Teaching Load ● Time for a change John Jay faculty seek recognition for research time. larıon Page 3 CNewspaper of the professional Staff Congress / City University of New York february 2013 Pat Arnow Teaching PSC-CUNY 101 candidates’ school Marcia Newfield, VP for Part-Time Personnel, speaks during “PSC-CUNY 101,” a become effective advocates for CUNY faculty, staff and students. The PSC will two-hour seminar on public higher education and CUNY for candidates running be active throughout 2013 as it works with labor and community allies to shift for New York City Council in 2013, held at the PSC Union Hall on January 26. The New York City away from the politics of austerity. For more, see a roundtable thirty-three candidates were provided with detailed analysis and encouraged to interview with five members of the union’s Legislative Committee. PAGE 10

Medgar Evers History Lesson Pathways Frackademia President Looking at the Rejection on SUNY shutters resigns reel Lincoln many fronts Shale Institute Medgar Evers College Steven Spielberg’s new movie From the annual convention SUNY Buffalo has its repu- President William Pollard about the 16th president ex- of the Modern Languages tation called into question announced his resignation plores the passage of the Thir- Association (MLA) to an after launching, and then after a rocky term in office. teenth Amendment, which array of faculty governance closing, an institute with Faculty and staff say the outlawed slavery. A historian bodies, Pathways continues close ties to the oil and college is in crisis. PAge 2 takes a closer look. Page 11 to meet resistance. Page 7 gas industry. Page 4

American Association of University Professors ● American Federation of Teachers ● national education association ● NYC Central Labor Council ● NYS AFL-CIO ● New York State United Teachers 2 News & Letters Clarion | February 2013 Brooklyn College backs academic freedom

By PETER HOGNESS academic departments, programs, the college. Such intimidation chills is precisely the freedom to express a choose. I mean, if you want to go to and centers, have the right to invite debate and makes a mockery of the position even when that position is a university where the government As Clarion went to press, PSC Pres- speakers, engage in discussion, and ideals of academic freedom.” deeply unpopular.” The officials had decides what kinds of subjects are fit ident Barbara Bowen joined others present ideas to further educational In her letter to Gould, Bowen written to Gould, demanding that the for discussion, I suggest you apply to in supporting Brooklyn College discussion and debate. The mere wrote that the PSC appreciates political science department with- a school in North Korea.” President Karen Gould’s defense of invitation to speak does not her “holding firm, even draw its co-sponsorship of the forum. The mayor rebuked City Council academic freedom after BC’s politi- indicate an endorsement of The PSC, when under fire, to the Bowen said they should retract that members who had explicitly threat- cal science department came under any particular point of view, NY Times & principles of free speech demand, adding, “A college president ened Brooklyn College’s funding attack for co-sponsoring a forum and there is no obligation, as and academic freedom.” who stands up for academic freedom over the incident: “The last thing that on the BDS movement, which calls some have suggested, to pres- Bloomberg Defending the Univer- at CUNY – where academic freedom we need is for members of our City for boycott, divestment and sanc- ent multiple perspectives at all on the sity’s ability to serve as has come under repeated assault in Council or State Legislature to be mi- tions against Israel. The college any one event.... Providing an a home for open debate recent years – should be applauded by cromanaging the kinds of programs came under fire from critics who open forum to discuss impor- same side “is upholding the role of ‘progressive’ politicians, not bullied.” that our public universities run, and wrongly equated the department’s tant topics, even those many find the university as a public good,” base funding decisions on the politi- co-sponsorship with endorsement highly objectionable, is a centuries- wrote Bowen. “The entire society mayor speaks out cal views of professors. I can’t think of of the speakers’ views. Political Sci- old practice on university campuses gains when ideas – both good and On February 6, Mayor Bloomberg anything that would be more destruc- ence Chair Paisley Currah noted around the country.” bad – are exposed to the light of spoke up in support of both the col- tive to a university and its students.” that the department “welcome[s] In a February 5 editorial, The public discourse.” This is one of lege and the political science de- Text of Bowen’s letters and more – indeed encourage[s] – requests New York Times said it “strongly many reasons, she said, that “the partment. “I couldn’t disagree more information are available at www.psc- to co-sponsor speakers and events defend[s] the decision by Brook- PSC-CUNY Collective Bargaining violently with BDS as they call it, cuny.org. from all student groups, depart- lyn College President Karen Gould Agreement makes academic free- boycott, divestment and sanctions,” Bowen invited PSC members to ments and programs.” to proceed with the event, despite dom a contractual right.” the mayor told reporters. “But I could write to Clarion (see below, left) In her February 4 statement, withering criticism by opponents In a separate letter to a group of also not agree more strongly with an with their own points of view. An ac- President Gould said: and threats by at least 10 City Coun- elected officials, the PSC president re- academic department’s right to spon- ademic union, she noted, is always “Students and faculty, including cil members to cut city funding for minded them that “academic freedom sor a forum on any topic that they home to many different opinions.

tation was at risk, due to a failure to comply with three of the 14 criteria MEC president resigns, but stays used by the Commission. MEC is re- quired to provide a monitoring report By JOHN TARLETON Learning Center had reduced its on September 1 of this year, document- Faculty want interim leader number of tutors by half. On Oct. 17, ing that it meets all 14 standards. If the Medgar Evers College President several hundred students walked out Commission determines that the col- William Pollard announced his res- has not designated an interim presi- students and community supporters of their classes and held a rally in lege has made insufficient progress, ignation on January 30. His depar- dent. Instead, Pollard is to remain in of the college. Faculty votes of no- MEC’s main plaza, demanding better the school can be put on probation, ture came after three-and-a-half office until the search for his succes- confidence were approved by wide student services and the resignation which can be followed by either sus- rocky years in office and mounting sor has been completed, a process that margins in December 2010 and again of Pollard and Provost Johnson. pension or removal of accreditation. problems at the college this semes- could take six months or longer. in April 2012, the latter by a With an 8% decline in student en- “It’s going to take many years for ter, culminating with the school be- “We need to have an interim Pollard’s vote of 136 to 13. rollment and its own projections of a the damage to be repaired properly,” ing warned this November that its president so we can deal with record In the Fall 2012 semester, $3-million deficit, on October 3, the Crawford said. accreditation was at risk. the immediate problems we marked by Medgar Evers College went Pollard administration directed de- The news was widely welcomed face in regard to accreditation,” through a series of crises. partment chairs to formulate plans search planned at the college. “We had an incompe- said Sallie Cuffee, chair of the mounting Problems with the campus for reducing Spring course offerings In a January 30 statement, Chancel- tent president,” said PSC Chapter Medgar Evers College (MEC) problems. computer labs meant they by as much as 30%. The administra- lor Goldstein announced that a presi- Chair Clinton Crawford. “There Faculty Senate, who noted that could not be used for the tion backpedaled on course reductions dential search committee had been were no more arguments that he CUNY has often named interim lead- first three weeks of the semester, after protests by the PSC and Faculty formed that included seven members should stay.” ers after presidential resignations. and a number of students received Senate, but the college was shaken. of the Board of Trustees and Lehman But while many faculty and staff After Pollard was named presi- notices that they were behind on tu- The downward spiral continued in President Ricardo Fernandez. Faculty were cheered at the prospect of a new dent of MEC in 2009, he and his ition payments that were supposed November when the Middle States and student representatives remain to president, they also voiced concerns newly appointed provost, Howard to have been covered by financial Commission on Higher Education of- be appointed. The statement affirmed that Chancellor Matthew Goldstein Johnson, quickly alienated faculty, aid. Ongoing cuts to the college’s ficially warned MEC that its accredi- that Pollard would continue as presi- dent until a successor was chosen. Brenda Greene, professor of Eng- lish at MEC and executive director Letters to the editor of the college’s Center for Black Lit- Write to: Clarion/PSC, 61 Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Solving the mold problem erature, served on the search com- E-mail: [email protected]. Fax: (212) 302-7815. mittee that selected Pollard in 2009. That panel began meeting in April of that year and brought finalists to campus by May, a schedule that School bus drivers’ strike Greene says was too hasty: CUNY should learn from that experience, ● When it comes to school buses, do over workforce behind the wheel. If she told Clarion, and be sure to allow you think that the cheapest driver you think union busting is bad for time for a full and thorough search is the best driver – no matter how our kids’ safety, call Schools Chan- process. Meanwhile, she said, CUNY inexperienced, tired or stressed out cellor Dennis Walcott and tell him. should install an interim president they might be? If that’s your view, Kristin Lawler, assistant professor who can rally a demoralized campus. then by all means don’t support the College of Mount St. Vincent Student activists who mobilized school bus drivers’ union in its strike [& former member of the PSC] opposition to Pollard last fall also to maintain seniority protections. want an interim president, and But if you’re a New York City pub- they are backing former Brooklyn lic school parent, and it’s your child Concurs with the kudos Congressman Major Owens for the on that bus, you may want seniority ● Reading in the January Clarion position. Owens is currently a dis- to count for something. You may not about the accolades the paper has tinguished lecturer in MEC’s De- want to put a low-wage, high-turn- received during 2012, I must agree. partment of Public Administration. Of the three union publications that PSC Chapter Chair Crawford

Letters to Clarion may be on any topic, I receive, it is the only one I read cov- ALIGN said an interim president could help but should be less than 200 words and er-to-cover. Clarion’s staff deserves Labor, faith and community leaders gathered at City Hall January 24, to call on bring the campus together to face are subject to editing. E-mail your letter to the honors! Mayor Bloomberg to use Superstorm Sandy recovery funds to hire more than 600 the challenges ahead. “It’s our insti- Clarion editor Peter Hogness (phogness@ Paul Sheridan skilled union workers to address mold problems that have prevented thousands tution and we need to make sure to pscmail.org) or fax it to 212-302-7815. Brooklyn College (retired) of New Yorkers from returning to their homes since Hurricane Sandy. protect it,” he told Clarion. Clarion | February 2013 news 3

