It’s been approximately three months since I was elected UUP president. And in reviewing that relatively short period of time, I was struck with the thought that maybe I’m really living the life of Phil Connors and this is “Groundhog Day.” Remember the 1993 movie starring Bill Murray? That is, just like the hapless weatherman forced to live every day over again, we’re facing our yearly budget crunch with SUNY programs at risk and potentially “on the chopping block.”

I’ve been a SUNY faculty member at Upstate Medical University for 30 years. And, quite frankly, I don’t recall a single year where SUNY — in whole or in part — hasn’t suffered some type of fiscal insult. Indeed, I’m struck by a comment made by NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin that “SUNY hasn’t had a real friend in the governor’s office — someone who understands the value of and need for appropriate funding — since Nelson Rockefeller.” Rockefeller resigned his governorship 35 years ago; so that’s a long, long time to be without a friend!

So where do we find one? In response to this year’s budget crisis, UUP members and our UUP Outreach Committee have pressed our agenda with legislators at both their home locations and in Albany. As UUP president, I’ve reached out to the leadership of both the Senate and Assembly, and I’ve made our “pitch” to former governor Eliot Spitzer, in a meeting only a few hours after my election. And our NYSUT lobbyists have corralled, cornered, and cajoled the legislative leaders as well as the “rank and file.” All, with whom we met, were friendly — but, as it turns out, not all of them have been our friends, either.

So where do you suppose we’ll find our missing “friends?” I think I have a clue — and it’s probably not all that surprising. I think our “friends” are all around us. They are the people we encounter near our campuses every day; they are the people who reach out and accept our money as we pay for fuel, food, services, or whatever. They are the people who benefit from our employment. And, more importantly, they are the people who’d suffer most if our numbers were diminished. Think of it: How would the economy of your hometown fare if SUNY were taken out of the picture? How many people not directly employed by SUNY would be able to continue down the same economic paths they’ve followed as a result of dollars flowing into and out of SUNY?

There’s a well-known concept that every SUNY dollar translates into an approximate six-to eight-fold benefit to the local economy. We need to capitalize on some similar type of “multiplier” to increase our political pressure on our governmental officials. No doubt our “friends” are that multiplier.

My next question is: “How do we activate our ‘friends’ and get them to contact the governor and legislators to insist that SUNY gets its fair share?” Think about it. I’m going to ask our Outreach Committee to consider focusing a campaign on activating our local merchants and business people to help us “grow SUNY to grow New York.” Your ideas and suggestions on how we can engage our “friends” to help us would be most welcome. I think we’ll have to focus on local solutions, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. You know your community better than anyone else, so please do share your thoughts and ideas.

Turning to yet another way you can help, this is the final issue of The Voice for the current publication cycle this academic year.

Over the next few months, the communications department will be working hard planning and preparing for next year’s publication program. Hence, I want to remind you, our reader, we are seeking your input to make this a better publication — one that you would like to read and share with your colleagues. There are several ways that you can help. For example, if you know of something unique to your campus, department, colleagues, or community that would be of general interest to other UUPers, please contact us to discuss a potential story. Alternatively, you may want to contribute something in your own “voice” that would be your story of what’s happening at your campus, etc. Of course, you’re welcome to submit an article in written form. But, if you’re not inclined to “put pen to paper,” we can send one of our professional staff writers to interview you and your colleagues to help bring your story to life. Let me emphasize, I’m really serious about improving the content and “readability” of our union publication. And we can’t make these changes without your suggestions, help and input.

Please feel free to contact me if you can contribute any ideas or suggestions as solicited above. I’m easy to reach: (800) 342-4206 or psmith@uupmail.org

Oh, yes … please enjoy a happy, safe and productive summer! We’ll see you again in the fall when our publication cycle resumes.