Colleagues,
At last Friday’s Executive Board meeting, the attached resolutions were passed. Yesterday, they were shared with Chapter Presidents. But given the importance of each of them, I felt it necessary to share them as widely as possible. Please feel free to share them with your colleagues.
One addresses the structural violence directed against communities of color. It focuses on the wide spectrum of challenges that must be met and changes that are necessary for our state and nation to overcome our history of racism and violence. The other, in a similar vein, addresses the departure of Chancellor Johnson, and calls for a nationwide search — one which must aggressively pursue candidates who come from under-represented communities of color. For SUNY to finally begin to address its lack of diversity in administration, faculty and staff, it must start at the top. At a time when New York is quickly becoming a state in which the majority of the population will come from communities of color, this step must be taken. It is long overdue.
UUP Executive Board Resolution on Social Justice
UUP Executive Board Resolution re SUNY Chancellor Position
I urge you to study both resolutions, as they demand much of all of us. There are no quick and simple solutions to the challenges we face. The work awaits us all.
I wish all of you a restful and enjoyable Independence Day Holiday weekend. Please stay safe and stay well.
In Solidarity,
Fred