Varsanyi took the course load pe- tition back to her department and quickly gathered the signatures of Seeking change in teaching load nearly all of her department’s 21 full-time faculty – the only excep- tions being those who were away By JOHN TARLETON on parental leave or sabbatical. Recognize research time, John Jay profs say Varsanyi says she too is witness- Monica Varsanyi, an associate ing the exodus of her peers from John professor at John Jay College, wor- Jay. “I just got an e-mail two minutes ries that many of her most talented ago from a colleague who took a posi- and research-productive peers are tion at Syracuse in part because of fleeing for opportunities at other the lower teaching load,” she told a universities. Especially after us- Clarion reporter in the middle of a ing up the reassigned time that the phone interview. “My concern is that contract provides to junior faculty, all these talented junior faculty hired she says the 4/3 teaching load makes in the last five or six years will go on it hard to sustain research or give the market and try to leave because students the individual attention they are highly productive scholars they deserve. and the 4/3 teaching load presents an History Department Chair Alli- untenable situation.” son Kavey is so stressed from her Distinguished Professor of His- workload that she has cracked two tory Gerald Markowitz says that molars while grinding her teeth young faculty members carrying at night. She says many of her col - a 21-hour annual course load face leagues also suffer from insomnia, additional hurdles such as growing cracked teeth and other stress-in- demands for student assessment duced ailments. and committee work. Kavey and Varsanyi are part of “It makes it difficult for junior a new generation of full-time fac- faculty to sustain their research ulty hires who have rejuvenated agendas after they’ve used their con- John Jay in the past seven years, tractual reassigned time, and it’s an drawn to a college seeking to boost SandersDave obstacle to tenured faculty research its research profile. Now younger History Department Chair Allison Kavey (center) and distinguished professors Gerald Markowitz (left) and Blanche Cook as well,” says Markowitz, a member faculty members are joining with (right) signed a union petition that calls on the college to reduce the effective annual teaching load to 18 hours. of the chapter executive committee. their colleagues in a campaign by “Reducing teaching load is good the campus PSC chapter, to press chair. Faculty members working on a school admitted its first all-bacca- of support for research (17%) and too for everyone,” said Distinguished the college administration to reduce book or other longer-term scholarly laureate class in 2010, and several much service (16%) second and third. Professor of History Blanche Cook. the effective annual teaching load project are included as well. new liberal arts majors have been Compared with other schools in the “It means more time for research to 18 hours. They say the change This is an advance in equity with- introduced. Fifty percent of full-time survey, twice as many faculty at John and more time for students.” CU- would improve both their teaching in Baruch, Petersen explained: until faculty have been hired in the past Jay said they were dissatisfied with NY’s teaching loads, she told Clari- and their scholarship. recently, reassigned time for unspon- seven years, and a 13-story vertical their teaching load. on, are well above the national norm sored research was common at Ba- campus equipped with state-of-the- They were shocked,” Kavey says for full-time faculty. ‘best work’ ruch’s schools of business and public art classrooms, new cyber lounges, of John Jay’s administration. “They “We want this so we can keep our affairs, but much harder to obtain computer labs and cutting-edge sci- thought the report would show how double standard best faculty and so our students can within its Weissman School of Arts ence facilities opened in 2011. happy we all were.” Majumdar said the outcry at John get our best work, not our exhausted and Sciences. After pressure from In March 2011, the college told Kavey, an associate professor Jay has caught the attention of the work,” Kavey says. the liberal arts faculty on the college the Middle States Commission on who began working at John Jay in college’s leadership. On January “What we are fighting for goes to administration, now it is be- Higher Education that 2005, said the challenge of the 4/3 22, she and Markowitz and chapter the heart of the mission of the col- ing made broadly available “So students as John Jay has priori- course load is compounded by class executive committee member John lege,” adds Nivedita Majumdar, asso- to research-active faculty at can get our best tized “promoting and sizes of as many as 40 students, a Pittman met with John Jay Presi- ciate professor of English and acting Weissman as well. “This is recruiting a research- high percentage of students who dent Jeremy Travis and Provost chair of the college’s union chapter. a real boost for faculty mo- work, not our oriented faculty” in re- lack college-level skills and the col- Jane Bowers to exchange views. In its demands for a new contract, rale,” said Petersen. exhausted work.” cent years, the result lege’s lack of academic counselors. According to Pittman, one ob- the PSC has called for contractual At the community col- has been “a dramatic Kavey said she gives extra writ- stacle to change is CUNY central teaching load requirements to be leges, where the 27-hour teaching increase in grants and sponsored ing assignments to her students to administration’s use of metrics reduced CUNY-wide, to support load is CUNY’s heaviest, PSC lead- research, as well as a faculty that boost their skills, though it means that place a premium on colleges both research and faculty activities ers told Clarion that expectations dominates professional meetings more grading work for her increasing the average amount of aimed at improved student retention for research have been on the rise. on criminal justice.” Difficult working conditions in time tenured faculty spend in the and graduation rates (see Clarion, Recognizing this in their teaching Amid such changes, the 4/3 teach- turn spur the most research-am- classroom. While having more full- Dec. 2010). The contract currently load is essential, union leaders said. ing load has come to seem increas- bitious faculty to seek out better time faculty in the classroom has sets teaching requirements for full- At John Jay, a petition in support ingly archaic and has left John Jay prospects, Kavey says. They often pedagogical merit, Pittman said, time faculty at 21 hours for senior of change has so far been signed by faculty deeply frustrated. “The col- leave even before they come up for this can best be achieved by creat- colleges and 27 hours at community more than 250 of the college’s full- lege is reinventing itself in a new tenure. “As soon as people get good ing additional full-time faculty lines colleges. (The one exception is City time faculty or about 70%, including and positive way. But in this new grants, they leave. They treat this – not by making unreasonable de- Tech, a senior college with a contrac- chairs from 15 of 23 departments. climate, teaching load cannot be the place like a post-doc.” mands on current full-timers. tual teaching load of 24 hours. City Majumdar says 30 chapter members one thing from the past that is un- Varsanyi, an associate professor “They want to have it both ways,” Tech faculty are seeking parity with volunteered to gather signatures, assailable,” says Majumdar. And in of political science, gained tenure Pittman said of CUNY. “They want CUNY’s other senior colleges; see both by speaking at departmental fact, the college’s 2011 statement to in November. Her research on state you to get lots of grants and do re - Clarion, April, Aug. & Sept. 2012.) meetings and by holding one-on-one Middle States conceded that “main- and local immigration policy in the search, and they also want you to be Faculty at John Jay back the conversations with colleagues. “The taining the balance [between schol- US was buoyed by junior faculty re- in the classroom more.” union’s contract demand, but say level of participation has been un- arship and teaching] is increasingly assigned time guaranteed under the Piecemeal measures, warns Ma- that their college needs to take its precedented,” she says. “Interest in a challenge.” collective bargaining agreement, as jumdar, will not solve anything. The own measures now. Within the cur- the union has never been so strong.” The release last fall of a faculty sur- well as two National Science Foun- squeeze felt by John Jay faculty is rent 21-hour requirement, the PSC vey by the Harvard-based Collabora- dation grants. This allowed her to a college-wide problem, she says, chapter wants John Jay’s adminis- cost tive on Academic Careers in Higher carry a 2/2 course load. Next fall, and requires a college-wide solu- tration to provide three hours of re- The cost of the reform, Majum- Education (COACHE) underscored she is slated to teach a full course tion. “The response can’t be more assigned time, in recognition of time dar says, would be less than 2% of faculty frustration at John Jay. The load for the first time, a prospect she leave time,” doled out to a select few, spent on unsponsored research. John Jay’s annual operating bud- survey profiled John Jay and five is worried about. she explains: that leads to favorit- Such acknowledgement is com- get. “They can find the money,” she peer institutions – Hunter College, ism and will not move forward the mon at several other CUNY senior insists. Other senior colleges have Queens College, CSI, SUNY Buffalo jay-walking college as a whole. “The solution has colleges. “The current policy in our addressed this problem, Majumdar State College and the University of “I really love my job, but the 4/3 to be more structural.” School of Arts and Sciences is that if said – and as John Jay defines itself Wisconsin-Parkside. Among this co- load is very daunting. It challeng- Ultimately, Majumdar says, any you’re clearly engaged in research, more and more as a research insti- hort, John Jay ranked lowest on all 11 es everything we do at John Jay,” prospect for change rests in the ac- you’ve published a couple of articles tution, it must do the same. benchmarks deemed critical to facul- Varsanyi says. “I don’t want to take tions of a mobilized faculty: “The in the last couple of years, you should John Jay College has seen a slew ty success. Teaching load was ranked shortcuts in my teaching or in my response of the administration is get the time,” said Glenn Petersen, so- of changes in recent years as it ap- as the worst aspect of working at John service. I want to maintain high going to be directly proportional to ciology and anthropology department proaches its 50th anniversary. The Jay by 53% of respondents, with lack quality in everything I do.” the pressure we put on them.” 4 News Clarion | February 2013 SUNY Buffalo shutters Shale Institute

By JOHN TARLETON & PETER HOGNESS “It was an incredibly shoddy search Institute was channeled Industry ties questioned piece of work,” Holstun said of the through the private Fredonia Col- SUNY Buffalo shut down its Shale Shale Institute report. “It makes lege Foundation. Critics of SUNY Resources and Society Institute eighth-grade arithmetic errors.” Buffalo’s Shale Resources and So- (SRSI) late last fall, after months Bursik told Clarion that criti - ciety Institute suspect that it may of controversy over the Institute’s cisms of the report’s errors were have similarly received industry relationship to the gas and oil indus- overblown. “People make mistakes donations routed through the Uni- try. “Research of such considerable all the time in the sciences,” he said. versity of Buffalo Foundation, which societal importance cannot be ef- On the erroneous claim that the was covering John Martin’s salary fectively conducted with a cloud of report has been peer-reviewed, as Shale Institute co-director. The uncertainty over its work,” wrote Bursik said, this “wasn’t anything privately run UB Foundation has a University President Satish Tripa- sinister.” Co-director John Martin, $736.3 million endowment, by far the thi in a November 19 statement. It he explained, thought that running largest of any SUNY school, which was the culmination of a dispute his work by trusted friends and col- Holstun refers to as a “secret pot of that raised questions about corpo- leagues was the same as peer re- money that can be used for laun- rate influence on academic research view. Noting that Martin has a PhD dering corporate contributions.” in an era of deep cuts in state sup- in urban and environmental stud- Officially private-sector entities, port for public higher education. ies, Bursik asked, “Who could have the UB Foundation and the Fredo- “The Institute was promoting it- predicted that he wouldn’t know nia College Foundation are both self as an independent, non-biased what peer review means?” exempt from New York’s Freedom scholarly project, but it was acting Ronald Bishop, a lecturer in of Information Law (FOIL). Propos- as something entirely different,” chemistry and biochemistry at als to extend FOIL to cover college said Martha McCluskey, a SUNY SUNY Oneonta, told Clarion that foundations have stalled in the State Buffalo law professor and a member Pennsylvania has failed to protect Legislature in recent years. of the UB Faculty Senate’s executive its residents from fracking’s nega- committee during 2011-2012. tive effects. Bishop said that people ub clear The controversy unfolded against living near these wells have expe - As criticism of SUNY Buffalo’s the backdrop of a nationwide boom in rienced rashes from exposure to Shale Institute mounted, a group of natural gas production, thanks to a warm water while washing dishes faculty, students and community al- new technique known as high-volume or taking a shower, as well as in- lies founded the University of Buffalo horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or creases in respiratory and pul- Coalition for Leading Ethically in Ac- “fracking.” Drillers inject millions of monary ailments from airborne ademic Research (UB CLEAR) to ral- gallons of water, sand and an array of particulates. Increases in some ly opposition to the Institute. “It has chemicals thousands of feet into the chronic diseases may not appear for damaged UB’s hard-won reputation earth to unlock previously unreach- Photo illustration: Internet Archive, M. Aguilar another 15 to 20 years, Bishop said. and credibility as a major research able gas reserves. The fracking boom SUNY Fredonia’s Shale Research Institute, a forerunner of the institute at In June, SUNY Buffalo officials university,” the group said in a June has been accompanied by growing Buffalo, “thanked” corporate supporters by featuring their logos on its website. said that critics of the Shale Insti- 2012 press release. That same month, concerns about its impact on under- tute were trying to “dictate the posi- after the Times article appeared, the ground water supplies and the health and gas industry works,” Bursik told “At every turn, it developed outside tion taken by...faculty members,” a website of SUNY Fredonia’s Shale of impacted communities. While the Clarion. He said about half of SUNY of the normal channels expected by charge Holstun rejects. “Academic Research Institute went offline. chemicals used in fracking include a Buffalo’s geology majors go on to faculty,” McCluskey said. freedom doesn’t mean impervious- Over the summer, UB CLEAR led number of carcinogens, their exact work in the oil and gas industry, The Shale Institute’s first report, ness to debate or to correction of a campaign to pressure the SUNY composition has never been made while the other half go into environ- released on May 15, asserted that mistakes,” he said. Board of Trustees to intervene, public, thanks to an exemption to the mental consulting. state regulations in Pennsylvania had The SUNY Buffalo administra- sponsoring a faculty petition that Clean Water Act approved by Con- Absence of industry critics from made fracking less risky. The report tion has denied that money from called for greater transparency in gress in 2005 at the urging of former the series was not a problem, contended that strict regu- the natural gas industry funded the Shale Institute’s operations. Vice President Dick Cheney. Bursik said: “If I teach a class Faculty lation in New York would the Shale Institute. But in the press Meanwhile the Shale Institute con- in aeronautics...does that critics said protect local residents release that announced the Insti- troversy was gaining national atten- fierce debate mean I am obliged to teach a from any dangers posed tute’s formation, co-director John tion: an online petition campaign by The debate over fracking has be- class in how not to fly?” institute by fracking. SUNY Buffalo Martin states that the Shale Insti- CREDO Action garnered more than come especially fierce in New York, The lecture series did not ac- was flacking sent out a widely circulated tute “plans to seek funding from 11,000 signatures calling for the Buf- where trillions of cubic feet of natu- knowledge its sponsors, noted for fracking. press release featuring the sources including industry and indi- falo institute to be shut down. ral gas are estimated to lie beneath Jim Holstun, a professor of institute’s conclusions. viduals.” Minutes of a May 15 meet- On September 12, the SUNY Board the central and southern parts of English at SUNY Buffalo. “I had never But later in May, the Buffalo- ing discussing Institute fundraising unanimously passed a resolution the state in a geological formation seen anything like it,” he toldClarion . based Public Accountability Initia- noted that “funding is still slow and calling on SUNY Buffalo to explain known as the Marcellus Shale. This The Shale Resources and Society tive (PAI) issued a critique of the sponsors have not committed yet.” the Shale Institute’s origins and the includes areas from which New Institute was launched in April of the Shale Institute report. Among PAI’s A smaller Shale Research Insti- role of natural gas companies in its York City obtains most of its fresh following year. One of its two co-di- findings: tute at SUNY Fredonia, established workings. The Buffalo administra- water supply. rectors was Robert Jacobi, a profes- ● While the report claimed that three years earlier, received funding tion responded with a 162-page reply A moratorium on fracking is cur- sor of geology at SUNY Buffalo who between 2008 and 2011 Pennsylvania from a half-dozen companies in the defending its past actions, but the rently in force in New York State. Cit- is employed by the natural gas com- had lowered the odds of major envi- oil and gas industry, and it featured controversy refused to die down. ing prospects for economic growth, pany EQT as its senior geology advi- ronmental impacts from fracking, its their logos on the “Support” page of Seven weeks later, SUNY Buf- supporters of the oil and gas indus- sor. Last year EQT drilled 127 new own data tables showed that the op- its website (see image above). “When falo finally changed course, and try are eager to see Governor An- wells in the Marcellus Shale areas of posite is true. “The rate of incidence a corporation gives you a gift, you the Shale Resources and Society drew Cuomo overturn this drilling Pennsylvania and West Virginia; in of major environmental events actu- want to say thank you,” a SUNY Institute closed its doors. Its small- ban, while many fracking critics 2013 it plans to drill 153 more. ally increased from 2008 to 2011, from Fredonia spokesperson explained er predecessor at SUNY Fredonia would like to see it made permanent. The other co-director was con- 0.59%, or 5.9 per 1000 wells, to 0.8%, to The New York Times in June. is apparently out of business as Cuomo is expected to announce his sultant John Martin, a former New or 8 per 1000 wells,” concluded PAI. well: in January 2013, a Fredonia position in mid- to late February. York state energy official, who was ● All four of the co-authors of the business council spokesperson told Clarion that its In the spring of 2011, with debate hired at $72,000 per year for a quar- Shale Institute report had financial The Business Council of New Shale Research Institute has gone on the issue heating up, SUNY Buf- ter-time schedule. His company, ties to the natural gas industry. York State had welcomed the “on hiatus,” with no plans to reopen. falo hosted an eight-part lecture se- JPMartin Energy Strategy LLC, ● Parts of the Shale Institute founding of the SUNY Fredonia “This is an important chapter in ries on fracking. It received $12,900 describes itself as providing “stra- report were lifted almost word-for- institute in 2009: “This type of aca- a much larger fight for academic in- in sponsorships from the gas and oil tegic planning [and] government/ word from an explicitly pro-frack- demic and industry partnership... tegrity and transparency,” the Pub- industry and exclusively featured public relations services to the en- ing report issued by the right-wing can balance the often inaccurate lic Accountability Initiative declared pro-fracking speakers. ergy industry.” Manhattan Institute in 2011. That and outdated information that op- after SUNY Buffalo’s decision was Marcus Bursik, professor of geol- McCluskey told Clarion that report was written by three of the ponents of development feed to the announced, and SUNY Buffalo pro- ogy and a former department chair, when the SUNY Buffalo administra- co-authors of the SRSI report. media,” wrote Business Council fessor Martha McCluskey agreed. defended the lecture series. “The tion established the Shale Institute, ● The original press release for blogger Jennifer Levine. “If we don’t maintain our aca- seminar series was mostly started... it circumvented the committee pro- the report stated that it had been A SUNY Fredonia spokesperson demic core and purpose, what’s the to give necessary information to cess in the College of Arts and Sci- peer-reviewed, a claim that was told the Buffalo weekly Artvoice point?” she told Clarion. “Industry geology students about how the oil ences as well as the Faculty Senate. later retracted. that all funding for its Shale Re- can pay for its own public relations.” Clarion | February 2013 News 5 Cuomo proposes flat CUNY aid

