bird of Farmingdale and Henry Steck of Cortland. Two SUNY undergraduates — Rita Nederman of Farmingdale and Daniel Schultz of Geneseo — will receive this year’s Eugene P. Link scholarships.

— Karen L. Mattison

AFTCA: Voice, ad campaign earn national kudos

UUP’s monthly magazine and its 2002 legislative advertising campaign won top honors in a prestigious national communications competition.

The Voice won first-place honors for best art/photo, while the ad campaign, “Under-funding SUNY undermines New York,” garnered the union’s other first-place award in the annual contest sponsored by the AFT Communications Association (AFTCA). AFTCA is an organization of public relations professional staff and elected leaders of AFT state and local federations.

Judges praised the advertising slogan, adding, “Good job of connecting the public and the important role higher education plays.”

The winning artwork, “Road scholars” by freelancer Jason Yungbluth, ran on the cover of the October 2001 issue of The Voice, inset. The illustration underscored the exploitation of part-timers on the nation’s campuses.

“This is a wonderful picture that truly captures the reality of part-timers in higher education. A fun, exciting and attention-grabbing graphic,” wrote the judges.

— Karen L. Mattison

Health: Breast cancer walks slated for October

Walking for better health takes on new meaning next month when NYSUT and UUP members will make strides against breast cancer under the union banner.

NYSUT has signed on as a new statewide flagship sponsor for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks, held during October by the American Cancer Society.

NYSUT First Vice President Antonia Cortese encourages all UUPers to mark their calendars for this important cause. Joint UUP/NYSUT walks are scheduled for Oct. 6 in Binghamton and Oct. 20 in Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Syracuse and Utica.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer raises funds to support the American Cancer Society’s awareness, screening and treatment programs; research; and legislative efforts to fight breast cancer. Held in 55 cities, the five-mile, non-competitive walk is the fastest growing fund-raising and awareness event in the country.

NYSUT — with UUP’s help — will build on the successful track record established by more than 400 members from 28 locals, who last year raised nearly $50,000 to fight breast cancer.

Watch The Voice, and other UUP and NYSUT publications, for more information on how to sign up for a UUP/NYSUT team — either as a walker or a volunteer.

In Memoriam: UUP mourns unionist Jack Ether of Albany

Longtime unionist and education pioneer John “Jack” Ether of SUNY Albany, inset, died Sept. 22 after a long battle with cancer.

Ether, an emeritus professor of education, earned the union’s 1991 Nina Mitchell Award for Distinguished Service. He will be remembered for his leading role in education issues that helped to shape UUP policy and increase the union’s stature as a player in education reform.

The union won national recognition for its first statewide Conference on Teacher Education, organized and chaired by Ether.

“Many of us remember Jack as an honest, stand-up guy who always tried to do what he thought was best for the union and the professions we practice,” said UUP President William Scheuerman. “He was a mentor and a friend. I know we will all miss him.”

Contributions may be made to “Jack’s Fund,” a scholarship fund established in Ether’s honor. Send donations to: Sorrell Chesin, SUNY Endowment Fund, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12222.

— Karen L. Mattison

Psychologist seeks Sept. 11 recollections

An associate professor of psychology is hoping UUP members will share their stories of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

UUPer Arlene Stillwell, vice president for academics of the union chapter at Potsdam, is undertaking a Web research project entitled World Trade Center Stories. Responses are confidential.

Stillwell believes these stories “will help us to better understand the psychological effects of traumatic events” such as last year’s terrorist attacks. To participate in the project, go to http://www2.potsdam.edu/PSYC/stillwam/WTC/wtcstudy.html.

Labor notes: NYSUT to represent Dowling College part-time faculty

The adjunct faculty at Dowling College in Suffolk County have voted to accept union representation by UUP’s statewide affiliate, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). NYSUT President Thomas Hobart said an overwhelming percentage of the 350 Dowling adjunct/part-time faculty members voted in support of affiliation with NYSUT, the state’s largest union. NYSUT has represented the full-time faculty at Dowling College for more than 20 years.

“This is just another step in our efforts to help ensure adjuncts are treated as professionals, not only at Dowling College, but at every college and university in New York state,” Hobart said. “Adjuncts are a vital part of the academic community. They make a vital contribution to the educational mission of our colleges and universities.

“To maximize that contribution, adjuncts need to be treated as professionals,” he added.

Hobart noted that adjuncts earn 40 cents on the dollar compared to full-time faculty and they have no job security or retirement benefits. In addition, Dowling adjuncts do not have access to health-care insurance.