By PETER HOGNESS amount of influence over certain budget by meeting with legislators Promotes links to industry community college degree pro- in Albany and in their local district In his proposed state budget for next grams,” London said. offices in NYC. Goals include restora- year, released on January 22, Gover- A new “Next Generation NY Job tion of funding for key programs like nor Andrew Cuomo offers relatively Linkage Program” would re- campus-based child care. flat state funding for CUNY, and con- quire that all credit-bearing PSC questions “For Albany to make the tinues to depend on increased tuition certificate programs, and all new funding right decisions on CUNY’s to cover most increases in CUNY ex- AAS and AOS degree pro- budget, lawmakers need to penses. With CUNY still feeling the grams, be linked closely with formula for hear firsthand about work- effects of a generation of disinvest- local industry as a prerequi- AAS & AOS ing and learning condi- ment, PSC leaders responded that site for receiving public fund- degrees. tions at our University,” more state support is needed. The ing. The job linkage program said PSC President Bar- union also voiced concerns about would also make available to CUNY bara Bowen. This year’s “spring ad- proposed new programs that would a $2-million “performance-based” vocacy calendar” has changed to put tie workforce development funding incentive award based on “student a greater emphasis on visits to legisla- to “performance measures” and to success measures.” tors in their local district offices. a greater role for private industry in This narrow focus would set a public higher education. dangerous precedent, London said, get involved Under Cuomo’s plan, state aid for and leaves important questions un- If you would like to join in one CUNY senior colleges is roughly flat answered. CUNY has in the past or more of these events, you can except for an additional $35 million made some important missteps sign up online at tinyurl.com/ to cover mandatory cost increases when it tried to tie its programs too PSC-2013-budget-campaign: in fringe benefits. But some other closely to short-term job market ● In-District Meetings in NYC – increases in mandatory costs are trends. For example, City College Feb. 7-8 not covered. For example, CUNY’s closed its School of Nursing in the ● NYSUT Committee of 100 Ad- requests for $9 million to pay for mid-1990s, shortly before the advent vocacy Day, Albany – Mar. 4-5 higher energy expenses and $3 mil- of a major nursing shortage. ● NYSUT Higher Education Ad- lion to $4 million for increased build- The executive budget proposal vocacy Day, Albany – Mar. 11-12 ing rental costs were not included. would also devote $55 million to ● Student/Faculty/Staff Higher Revenue from the annual senior col- AP Photo/Mike Groll a new “NYCUNY 2020” competi- Ed Action Day, Albany – Mar. 12 lege tuition hike of $300 would cover Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivers his 2012 State of the State speech. tive grant program, modeled after ● Other In-District Meeting dates an additional authorization of $61 a SUNY program that began two in NYC to be announced million for other spending increases. the true funding needs of CUNY Beyond these basic elements of years ago. “Projects will be selected Transportation, food and hotel through tuition dollars would bank- CUNY funding, Cuomo’s proposed in a competitive manner, based on costs for the March 4-5 and March ‘harmful’ rupt students.” budget for 2013-2014 included some economic impact, advancement of 11-12 Albany trips are covered by “The PSC opposes annual tu- Proposed per capita base aid from new programs designed in ways academic goals, innovation and col- the PSC’s state affiliate, NY State ition hikes as a funding strategy,” the State to CUNY’s community col- that the PSC said were troubling. laboration,” the Division of Budget United Teachers. Members can also said the union’s first vice president, leges aid is also flat, at $2,727 per “The Governor’s budget address said. The statement said NYCUNY ride back and forth to Albany with Steve London. “The tuition increas- full-time equivalent student, but put a major focus on community 2020 will serve as a regional eco- students on the buses for the Mar. 12 es have harmful effects on college total spending on community col- colleges’ workforce development nomic development initiative, but day. If you have questions, contact access because they are not offset lege base aid would go up a bit, due roles to the exclusion of their other gave few other details. Amanda Magalhaes in the PSC of- by increased financial aid for many to increased enrollment since last important missions, and would PSC members will be working to fice ([email protected], or students. Importantly, to provide year’s state budget was passed. give private industry a worrisome influence final decisions on the state call 212-354-1252).

as New York, she said, “it’s more about priorities.” In its report, FPI noted that stu- New push for New York DREAM Act dents who go on to obtain a four- year college degree end up earning, By JOHN TARLETON Senator Jeffrey Klein has said he on average, $25,000 more per year Immigrant students organize will introduce a similar measure, than individuals with only a high While President Obama and Con- which would be financed by a dedi- school education. This translates gress try to reach an agreement on years. While continuing their ef- Francisco Moya and Assembly cated funding stream from casino into an extra $3,900 a year in state comprehensive immigration reform forts to sway Congress, New York’s Higher Education Committee Chair licensing fees – it thus depends on a and local tax payments. this year, undocumented immigrant Dreamers have recently turned Deborah Glick introduced their ver- proposed constitutional amendment “This is about New York getting students in New York are pushing their attention to Albany. sion of the New York State DREAM to establish up to seven new casinos more skilled, educated graduates for legislation that would provide Undocumented immigrant Act, which is backed by a coalition in the state. who can continue building up the equal access to the state’s Tuition students are eligible for in-state of undocumented youth, unions (in- The State currently spends $885 state,” said Zaman. Assistance Program (TAP), regard- tuition in New York if they meet cluding the PSC) and immigrant, million a year on TAP. A report last less of immigration status. certain conditions, but are barred community and faith-based year from the Albany-based persuading cuomo Immigrant student activists have from accessing TAP, a disparity organizations. In addition to A call Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) Governor Cuomo did not include fought for over a decade to win Con- they say must be addressed. Three providing access to TAP for for equal estimated that the DREAM funding for the DREAM Act in his gressional approval for the federal states – Texas, California and New undocumented students, the Act would cost $17 million a executive budget released January DREAM Act, which would provide Mexico – currently make state fi - bill would also incorporate access year and would help about 22. But Zaman is hopeful that the a path to citizenship to many undoc- nancial aid available to undocu- a privately financed Dream to tuition 5,500 undocumented stu- governor and at least a few Repub- umented immigrants who entered mented college students. Fund that would provide assistance dents, the majority of whom licans in the narrowly divided State the US before the age of 16 and in- “Fifty-nine years after Brown v. scholarships and extend ac- attend CUNY. Senate will come around. Last year, tend to pursue a college education Board of Education, we have stu - cess to 529 college savings accounts “It would make a big difference the NYS Youth Leadership Coun- or serve in the military. dents who are put in a separate and by allowing the use of taxpayer in the lives of these students,” said cil organized a nine-day, 154-mile unequal status in New York,” said identification numbers. A compan- Donna Gill, a 20-year veteran HEO walk to Albany over spring break to partial boost Raneen Zaman, advocacy coordi- ion bill has been introduced in the at Hunter who has worked in the publicize their cause. Participants While they have not yet won pas- nator for the New York State Youth Senate by Jose Peralta. Bursar’s Office, the Registrar’s Of- made a point of visiting more con- sage of the bill, the “Dreamers” – as Leadership Council, an umbrella Silver told the Daily News that the fice and in financial aid. Gill said servative areas whenever possible. the DREAM Act’s advocates are group for undocumented students Dreamers are New Yorkers who are undocumented students drop out of This year, Zaman said, the group known – got a partial boost last in the state. likely to someday become citizens, school more often due to financial may walk across Long Island, home June, when President Obama gave In 2012, the proposed New York and that it is a mistake to ignore than academic issues, a trend that to a surging immigrant population undocumented immigrant students State DREAM Act failed to gain their needs. “We should want them has been exacerbated by annual tu- and several “swingable” Republi- the opportunity to apply for a two- traction in either house of the Leg- to become productive members of ition hikes of $300 a year. can state senators. year legal status with the option to islature. On January 16, Speaker society, and we’re preparing them “The money is there,” Gill add- “To get this bill passed, we need extend their status for another two Sheldon Silver, Assemblymember for that,” he said. ed. In a state with as much wealth New Yorkers behind us,” Zaman said. 6 news analysis Clarion | February 2013 ‘Reinventing college’: hope or hype?

By Scott Carlson & Goldie Blumenstyk them to maneuver through the sys- about how higher education is bro- tem, and it is already tough.” ken is a superficial scrim over the Last year, leading lights in for-prof- Making the most of MOOCs [Some] economists, like Robert question, ‘What are the problems it and nonprofit higher education libertarian blogger Megan McArdle job is to study the effectiveness of Reich, argue for more investment we are trying to solve?’” she says. convened in Washington, DC, for a in a recent Newsweek article, “Is ideas that are emerging or already in apprentice-based educational The reinvention crowd has moti- conference on private-sector inno- College a Lousy Investment?” For in practice. programs, which would offer an al- vations aside from solving higher vation in the industry. The national the rest, she suggested, perhaps He believes that many of the ternative to the bachelor’s degree. education’s problems, she suspects: conversation about dysfunction and apprenticeships and on-the-job new ideas, including MOOCs, could “Our entire economy is organized “Beware Chicken Little, because disruption in higher education was training might be more realistic, bring improvements to higher edu- to lavish very generous rewards Chicken Little has a vested interest just heating up, and panelists from more affordable options. Aoun, in cation. But “innovation is not about on students who go through that in this. There is an awful lot of hype start-ups, banking, government, his Globe essay, admitted that the gadgets,” says Stokes. “It’s not about gantlet” for a four-year degree, says about disruption and the need for re- and education waxed enthusiastic coming reinvention could promote eureka moments.... It’s about contin- the former secretary of labor, now invention that is being fomented by about the ways that a traditional col- a two-tiered system: “one tier con- uous evaluation.” a professor of public policy at the people who are going to make out lege education could be torn down sisting of a campus-based educa- The furor over the cost and ef- University of California, Berkeley. like bandits on it.” and rebuilt – and about how lots of tion for those who can afford it, fectiveness of a college education As a country, he says, we need to Siva Vaidhyanathan, a professor money could be made along the way. and the other consisting of low- and has roots in deep socioeconomic “expand our repertoire.” But it’s of media studies and law at the Uni- During a break, one panelist – a no-cost MOOCs.” And in an article challenges that won’t be solved important that such a program not versity of Virginia and a frequent banker who lines up financing for be conceived and offered as commentator on technology and education companies, and who had a second-class degree, he ar- education, believes that some of the talked about meeting consumer de- gues. It should be a program new tools and innovations could in- mands in the market – made chit- “that has a lot of prestige as- deed enhance teaching and learning chat. The banker had a daughter sociated with it.” – but that doing so will take serious who wanted a master’s in education With few exceptions, how- research and money. and was deciding between a tradi- ever, the reinvention crowd tional college and a start-up that of- is interested in solutions that social contract fered a program she would attend will require less public and In any case, he says, the new mostly online – exactly the kind of private investment, not more. kinds of distance learning cannot thing everyone at the conference Often that means cutting replace the vital role that bricks- was touting. out the campus experience, and-mortar colleges have in many For most parents, that choice deemed by some a “luxury” communities. might raise questions – and the these days. “To champion something as banker was no exception. Unlike Here’s the cruel part: the trivial as MOOCs in place of estab- most parents, however, the well- students from the bottom tier lished higher education is to ignore connected banker could resolve are often the ones who need the day-care centers, the hospitals, those uncertainties with a call to face-to-face instruction most the public health clinics, the teach- the CEO of the education venture: of all. er-training institutes, the athletic “Is this thing crap or for real?” “The idea that they can have facilities, and all of the other ways better education and more that universities enhance com- reinvention for whom access at lower cost through munities, energize cities, spread In higher education, that is the massive online courses is just wealth and enlighten citizens,” question of the moment – and the preposterous,” says Patricia he says. “Not only is it not about answer is not clear, even to those McGuire, president of Trinity the classroom, it is certainly not lining up to push for college rein- Washington University. Sev- just about the direct delivery of vention. But the question few people Robert Arnow Designs enty percent of her students information into people’s lives. want to grapple with is, For whom are eligible for Pell Grants, If that’s all universities did, then are we reinventing college? about MOOCs, Time quotes David with an online app. Over decades, and 50% come from the broken Dis- publishing and libraries would The punditry around reinven- Stavens, a founder of the MOOC state support per student at public trict of Columbia school system. Her have crushed universities a long tion...has trumpeted the arrival provider Udacity, as conceding that institutions has dwindled even as task has been trying to figure out time ago.” of MOOCs [massive open online “there’s a magic that goes on inside enrollments have ballooned, lead- how to serve those students at a col- Unfortunately, Vaidhyanathan courses], “badges” [certificates of a university campus that, if you can ing to higher prices for parents and lege with the university’s meager says, the discussion of college re- accomplishment designed to replace afford to live inside that bubble, is students. State funds per student $11-million endowment. invention represents a watering grades], “UnCollege” [which urges wonderful.” dropped by 20% from 1987 to 2011.... Getting them to and through col- down of higher education’s social “hacking your education” outside But if you can’t, entrepreneurs lege takes advisors, counselors and contract – a process that has been of school], and so on, as the begin- like him are creating an industrial- rich and poor learning-disability experts – a in the works for decades. ning of a historic transformation. ized version of higher education that Meanwhile, the gap between the fact McGuire has tried to con- Behind the “What it is going to take to “College Is Dead. Long Live Col- the most fervent disruptionists pre- country’s rich and poor widened vey to foundations, policy reinvigorate higher educa- lege!” declared a headline in Time dict could replace mid-sized state in- during the recession, choking off makers and the public. But buzzwords: tion in this country,” he magazine’s “Reinventing College” stitutions or less-selective private employment opportunities for many the reinvention conversation a path to says, “is a strong political issue in October 2012, which pon- colleges. “I think the top 50 schools recent graduates. Education leading has had a “tech guy” fixation a two-tier movement to champion dered whether massive, open on- are probably safe,” Stavens said. up to college is a mess: public el- on mere content delivery, she research, to champion low line courses would “finally pop the Higher education does have real ementary and secondary systems says. “It reveals a lack of un- system? tuition costs as a policy tuition bubble.” With the advent of problems, and MOOCs, badges...and have failed a major segment of soci- derstanding of what it takes to goal, to stand up against MOOCs, “we’re witnessing the end other innovations have real potential ety, and the recent focus on testing make the student actually learn the the banks that have made so much of higher education as we know it,” to tackle some of them. They could has had questionable results. content and do something with it.” money lending for student loans, pronounced Joseph Aoun, president enrich teaching, add rigor, encour- If the future of MOOCs as peddled Amid the talk of disruptive in- and to reconnect public institutions of Northeastern University, in The age interdisciplinarity, reinforce by some were to take hold, it would novation, “the real disruption is to their sense of public mission.” Boston Globe last month. education’s real-world applicability, probably exacerbate the distinction the changing demographics of this “That is going to be a long pro- Read beneath the headlines a and make learning more efficient – between “luxury” and “economy” country,” Trinity’s president says. cess,” he says. “It has taken 20 years bit. The pundits and disrupters, advances all sorely needed. college degrees, says [Robert Ar- Waves of minority students, espe- to press universities down into this many of whom enjoyed liberal- chibald, an economics professor at cially Hispanics, are arriving on cowering pose, and it is going to arts educations at elite colleges, state funding cut the College of William and Mary campus, many at those lower-tier take 20 assertive years to get back herald a revolution in higher edu- But the reinvention conversation and an author of Why Does College colleges, having come from schools to the point where Americans view cation that is not for people like has not produced the panacea that Cost So Much?]. Graduates leaving that didn’t prepare them for col- American higher education the way them or their children, but for oth- people seem to yearn for. “The whole high school well prepared for college lege work. “The real problem here the rest of the world does.” ers: less-wealthy, less-prepared MOOC thing is mass psychosis,” a would get an even bigger payoff, is that higher education has to re- students who are increasingly cut case of people “just throwing spa- finding a place in the top tier. peat a whole lot of lower education,” Scott Carlson and Goldie Blumen- off from the dream of a traditional ghetti against the wall” to see what “The tougher road is going to be McGuire says. “That has been drag styk are senior writers at Chronicle college education. sticks, says Peter Stokes, executive for the people who wake up after on everyone.” of Higher Education. A longer ver- “Those who can afford a degree director for postsecondary innova- high school and say, ‘I should get Much of the hype around reinven- sion of this article originally pub- from an elite institution are still tion at Northeastern University’s serious about learning,’” Archibald tion bypasses her day-to-day chal- lished December 17 in CHE (tinyurl. in an enviable position,” wrote the College of Professional Studies. His says. “It’s going to be tougher for lenges as a president. “All of the talk com/ReinventingCollege). Clarion | February 2013 news 7 Tough going for Pathways

By PETER HOGNESS requirements for composition Fall 2013 implementation may be hard to reach classes with English departments CUNY’s central administration at LaGuardia, Queensborough and wants its Pathways curriculum on Bronx Community colleges. CUNY general education to be securely is expected to file its response to in place by Fall 2013. But as the the charge later this spring. Spring 2013 semester began, that In late January, the PSC sent time frame was looking more dif- CUNY a formal request to bar- ficult to achieve. gain on these issues. “If the ad- Pathways, the administration’s ministration at these colleges is overhaul of rules on general educa- prepared to offer, and pay for, four tion and transfer, took another hit hours of workload credit for these in January when delegates of the three-hour courses, it may be pos- 30,000-member Modern Language sible to negotiate a side-agreement Association (MLA) sharply criti- that would formalize this struc- cized the initiative in a January ture,” said Bowen. “But not in ad 6 resolution during their annual hoc agreements with individual meeting in Boston. “The associa- departments whose chairs have tion came out in support of [CUNY] been subject to enormous and un- faculty, arguing that the adminis- fair pressure; instead, these talks tration had bypassed faculty gover- must be with the union as a whole. nance and overridden professors’ That’s the way to do what is best rights to determine curriculum,” for students.” reported Inside Higher Ed. “All specific Pathways courses laguardia vote have been proceeding through tra- Issues raised by the PERB ditional mechanisms of faculty gov- charge were a factor in a January ernance,” insisted Executive Vice 23 vote by LaGuardia’s English Chancellor Alexandra Logue in a department, in which a Pathways- December 17 letter to the MLA. But compliant composition course CUNY faculty say that’s not the case. again failed to win the depart- “Our English department has MLA ment’s approval, even though not voted for Pathways composition Delegates at the Modern Language Association’s annual convention in Boston approved an anti-Pathways resolution by a this version was not burdened by courses, and those courses have not vote of 108 to 2. In the January 6 statement, MLA delegates affirmed the right of CUNY faculty to “withhold implementa- as many odd restrictions as past gone through college governance,” tion of any curriculum that has not been recommended by the appropriate faculty body.” proposals. said Mary McGlynn, chair of the With 43 department members English department at Baruch. Com- at various CUNY colleges have ex- ready to go. Hossain is vice chair mon Core must be three credits present and voting (by secret bal - menting on the response across CU- perienced” as administrators have of United Leaders of CUNY, an or- and three hours.” lot), the revised course proposal NY, McGlynn said, “There’s been so applied pressure to take and win ganization of students in SEEK and CUNY’s English Discipline drew 20 votes. With 23 who voted much pressure on the presidents and favorable votes (see Clarion, Oct. College Discovery programs. Council, representing English de- not to endorse it (15 voting no and provosts to submit these courses [to & Dec. 2012). In January, the PSC told New partment chairs from across the 8 abstentions), the proposal failed. central administration], even if not York’s Public Employment Rela- University, argued that the 3/4 In a sign of the conflicting pres- approved by the departments or by national petition tions Board (PERB) that structure was a “best prac- sures and sentiments faculty are college governance.” Several college senates have en- CUNY management’s push More nays tice” that must be main- feeling in the Pathways debates, A PSC lawsuit filed in August dorsed the call by the University to win approval of Path - for tained; banning it would the department overwhelmingly says that it is illegal for adminis- Faculty Senate and the PSC for a ways courses has violated Pathways “undermine established approved a resolution asking the trators to ignore college governance moratorium on Pathways imple- State labor law. CUNY has pedagogic practices within LaGuardia College Senate to adopt meetings and make their own pri- mentation, to allow time for a full attempted to “negotiat[e] at MLA CUNY.” Four hours a week a moratorium on Pathways imple- vate decisions about which courses and open discussion of transfer is- terms and conditions of em- in are needed “to prepare mentation, by a vote of 37 to 4, with to approve. Such actions, the union sues. A national petition, with 5,600 ployment, specifically work- students adequately for two abstentions. Thus, even most says, violate New York’s Open Meet- signatures so far, asks for a “mora- load requirements, directly” Back Bay. the challenges of academic of those who favored the compo- ings Law (see Clarion, Aug. 2012). torium on further implementation with English departments at three writing in their undergraduate ca- sition class deal are asking their of Pathways until an atmosphere CUNY community colleges. Work- reers,” the Council said. It argued college senate not to act on any refusal free of coercion is established and load, the complaint points out, is “a that cutting instruction in introduc- Pathways courses. Some CUNY college senates, academically sound alternatives mandatory subject of bargaining” tory composition by 25% would im- such as those at Brooklyn College can be considered.” with the union, and under State pair student performance in future sharpening conflict or College of Staten Island, have “Suddenly, there are all these law the PSC is recognized as the classes – which would impede stu- “These votes are consistent not approved any Pathways cours- directives, all this pressure: ‘You exclusive bargaining agent for dent transfer, not enhance it. with the PSC message over the es. Some, such as Hostos Commu- must vote on this, you must approve CUNY instructional staff. Faced with English departments past year. In its work with faculty nity College, have approved some that.’ Where is the urgency on this that refused to approve Pathways- governance, PSC has been em- proposed courses but not others. coming from?” Bowen said at the negotiations compliant composition courses, phasizing the importance of col- “The greatest pressure for a re- PSC’s January 24 Delegate Assem- At issue in the PERB charge is college administrations twisted lectivizing the voice and power of think of the misguided structure bly. “It’s coming from management, management’s pursuit of negotia- arms, and, in some cases, tried to faculty to maximize their influence of Pathways comes from gover- and its own artificial timetable. But tions with English departments cut deals to gain favorable votes. and minimize the vulnerability of nance bodies that decline to ap- it’s faculty who are responsible for at several CUNY colleges over They offered several different op- individual faculty members and prove Pathways courses,” said PSC the curriculum. We are responsible workload hours in freshman com- tions, inconsistent from one col- departments,” said PSC Treasur- President Barbara Bowen. for its quality.” position classes. Resistance to lege to the next and changing over er Michael Fabricant on hearing of The MLA resolution, approved With management still facing Pathways has been particularly time. In one offer, the class would the LaGuardia votes. by a vote of 108 to 2, concludes by problems in winning faculty sup- strong in CUNY’s English depart- be offered on a 3/3 basis, but fac- With 80th Street facing its own “affirm[ing] the right of CUNY’s port, many at CUNY are skeptical ments, most of which have long ulty could hold a “conference hour” self-imposed deadline of Febru- faculty...to determine curriculum that the plan can be implemented on taught introductory composition (essentially an extra office hour). ary 25 for submission of Pathways and graduation requirements, and schedule. “The truth of the matter courses on the basis of a “3/4” for- Or perhaps the fourth hour could courses, faculty can expect con- to withhold implementation of any is that Pathways will most likely not mula: a class that receives three meet in a classroom, but students flicts over Pathways to sharpen. curriculum that has not been rec- be implemented, at least not in the credits, but meets for four hours would not be required to attend. “Management is likely to be even ommended by the appropriate fac- way or to the extent that CUNY ad- a week. But Pathways lowers the Or student attendance during the more aggressive this semester ulty governance body.” ministration wishes, in Fall 2013,” total number of credits that can fourth hour would be mandatory, than in the Fall,” Fabricant told “It was a deeply sympathetic wrote BMCC student Maruf Hos- be required in general education but the session could not include union delegates in January. “We audience,” said McGlynn. “They sain in a comment on the college’s classes – and an administration the entire class. will win or lose on Pathways based were particularly concerned by the website, after BMCC’s administra- directive last year stated that “all The PSC’s PERB charge cites on faculty engagement, one cam- threats and coercions that faculty tion announced that Pathways is courses in the [Pathways] Com- attempts to negotiate workload pus at a time.” 8 news & benefits Clarion | February 2013

been on the rise, and misuse of test- ing was a central issue in the Chi- cago Teachers Union strike last fall. Seattle teachers have until Feb- Seattle teachers boycott test ruary 22 before the threatened suspension would kick in. The su- By SARAH JAFFE gets an answer right, the next one is perintendent has also announced Slam distortion of education harder. “Students who are...sick of that he’ll organize a task force to in- The role of high-stakes standard- assessments find out quickly that vestigate possible alternatives to the ized tests in K-12 education has was on the board of the company required by the state and doesn’t if they choose random answers, the testing regime and the MAP in par- dramatically expanded in recent that sells it; a state audit in 2011 affect students’ grades – but it is questions get easier,” writes assess- ticular, but the teachers are refusing years, shaping teachers’ workdays found that she committed a seri- used to evaluate teachers, who ment expert Jem Muldoon. to back down. Ravitch and other sup- and narrowing what is taught to the ous ethics violation by failing to point out that many students do Ira Shor, a professor of English porters have vowed to raise money confines of a test. Now, high school disclose this fact. Ninth and tenth not take the test seriously. at the CUNY Graduate Center who for them if they are suspended. teachers in Seattle are saying “No.” graders in Seattle already take Additionally, the MAP is a comput- writes on composition theory and “We know that high-stakes tests On January 10, the staff of Gar - five additional tests required by er-adaptive test (CAT), which means urban education, said that many tests are being used to redline the poor field High School voted unani- the state, and eleventh and twelfth that if the student gets a question used in K-12 assessment “produce and working class out of access to mously to refuse to administer the graders take three. The MAP is not wrong, the next one is easier; if she unreliable, unreproducible and even a quality education, and are used Measures of Academic Progress faked results. Yet these tests are used to get rid of teachers” in ways that (MAP) test to their ninth-grade stu- to judge what students know and how are hard to justify, said Fine. She dents. They’ve held firm since, even well teachers are doing their job.” and many other scholars of K-12 as the superintendent of schools has education hope that the boycott threatened them with a ten-day, un- rising concerns will spread. paid suspension. Meanwhile, teach- “All over the country, parents, ers at other Seattle-area schools teachers, superintendents, lawyers have joined their boycott. and university folks have been sign- ing petitions and publishing articles allies about the grotesque misuse of high- TRS news “Garfield has a long tradition of stakes testing,” Michelle Fine, dis- On January 30, Governor Cuomo cultivating abstract thinking, lyri- tinguished professor of psychology signed into law a provision that is cal innovation, trenchant debate, and urban education at the Graduate good news for many PSC members civic leadership, moral courage Center, told Clarion. But those pro- in the NYC Teachers’ Retirement and myriad other qualities for which tests have gained little traction, she System (TRS). our society is desperate, yet which added – in part because the Obama The measure allows PSC mem- cannot be measured, or inspired by administration “has really endorsed bers who have TRS Tier I & II sta - bubbling answer choice ‘E,’” wrote the overuse of high-stakes testing on tus to continue receiving an 8.25% Garfield High history teacher Jesse students, on teachers and on schools.” interest rate on an investment ac-

Hagopian in a Seattle Times o p - e d . Erika Schultz/The Seattle Times Teachers’ opposition to the re- count known as the “fixed return” Garfield High’s Parent-Teacher- History teacher Jesse Hagopian of Seattle’s Garfield High School. sulting distortions of education has through Fiscal Year 2016. These Student Association and student members have the option to invest government are both backing the in the “fixed return” in their pri- teachers, and the teachers’ union, mary pension plan (known as their the Seattle Education Associa- Qualified Pension Plan, or QPP). tion (an affiliate of the National Also affected are PSC members Education Association), has been NYSUT Relief Fund reports in any TRS pension tier who have a holding phone banks and rallies Tax-Deferred Annuity, or TDA – a in support. NEA president Dennis By CLARION STAFF supplemental retirement account van Roeckel called the teachers’ funded by voluntary before-tax stand a “defining moment within Immediately following the on- Close to 1,000 helped so far payroll deductions. the education profession.” slaught of Superstorm Sandy, the To date, nearly $300,000 has been and equitably. Among other things, As the boycott has become na- American Federation of Teachers contributed to NYSUT’s Fund by NYSUT has been calling each appli- tional news, it has attracted sup- (AFT) set up a Disaster Relief Fund union members regionally and cant to confirm that the application port around the country. A letter in on behalf of all affected locals, nationally, and by outside groups. has been received. Tax rate update solidarity with the Garfield teach- including PSC, to provide cash NYSUT has received nearly 2,000 ers has been signed by close to 5,000 assistance to members who ex- applications for grants and has re- how to apply As of January 1, 2013, the effective rate educators, authors and activists, perienced losses as a result of the sponded to almost half of them with To date, 38 PSC members have for the Social Security payroll tax has including former US Assistant Sec- storm. Money collected na- grants of about $250 each. applied for grants and nearly half of returned to its normal level of 6.2%. retary of Education Diane Ravitch; tionally has been distributed Small Grants are to cover losses those have been responded to with During 2011 and 2012, this normal Chicago Teachers Union Presi- among funds established by grants aid or basic necessities that grants from the NYSUT Relief Fund. tax rate was temporarily reduced by dent Karen Lewis; Jonathan Ko- AFT state affiliates, includ- are not covered by an ap- All member applications need to be 2%. Adopted by Congress as a limited zol, author of Savage Inequalities; ing New York State United members plicant’s insurance policy signed by the PSC President, so PSC economic stimulus, this “payroll tax Deborah Meier of the Coalition of Teachers in New York. And in wake of or FEMA. As several af- is asking everyone applying to send holiday” meant a short-term boost to Essential Schools; Pedro Noguera, NYSUT has set up its own Sandy. fected PSC members have their notarized application to the Americans’ take-home pay. Always professor of education at New York fund to collect additional noted, every little bit helps. PSC Office (keep a copy), and PSC designed as a temporary measure, University; PSC President Barbara money and administer responses NYSUT Manger of Accounting and will forward it to NYSUT. To apply, this 2% tax holiday expired on De- Bowen and more than a dozen fac- to members’ applications (www.ny- Reporting Jeff Lockwood told Clarion go to the PSC website and download cember 31, 2012. As a result, your ulty members at CUNY. American sut.org/members_6990.htm). PSC that NYSUT plans a new fund-raising an application form (www.nysut. paychecks for 2013 are showing an Federation of Teachers President President Barbara Bowen said, effort among members because the org/members_6990.htm), fill it out increase of 2% in deductions for So- Randi Weingarten issued a state- “We want our members to know Fund has not yet collected enough and get your signature notarized, cial Security taxes, as the tax reverts ment of support, which is posted on that the whole union wants to help, to cover all the applications to date, then send it to the PSC Office, 61 to its historic rate of 6.2%. the AFT’s Facebook page. as we have in prior disasters like and the applications keep coming in Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, NY In another change for 2013, Social (You can sign the petition at hurricanes Katrina and Irene, in at a rate of 25 a day. In the meantime, 10006, ATTN: Patricia Young. If you Security taxes are now paid on in - tinyurl.com/Seattle-test-petition.) addition to PSC reaching out to af- NYSUT staff have been working dili- have any questions, contact Patricia come up to a threshold of $113,700, fected members.” gently to process applications fairly Young at 212-354-1252. up from $110,100 last year. firm stand The Seattle teachers’ firm stand has been “amazing,” Jean Anyon, february 2013 professor of social and educational Clarion policy at the Graduate Center, told Newspaper of the Professional Staff Congress/City University of New York, collective bargaining representative of the CUNY instructional staff. Vol. 42, No. 2. PSC/CUNY is affiliated with the American Association of University Professors, National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers (Local 2334), AFL-CIO, the New York City Central Labor Council and New York State United Teachers. Published by PSC/CUNY, Clarion. “There have been very few 61 Broadway, 15th floor, New York, NY 10006. Telephone: (212) 354-1252. Website: www.psc-cuny.org. E-mail: [email protected]. All opinions expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the PSC. groups that have decided to defy PSC OFFICERS: Barbara Bowen, President; Steven London, First Vice President; Arthurine DeSola, Secretary; Michael Fabricant, Treasurer; George Brandon, Jonathan Buchsbaum, Penny Lewis, Costas these tests,” she pointed out. “In Panayotakis, Michael Spear, University-Wide Officers; Robert Cermele, Vice President, Senior Colleges; David Hatchett, Blanca Vásquez, Alex Vitale, Senior College Officers; Anne Friedman, Vice President, Community Colleges; Lorraine Cohen, Sharon Persinger, Felipe Pimentel, Community College Officers; Iris DeLutro, Vice President, Cross-Campus Units; Alan Pearlman, Andrea Ades Vásquez, Paul Washington, terms of an outright boycott by a[n Cross-Campus Officers; Marcia Newfield, Vice President, Part-Time Personnel; Michael Batson, Susan DiRaimo, Steve Weisblatt, Part-Time Personnel Officers; Bill Freidheim, Eileen Moran, Retiree Officers; Irwin entire] school, if it’s not the first, it’s H. Polishook, President Emeritus; Peter I. Hoberman, Vice President Emeritus, Cross-Campus Units. close to it.” STAFF: Deborah Bell, Executive Director; Naomi Zauderer, Associate Executive Director; Faye H. Alladin, Coordinator, Financial Services; Debra L. Bergen, Director, Contract Administration & University-Wide Grievance Officer; Dierdre Brill, Director, Organizing; Francis Clark, Coordinator, Communications; Barbara Gabriel, Coordinator, Office Services and Human Resources; Jared Herst, Coordinator, Pension & The MAP test was acquired Health Benefits; Kate Pfordresher, Director, Research & Public Policy; Diana Rosato, Coordinator, Membership Department; Peter Zwiebach, Director of Legal Affairs. for about $4 million by Seattle’s Editor: Peter Hogness / Associate Editor: John Tarleton / Designer: Margarita Aguilar / Proofreader: Teri Duerr. schools superintendent while she © 2013 Professional Staff Congress/CUNY Clarion | February 2013 opinion 9 closed vs. open access and promotion process within universities is not. And unfortunately, so long as univer- sity promotion and tenure boards refuse to give due weight to open-access publication, Backing new ways to publish academics will hesitate to publish in those forums – and this will act as a serious drag By SAMIR CHOPRA tragic death highlight the skewed priori- on the speed of change. As long as Elsevier, Brooklyn College ties of our justice system and the perni- and closed-access presses like it, are seen cious effects of copyright regimes run as publishing the “prestigious” journals, aron Swartz was a program- amuck. For those of us who work in the ones academics really want to mer, a founder of Reddit and academia, it obliges us to consider be published in, the current an early designer of the tech- the scandalous state of academic dysfunctional system will nology behind subscriptions publishing. hang on. to blogs and podcasts. Aaron Most research monographs So, university promo- ASwartz was a hacker and an Internet ac- and journal subscriptions are tion and tenure boards tivist, an architect of the Creative Com- expensive; and rare is the aca- need to pay closer at- mons system for sharing access to creative demic who does not find that tention to open-access work, and a leader in defeating the Stop the hunt for a journal article journals and presses. Online Piracy Act and its carte blanche online is blocked by a paywall. They need to acknowl- for corporate and government censor- Though we inhabit a world in edge the new models ship online. Aaron Swartz committed sui- which the distribution and dis- for academic publish- cide on January 11 of this year, and his semination of information is ing and peer review work and his death should give everyone easier by the day, some very now exist, and must be in academia reason to pause and reflect. old stumbling blocks remain. taken seriously. Uni- Thanks to an over-zealous federal pros- Why is this archaic system versity administrations ecution, at the time of his death Swartz was of production and distribu- must act to bring academic facing charges with a possible 35 years in tion still dominant? How does it work? publishing back within the prison and a million dollars in fines. His It works because academics, ironically control of the academy. Modern Robert Arnow Designs supposed crime? Downloading millions of enough, underwrite it with our unpaid la- emergency, publishing’s production require- academic articles from the JSTOR repository bor. We conspire to make things harder for and I was up at ments can be financed by a consortium with the intent to make them freely available ourselves in ways that are damaging to our 3:00 [am]…next to my model, which would fund the work that on the Internet. (JSTOR provides online ac- universities. It works because academics wife in the hospital room, surfing professors and graduate students do on the cess, for a fee, to more than 1,000 journals.) collaborate with a system whose incentives the web…trying to find information about editing, review and distribution of journal and interests are not aligned with our own. a particular medical treatment. And I papers and research monographs. The swartz’s ‘crime’ Consider, as an example, Elsevier, a pub- couldn’t get access to the damned papers!” work they do on these publications should Swartz’s mass download from JSTOR was lishing house known for “premier” journals Eisen stresses that he is not a utopian: be counted as part of their workload and reminiscent of his 2008 “attack” on PACER, like Cell and The Lancet. It is able to sell “Nobody is saying that publishing is free. should be reckoned with in their promotion an online system that charges a fee for ac- those journals at high prices because they What people are saying is that…taxpayers and tenure decisions. Universities can pro- cess to public court documents created at include results of research conducted by and the government are [already] paying for vide institutional backing for open-access public expense. As his friend Cory Doctorow university academics the world over, much this. So why can’t we do it in a way where the publication fees – and many already do. recalled, with the aid of software that “al- of which is publicly funded. Elsevier does knowledge is distributed broadly, as opposed But most pressingly, senior academics, lowed its users to put any case law they paid not pay for the research, it does not pay to where the knowledge is restricted?” especially those with full professorships for into a free/public repository,” Swartz for the papers to be written. The editorial Some open-access journals post any paper and tenure, need to take the lead. The “spent a small fortune fetching a titanic boards of Elsevier journals are staffed by that meets very basic quality standards, academy runs on the Matthew Principle: amount of data and putting it into the public unpaid academics, who then ask other aca- relying on new forms of online peer review those that have, get more. If this present domain.” For this he was investigated and demics to serve as unpaid reviewers. By to identify the most important work. Others situation is to change, those that have the harassed by the FBI, but never charged. “unpaid,” I mean of course that faculty are have editorial boards that serve as more most need to give away the most. They In the JSTOR case, there was at least one not compensated by Elsevier for their work restrictive gatekeepers, deciding what is need to lend their reputation and prestige crucial difference: Swartz never disseminat- on its journals – but this work also gets little worth publication. What all open-access to open-access journals and presses so ed any of the downloaded articles. For this or no recognition in academic workloads. (It journals have in common is that they do not that the profile of those journals can be and many other reasons, it’s not at all clear is only tangentially acknowledged by pro- charge for access to knowledge. raised, and articles they publish will start that Swartz’s downloading constituted a motion and tenure boards.) What can academics do to support this to receive appropriate weight in career crime. There was no evidence his downloads kind of change? Most straightforwardly, they decisions. caused physical harm to MIT’s very open paywalls can start by refusing to support the current network or any economic harm to JSTOR – Once a research paper is accepted for system. On January 21, 2012, mathematician moving prestige and JSTOR itself declined to press charges. publication, it is sent back to the author – Timothy Gowers of Cambridge announced he Change will come when those who have To their eternal shame, MIT involved the who typesets it (using perhaps a style sheet would no longer publish in Elsevier’s journals sufficient power, those who can easily get federal authorities and never asked them to provided by the publisher), prepares a cam- or serve as an Elsevier editor or referee. This their fifth book published again by Cam- back off. MIT “could have stopped this [pros- era-ready copy and sends it back for pub- boycott has now been joined by thousands of bridge University Press, will finally say, “I ecution] cold in its tracks by saying they were lishing. In return for this uncompensated other academics. (I don’t referee any more for choose to make my book open-access and not the victims of a crime, and they didn’t do labor, the publishing house makes authors Elsevier, though I have in the past, and I won’t make it available online.” that,” Swartz’s partner, Taren Stinebrickner- sign forms handing over copyright, then send any papers to its journals.) Thanks to Senior academics need to follow the call Kauffman, told the Los Angeles Times. prints the article in a journal that it sells for the furor created by three Fields Medal win- of Harvard’s Faculty Advisory Council, “The government used the same laws in- thousands of dollars per year to the very ners – Gowers, Terence Tao and Wendelin and “move prestige to open access.” This tended to go after digital bank robbers to go universities where its authors, reviewers Werner – participating in the boycott, many is a reputation economy, and those that are after this 26-year-old genius,” said Chris Sog- and editors do their work. In effect, Elsevier are increasingly aware that academic publish- wealthy need to spread the joy, as it were. It hoian, a technology analyst at the American sells academics’ unpaid work back to them, ing is a racket that relies on self-exploitation. is impractical to expect junior academics to Civil Liberties Union. But in fact, Soghoian at an increasingly unaffordable cost. Bear in mind that in 2010, Elsevier reported a take the lead in this regard. said, stealing millions of dollars via com- Once published, the material is not 36% profit on revenues of $3.2 billion. Other reforms are possible: all federally puter is not the same as sharing an academic open-access anymore; it is closed behind Not every publisher is an Elsevier. But funded research, not just some, should be article with the public – even if the latter may a paywall. If your library, at say, an un- others come close, and for-profit, closed- subject to an open-access requirement; copy- violate a website’s terms of service. Legisla- derfunded public university like the City access publishers are all using the same right law should be amended for academic tion proposed by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, days after University of New York, is experiencing dysfunctional model. research; and so on. But first and foremost, Swartz’s death, would revise federal law to budget problems, you may be out of luck. To disrupt this system requires work. the university must reform itself. Stop col- recognize that distinction. If you are a taxpayer who funded this re- The overarching problem is that in the aca- laborating with the traditional model, and by To put the absurdity and immorality of search, but don’t have access to a journal’s demic world, traditional printing presses using and promoting open-access models of Swartz’s prosecution into perspective, con- subscription, you are out of luck again. still command the greatest power and publishing, help them to become the norm. sider the case of HSBC. Despite the fact that Here’s what happened to Jonathan Eisen, prestige. Online publication counts for this bank admitted to laundering billions an evolutionary biologist whose brother is little in institutional decisions, even as it Samir Chopra is an associate professor at of dollars for Colombian and Mexican drug a co-founder of Public Library of Science increasingly becomes a forum for cutting- Brooklyn College. He studies the relation- cartels, violating the Bank Secrecy Act and (PLOS), a prominent open-access scholarly edge scholarship, even when PLOS is cited ships between law, technology & philosophy. the Trading with the Enemy Act, the Justice journal: “Even with my brother starting on the front page of The New York Times as Department pursued no criminal prosecu- PLOS…I didn’t understand why this was a routinely if it were Nature. The dissemina- What do you think about open access and the tions. Rather than insisting that bankers go big deal. And then we had a family medical tion of research is changing, but the tenure future of academic publishing? Clarion would to jail, the government settled for a $1.9 bil- like to hear your views. Send letters to the lion fine – five weeks of income for HSBC. editor or proposals for op-ed articles to our The prosecution of Swartz and his The life & work of Aaron Swartz editor, at [email protected]. 10 union views Clarion | February 2013 PSC and New York City’s 2013 elections This year’s New York City elections activists to come together around a could mark a turning point in city common agenda. politics. Clarion spoke with several Shifting NYC’s politics away from austerity members of the PSC’s Legislative KURTZ: That’s a critical point. The Committee about what’s at stake PSC isn’t big enough to change in 2013, the PSC’s plans, and how New York City politics by ourselves members can get involved. Discus- alone. But with the active, engaged sion participants included com- membership of the PSC in solidarity mittee members Iris DeLutro, Ron and coalition with other partners, Hayduk, Geoff Kurtz, Eileen Moran with our labor friends and commu- and Cecelia McCall. nity-based organizations – that’s how we’ll have the greatest impact. CLARION: On January 26, the union That’s also how we can work to keep held this year’s “PSC-CUNY 101.” politicians accountable. Thirty-three candidates for City Whether someone positions them- Council attended. Tell us, what is selves as a moderate, or a progres- PSC-CUNY 101? sive, or a liberal, who’s to say what they will actually do when they get CECELIA McCALL: It’s basically a into office? They’ll be under tremen- seminar for City Council candidates dous pressure from Wall Street, – a two-hour crash course about CU- from the real estate industry, from NY and its issues. We have different the tabloid editorials, from the right. presentations and we run down key Unless we apply pressure of our own,

facts and statistics about the Uni- Pat Arnow we can’t expect a good result. versity: who goes there, how it be- Members of the PSC Legislative Committee meet in January to make plans for the coming year. So yes, we want to prevail, we gan, what’s CUNY’s role in the city want to get the best possible candi- today. And we have a serious discus- teacher. When we first supported actively support candidates. That’s is going to happen after Sandy. All dates elected. But we also want to sion with the candidates about their him back in 2001, he didn’t win. But really exciting. It’s a big deal. things that affect our daily lives. make sure that we’ve got the capac- importance to CUNY and why we he got elected a few years later, and But what’s just as important as ity to work with our allies and hold need them to be advocates for the then became chair of the Council’s MORAN: What’s important is that the specific issues is that it’s come them accountable. University. Higher Education Committee. those endorsements will be based out of a process with unions and That’s the kind of result we’ll on a set of common principles. The grassroots community groups. In MORAN: And that’s a real benefit of EILEEN MORAN: We aim to pres - be looking for again this year as Caucus is going to release a common the same way that the Working developing the Progressive Caucus ent CUNY’s budget issues in a very we interview candidates. We want platform soon, which it’s been devel- Families Party is a coalition of la- platform. It’s says, “This is what our clear way, one that will stick with to keep building those kinds of oping with labor and community bor and community-based organi- philosophy commits us to.” It’s taking the candidates when they become relationships. groups from all over the city. The zations, the Progressive Caucus a stand. So that’s something we can legislators. For instance, there’s a PSC has been part of those discus- platform expresses an increasing go back to after people are elected. pie chart that shows what share of CLARION: What stands out about sions. It’s an agenda that expresses desire of different groups to work CUNY’s budget was paid for by stu- the NYC elections in 2013? some shared commitments – it says together on a joint agenda. And that CLARION: So what is the PSC plan - dent tuition 20 years ago, and how that we don’t have to accept an aus- reflects some broader trends. ning for the months ahead? big a share they’re paying now. It MORAN: First, the fact that there terity agenda, that we have a choice. goes from 12% to around 40%, then will be so many open seats. No one McCALL: On all these issues, Oc - DeLUTRO: We’ll be hosting a may- we connect that with the fact that so in citywide office is running for re- KURTZ: Absolutely. cupy Wall Street really changed the oral candidates’ forum this spring, many of our students are poor – and election, and probably more than a conversation. It made people focus and every PSC member is strongly yet they’re being asked to shoulder third of the City Council seats are MORAN: Because New York on the fact that there’s a real encouraged to attend! We want a this burden. We show candidates the up for grabs. City is not broke. This is one Advancing class struggle going on, even good turnout, to show candidates facts in a way that they’ll remember. of the richest cities in the a public if the media doesn’t like to that we are a significant organiza- DeLUTRO: A big reason for so much world. We have the money talk about it. Suddenly people tion – but also because this is part IRIS DeLUTRO: When new council- turnover this year is the impact of to pay for the services we higher were talking about economic of the PSC’s endorsement process. members take office, we want them term limits. Whatever you think of need, and it’s not hard to education inequality and how it’s get- to really be well-versed in CUNY’s term limits, the fact that so many figure out where the money ting worse, how that’s bad for KURTZ: That’s right. We’ll be dis - issues; we want them committed new Council members are coming is. But the people who have agenda our society. “We are the 99%” cussing the 2013 elections at chapter to protect City University and its in is a good opportunity for us in the the most money are not paying their – that really touched a chord, and I meetings this spring. So if we have funding. PSC. It’s an opportunity to affect the share in taxes – and that’s a prob- think it still resounds. a good number of members at the direction of city politics. lem. This is a big point of agreement And Occupy isn’t dead. Occupy mayoral forum, they can come back MORAN: PSC-CUNY 101 has also between the Progressive Caucus has been out in Red Hook and the to their chapters and make it part had a ripple effect. A lot of the can- GEOFF KURTZ: That gets at the sec- and the PSC. Rockaways with Occupy Sandy. of a larger conversation about what didates who attended when we’ve ond thing about this year, which is Occupy has been organizing for our union should do in this election. done this in the past did not win their that some good things have been KURTZ: This whole question of aus- debt relief; they’re doing all kinds race for Council – but later they were happening in New York City poli- terity and fair taxation is a place of things. DeLUTRO: Later in the spring, the elected to the State Legislature. Very tics, and that’s creating some new where politics hits you in the pock- Delegate Assembly will vote on en- often there might be two people or possibilities. This year we’ve got etbook. These elections will affect HAYDUK: The Occupy movement dorsements in citywide races and the three people we like, all running a chance to start moving the city the state of municipal labor rela- helped to open that space where Executive Council will make endorse- for the same seat, and this process away from the austerity agenda tions, and that affects us in the PSC. labor and community groups have ments for City Council. The Legislative means that all of them get this expo- that’s been so dominant. We have a chance this year to elect been coming together and starting Committee makes recommendations sure, both to the PSC and to CUNY. After the 2009 election there was a a new generation of labor-friendly to flex our muscles. The energy that for all these races, and we’re inter- cohort of City Council members who councilmembers. That’s pretty ex- created has led to some coalescing viewing candidates now. Members McCALL: In 2001, the first year we formed a Progressive Caucus, as an citing. And the mayoral election is elsewhere. Look at last year’s May who’d like to be part of the candidate did PSC-CUNY 101, there were a lot attempt to have an organized coun- also important for us, because it’s Day march for labor and immigrant interview process – and not just for of open Council seats. The fact that terweight to the mayor and to corpo- going to set the climate for public- rights – it was the largest in years, one candidate, it has to be all of them there was such a big turnover was rate interests. One of the founders, by employee contract negotiations. and groups that have not always – should contact the committee. a source of strength for us, because the way, was Ydanis Rodriguez. The Right now every municipal union is worked well together worked to- But our endorsements won’t all of these newly elected people got group included a number of other peo- working under an expired contract. gether to organize that. mean anything if we can’t put peo- to know us from the start. ple the PSC had endorsed, and a lot of So, this kind of motion is also re- ple in the field to help those can- Most of them tended to have a them were close to the Working Fami- RON HAYDUK: Like Eileen men- flected in the Progressive Caucus didates win. We’ll need people to grassroots background, they were lies Party (WFP). They’ve pushed for tioned, the PSC has been part of agenda. And this kind of coalescing phone bank, to knock on doors, to rooted in their communities. The PSC measures like legislation for paid sick the discussions on developing the is a top priority of the PSC’s political stuff envelopes – if you want to help, was on the ground, we were in touch days, and they’ve been speaking out Progressive Caucus platform. It’ll be strategy. Whether it’s with Occupy, there’s something you can do. And with them during the campaign and on issues like stop-and-frisk. something like “Thirteen big ideas or May Day, or taking part in the en- we will need your help. they got to know us fairly closely. Now in this election, this Progres- for NYC in 2013,” and it’s a good dorsement discussions of the WFP A good example is Ydanis Rodri- sive Caucus is actually campaigning list: our public schools and public and the NYC Central Labor Council, To get involved, contact Amanda guez. He had been a student activist to increase its membership – higher education, transportation, we want to encourage unions, com- Magalhaes at the PSC office (amag- at CUNY, and then a public-school recruiting candidates, starting to affordable housing, how rebuilding munity groups and progressive [email protected], or 212-354-1252). Clarion | February 2013 opinion 11

ENDING SLAVERY er good? They most likely don’t endorse such methods in contemporary politics. And neither did Lincoln in his time. The evi- dence that bribes were offered in exchange for votes on the Thirteenth Amendment is sketchy; evidence that Lincoln sanctioned History, politics & fiction bribery is simply non-existent. Most troubling of all is the fabrication By JAMES OAKES of a division among Republicans over the Thirteenth Amendment. There was no such suppose it was predictable that a his- division. From the moment their party set- torian would have mixed feelings tled on the amendment in early 1864, they about Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln. formed a solid, virtually unbroken bloc in Tony Kushner’s screenplay is smart, support of it. Lincoln has Lincoln herding the cinematography is gorgeous and the cats within his own party, forcing Con- Ithe acting – notably Daniel Day Lewis’s – is gressional Republicans into line for the final terrific. But Lincoln is also based on sev- vote. In reality, Lincoln never mentioned the eral dubious premises about the signifi- amendment until after Congressional Re- cance of the events it depicts and about publicans had endorsed it and after his own the respective roles of President Lincoln party put it into the 1864 platform on which and Congress in the passage of the Thir- he ran for re-election. teenth Amendment. I liked it as a movie; I wish I could say it was good history. thaddeus stevens Lincoln is unusually sophisticated in the The depiction of Thaddeus Stevens per- way it weaves its themes into a compelling fectly captures both the strengths and weak- narrative. One of these themes is the rela- nesses of Lincoln. In films about the Civil tionship between the struggle to abolish War, going all the way back to D. W. Griffith’s slavery and the related, but distinct, strug- notorious Birth of a Nation, Stevens has been gle for racial equality. portrayed as the very essence of demonic The movie opens with two black Union sol- Century Fox Twentieth and DreamWorks fanaticism. Lincoln goes a long way toward diers, one recently enslaved and the other a Daniel Day-Lewis plays Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s new movie about the 16th president. correcting that image. Tommy Lee Jones free man from Boston, discussing the war plays Stevens as a deeply committed radical, with the President. They are very different reading the second article of the Thirteenth Kushner to depart from the known histori- whose radicalism is in the service of the no- people, these two men. They dress differently, Amendment aloud – the clause empowering cal facts of the Thirteenth Amendment. Most ble cause of racial equality. they speak differently and what they have to Congress to enforce emancipation by appro- disturbing is the film’s narrow conception of Yet Stevens was, like Lincoln, a skilled po- say to Lincoln is different. For the Bostonian, priate legislation – the lips on Tommy Lee how politics work. Several historians have litical operator, a sharp lawyer and a brilliant the racial discriminations suffered by black Jones’s face curl ever so slightly into a smile. complained that Lincoln gives no credit to parliamentarian. Lincoln depicts Stevens as soldiers – first the unequal pay and now the Article I secured emancipation; armed with the slaves, whose determination to be free the leader of the radicals, but he was much lack of promotions – is foremost in his mind. Article II, he would set about to enforce it. played an integral role in the process by closer to being the leader of the Republicans The recently freed slave is clearly frustrated which slavery was destroyed. Kushner re- in the House. Stevens chaired the powerful by these complaints. He is fighting for his free- party man sponded in a December interview on the PBS House Committee on Ways and Means and dom, not for a promotion. This is no abstract Kushner distinguishes the struggle for show Moyers & Company: “I don’t accept the his fellow Republicans made him majority distinction. The ferocity of battle depicted in racial equality from the struggle to abolish idea that the only thing to tell about emanci- whip. Among the radicals, he was least in the film – of black soldiers in unyielding hand- slavery while at the same time recognizing pation is that the victims of oppression are al- need of a basement-kitchen lecture from Lin- to-hand combat with white Confederates how closely related they were. Few histori- ways the authors of their own emancipation, coln on when to push and when to pull back. – stemmed from the fact that if they were cap- ans have managed this as well, and few com- because it’s not the case. Frequently people Yet his shining moment in the film comes tured, the black soldiers would not be treated mentators have even noticed it. What most that are severely put upon and severely op- when he defers to Lincoln’s pressure to tone as prisoners of war. They would either be exe- people focus on is a second theme – the para- pressed don’t have the means...to rise up and down his racial egalitarianism for the sake cuted or re-enslaved. Screenwriter Kushner is doxical “nobility” of down-and-dirty politics. destroy [oppression] on their own.” of the Amendment. The truth is that Ste- already making his point: racial equality is a Among those of us who’ve studied Lincoln While there is some truth in this, it scarce- vens was respected as a leader of his party critical issue, but right here, right now, it was closely, it’s not news that the 16th president ly accounts for the large body of scholarship because his party was united in support of not an issue that the Civil War would resolve. was, in his heart of hearts, a politician. He demonstrating the importance of slave resis- abolition, and nobody in Congress was more Slavery was. The two were closely related, but was a party man – at first a devoted Whig tance during the Civil War. You don’t have to skilled at securing that goal than he was. not identical. and, when that party collapsed, an equally argue that the slaves “freed themselves” to devoted Republican. He worked tirelessly recognize – as Lincoln and his fellow Repub- presidential powers abolition to maintain party unity; he crafted his own licans themselves recognized – that slaves Stevens was notoriously sarcastic in de- This is the same point former slave positions to insure that they aligned neatly fighting for their own freedom were “indis- bate, and in the film it’s cathartic to watch turned activist Elizabeth Keckley makes with the official positions of his party. When pensable” to Union victory and therefore in- him bury his Democratic opponent under a to Lincoln late one evening on the White during the secession crisis Lincoln was pres- dispensable to emancipation. barrage of insults. But Stevens was also the House porch. The President asks her what sured to issue a formal statement clarifying Yet even on its own terms – not as the broad first Republican in Congress, back in August “your people” will do when the war is over, his own position, the only thing he would say story of how slavery was destroyed but as of 1861, to justify emancipation as a military and, in one of the most moving scenes in was that he was a Republican and that his the smaller, though fascinating, tale of Lin- necessity under the War Powers of the Con- the film she answers, “What my people are views were those of his party. Those in search coln and Congress in January of 1865 – the stitution. Stevens’s point was crucial: the to be, I can’t say. Negroes have been fight- of heroes who “rise above politics” will find film operates from a cramped conception of laws of war are embedded in the War Powers ing and dying for freedom since the first of little inspiration in Lincoln’s biography. how politics work. Indeed, the movie does not Clause of the Constitution, and those powers us was a slave. I never heard any ask what Spielberg’s movie takes dead aim at fully jettison the anti-politics it attempts to are shared by Congress and the President. freedom will bring. Freedom’s first.” First this anti-political strain in contemporary critique, for Lincoln is the story of a man on a This division of powers, Stevens insisted, slavery must end, she says, then we can talk America. For many people, “politics” is the white horse, a singular political genius, who was the essential protection against execu- about what comes later. antithesis of “principle.” Politicians are com- goes down into the muck but only to drag ev- tive tyranny. Presidents can’t simply invoke Whether or not these are sentiments like- promisers, trimmers, people interested in eryone else out of it. Lincoln’s fellow Republi- the War Powers to do anything they please; ly to have been expressed by African Ameri- getting and holding onto power rather than cans squabble among themselves and Lincoln they must be guided by what Congress al- cans at the time, Kushner’s historical and using government to pursue the greater corrals them into order. He flatters, he twists lows. By contrast, the lecture on War Powers political point is right on target. He’s say- good. Lincoln upsets this dichotomy – he is arms, he promises patronage, he even sanc- that Kushner puts into Lincoln’s mouth is a ing: let’s get slavery abolished, then we will the hands-on, backroom politician, the party tions bribes – in his determination to bring the veritable brief for the “unitary executive.” settle the meaning of freedom. The struggle boss who pursues power and uses it for one radicals and the conservatives within his own Lincoln explains to his cabinet that he and he over racial equality was destined to take of the noblest ends in our history – the abo- party into line. Lincoln sees what Thaddeus alone decided to overrule the state laws pro- center stage once the war was over, but in lition of slavery. He demands compromise, Stevens, in his unswerving radicalism, sup- tecting property because he needed to do so order for it to be addressed, slavery must but only in pursuit of great principles. He posedly cannot see: sometimes the best way in order to save the Union. Stevens made no first be destroyed. brings together the radicals and conserva- to get to “true north” is by going around the such bloated claims for an imperial presiden- Thaddeus Stevens in Lincoln comes to tives within his own party so that they may swamp, not straight through it. cy. Spielberg and Kushner seem to endorse terms with the same fact of political life in defeat the enemies of emancipation. It is This is not history, its pure fiction – and such claims. If that’s a defense of the nobility January, 1865. Despite his admirable com- what commentators admire about Lincoln, its fiction in the service of some fairly trou- of politics, I’d just as soon do without it. mitment to racial equality, Stevens too must and I certainly share their admiration. bling notions of politics. Do Kushner and shelve that larger, broader project of racial Nevertheless, the movie develops this Spielberg want us to sanction bribery and James Oakes is a distinguished professor of equality – for the time being – because slavery theme in troubling ways – ways that compel political corruption in the name of the great- history at the CUNY Graduate Center. He is must be abolished first. Kushner returns to most recently the author of Freedom Nation- the theme near the end of the movie. As Ste- al: The Destruction of Slavery in the United vens listens to the black woman beside him What’s right & wrong with Lincoln States, 1861-1865. Professional Staff Congress/CUNY 61 Broadway, 15th Floor NonProfit Org. New York, New York 10006 U.S. Postage PAID Return Service Requested New York, N.Y. 15 –minute Activist Permit No. 8049 Turning a DREAM into reality CUNY has an estimated 5,000 access to the state’s Tuition undocumented immigrant stu- Assistance Program (TAP). To dents. Many of them come from find out more about how you can low-income households and are support the Assembly’s version the first members of their fami- of the New York State DREAM Act lies to attend college. These stu- (A.2597) introduced on January dents have been New Yorkers for 16 by Speaker Sheldon Silver, many years and many of their Assemblymember Francisco parents pay taxes. They are Moya and Higher Education beating the odds every day. Now, Committee Chair Deborah Glick, they need your help to gain equal see psc-cuny.org/nys-dream-act.

12 news Clarion | February 2013 higher ed Cuny Law prof tapped for in brief RF Central Office workers boycott anniv. breakfast The CUNY Research Foundation (RF) marked its 50th anniver- top New York court post sary January 24 with a fancy breakfast. Central Office workers By JOHN TARLETON of my year,” Bannan said of working represented by PSC-CUNY would Colleagues, students praise pick with Rivera at her fellowship. Now a have celebrated too, if they had CUNY Law School, the nation’s top- legal fellow at the Center for Repro- a fair contract offer on the table. ranked public interest law school, ductive Rights, Bannan told Clarion RF Central Officers workers, who gained another feather in its cap that she still thinks of Rivera as a administer post-grant fiscal mat- on January 15, when one of its own mentor and seeks her advice. ters for city, state, federal and was nominated to New York State’s “I’ve known very few people with private awards, tell Clarion they highest court, the Court of Appeals. such solid, solid legal thinking and boycotted the breakfast because Professor Jenny Rivera “has analytical skills, mixed with a deep an omelette is no substitute for worked to defend the legal rights of understanding of where she comes respect and a fair contract. all New Yorkers and make our state from,” said Bannan. Management continues to offer a fairer, more just place to live,” said nominal salary increases while Governor Andrew Cuomo in announc- civil rights demanding significant hikes in ing her appointment. Seymour James, From 2007 to 2008, Rivera went employee contribution to health president of the New York State Bar on leave from CUNY Law School insurance premiums and major Association, said that Rivera will to work as Special Deputy Attor- concessions in benefits for new bring “her keen intellect, insightful ney General for Civil Rights under hires. Stay up to date on the legal scholarship and a commitment Cuomo when he was New York State workers’ contract campaign at to equal justice for all New Yorkers” Attorney General. Rivera has also psc-cuny.org/rfco. to the state’s high court. served as an administrative law judge for the New York State Di- Adjuncts’ actual work hours Community services vision of Human Rights, and as a Rivera earned her law degree at member of the New York City Hu- and health care reform New York University and subse- man Rights Commission. The IRS wants to know how many quently clerked for future Supreme Jonathan Harris, CUNY Law hours adjunct faculty actually work.

Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. CUNY Law School Class of 2010, told Clarion that when The Internal Revenue Service She worked as a lawyer for the Le- Professor Jenny Rivera of the CUNY Law School. he took an administrative law class is preparing guidelines for new gal Aid Society’s Homeless Family with Rivera, her detailed knowledge Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules Rights Project, and later became nomination of a professor from the cus on issues affecting the Latino of government regulations was al- that take effect in 2014. Under the an associate counsel for the Puerto CUNY School of Law struck a chord community in the United States. ways linked to their practical effects. ACA, employers with 50 or more Rican Legal Defense and Education in the wider legal profession. Its initiatives include the Language “She used a lot of real-life examples employees will be expected to of- Fund (now known as LatinoJustice “This has been very powerful for Access Project, which addresses of how regulations affect us in daily fer health care coverage to work- PRLDEF). Rivera is slated to receive us,” Rossein said. “I can’t tell you discrimination based on language life even when we don’t realize it,” ers who put in 30 hours or more the American Bar Association’s Spir- how many e-mails and phone calls and national origin or ethnicity, and Harris said. “For her, the law is not per week, or will pay a penalty. it of Excellence Award this February. I’ve received. I got a call from a friend the Gender Equity Project, esoteric. That’s why it will At the start of this year, the IRS “She’s taken the spirit of law as with a more traditional legal back- which develops legal strat- “She’s going be terrific to have her on noted in the Federal Register that public service to heart,” said Victor ground who said, ‘Wow! You guys egies to overcome gender- to bring the the top court in New York.” “educational organizations gener- Goode, a professor at the Law School. have really arrived.’ But the thing based discrimination and Rivera is set to begin ally do not track the full hours “Her range of experience, her academ- is, we actually arrived years ago.” its effects on the Latino spirit of the her confirmation hearings of service of adjunct faculty, but ic preparation and the fact that she’s community. ‘wise Latina’ before the State Senate in instead compensate adjunct fac- grounded in a number of community native new yorker Each year, two Law February. If confirmed, ulty on the basis of credit hours services in New York City will make Rivera, 51, grew up on New York’s School students are tapped to this court.” she would have a 14-year taught.” Along with the Treasury her well-prepared for the bench.” Lower East Side when it was still a to serve as CLORE Fellows and term in office. The seven-member Department, the IRS is invit- “She’s going to bring the spirit of predominantly poor and working- work closely with Rivera. During court currently has four members ing comment “on how best to the ‘wise Latina’ to this court,” said class immigrant neighborhood. She her time as a Fellow in 2009-2010, appointed by former Republican determine the full-time status of Law School professor Rick Rossein, joined the faculty at CUNY Law in Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan helped Governor George Pataki and one employees” for adjuncts and other echoing an expression first popular- 1997, and is the founder of the Law organize forums on gentrification in by former Governor David Paterson. workers in similar situations. ized by Sotomayor during her 2009 School’s Center on Latino and La- East Harlem, the struggles of Latino The four Republican appointees Some part-time faculty activ- Supreme Court nomination hearings. tina Rights and Equality (CLORE), and Chinese low-wage workers, and will see their terms expire between ists have voiced concern about In a city where expensive law which promotes scholarship, public the former US naval bombing range 2014 and 2017. In addition to Rivera’s employers cutting adjuncts’ hours schools at Columbia and NYU get education and litigation in support in Vieques, Puerto Rico. seat, Cuomo is expected to fill the to avoid having to provide cover- much of the media’s attention, the of expanded civil rights, with a fo- “Her mentoring was the highlight Court’s other open seat in March. age under the new law.