SpecialLEGISLATIVE Edition cuny.edu/news • C ITY U NIVERSITY OF N EW Y ORK FOUNDED 1847 • Spring 2004 SPOTLIGHT on ALUMNI Legislators New Program Offers Politics 101 any CUNY tephanie Rosario is intrigued by alumni serve in what makes politics tick. There is, the state legisla- Sshe says, the fascination of give and M take, the back and forth of things, the ture. Here are some stories "manner in which individuals reach out to about them and about the their representatives and subsequently University's commitment these representatives can discuss and lobby for their concerns on everything from to training leaders. health and safety to justice and equality." The Brooklyn College student, who is “Two-fer” Legislators majoring in political science and minoring in sociology, is learning about the under- Take a Second Helping pinnings of politics first-hand by working 1of CUNY Learning in the office of Assemblymember Felix Senator Seymour Ortiz of Brooklyn, thanks to the Black, Puerto Rican & Hispanic Legislative Lachman has a Three CUNY students who'll be working as interns in legislators' district offices are, from left, Caucus/CUNY Scholars Program, which long relationship Andre Harding (Queens College), Stephanie Rosario (Brooklyn College) and Kathlene Burke awards high-achieving students internships (Baruch College). with two CUNY with members of the New York State colleges. Many of Legislature. Rosario, who wants to become his colleagues in a public-interest attorney or a law clerk for Caucus/CUNY Scholars Program are: but as yet I do not know whether I want to Albany have stud- a federal judge, says that the CUNY Senate Minority Leader David A. Paterson, enter politics, but I would like to find out," ied or taught at internship is vital to her career plans. "My Senator Kevin S. Parker, Senator Malcolm he says. "I'm doing the internship so I can more than one institution. See page 4. aim is to improve the lives of working- Smith; Senator Velmanette Montgomery, work close to politics." class citizens," she says. Assembly-man and Ways and Means For Kathlene Burke, the CUNY intern- This year, a dozen students, including Senator Lavalle: Students Committee Chairman Herman D. Farrell ship with Assemblyman Towns represents Rosario, are serving communities through- Jr., Assembly members Michael Benjamin, yet another step in her involvement in pol- Need Help; Financial out New York City as interns in district Espaillat, Towns, Jose Rivera, Adam itics. Burke, a Baruch College student who Aid is a Big Component offices of state legislators through the new Clayton Powell IV and Assemblywoman is majoring in finance and who plans a 2 program, created by Assemblymen Senator Kenneth Michele R. Titus. career in public-interest law, has taken an Adriano Espaillat and Darryl Towns. The LaValle, chair of Like Rosario, Roxanna Thomas, a politi- active role in campus matters, participating internship allows undergraduate students cal science and history major at York in a 2003 protest against planned tuition the Senate's higher to earn 12 to 15 college credits and College, aspires to high goals: She wants to hikes. “A concerned group of students and I education commit- receive a $5,000 stipend. earn a doctorate in international relations went to Albany to participate in a rally,” tee, discusses the "Through the leadership and initiative and feels that her CUNY internship with she says. “In addition, we encouraged oth- needs of public of Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat Senator Paterson will serve as a mini- ers to get involved by calling their repre- colleges and how (alumnus, Queens College) and Caucus course in the politics in everyday life. “My sentatives and mailing letters, explaining Vice Chair Darryl Towns (alumnus, the Legislature can long-term personal career goals are quite our opposition to the tuition hikes.” Medgar Evers College), the first-time pro- and must help. See page 10. simple: I want to save the world,” she says. The internship, she says, will give her gram is providing high academic achievers "Now, here is the hard part: I want to have valuable insight into serving the needs of at CUNY with the opportunity to learn a family at the same time." the community. “I will be able to experi- Assemblyman Canestrari: first hand about the district office opera- While Andre Harding, a history major ence first-hand the ways in which policy- Enhance Quality of tions of state legislators. The participating at Queens College, says that saving the makers aim to serve their constituents," Faculty and Programs student scholars will help research issues, world may not be within his power, he she says. “The internship will also educate 3 work with constituents, and assist in the does hope that his internship in the office me on many of the problems faced by Assemblyman delivery of services," said Chancellor of Assemblyman Farrell helps him make a members of the minority community. Ronald Canestrari, Matthew Goldstein. career choice that will benefit the world, Most of my adult life has been spent in chairman of the Legislators who are participating in the even if in a small way. "Faculty members these communities, which has impassioned Assembly's Black, Puerto Rican & Hispanic Legislative have told me they see me as a politician, me toward a career defending civil rights." Committee on Higher Education, says state support should be enhanced Extending the Tenure Clock to improve services on campus. See page 12. ection 6212 of the New York State actual practice) to complete sufficient time faculty at the meeting or by e-mail to Education Law governs tenure at research and writing leading to publication the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Brooklyn College Sends SCUNY. The section requires that worthy of tenure. Also, a seven-year span Affairs, Louise Mirrer, at tenure become effective on appears to be the norm on Many Alumni to Serve [email protected]. the first day of September campuses around the nation. In anticipation of some questions that 4in Albany following reappointment for Therefore, I hope that CUNY may arise, we have prepared the following What is it about Brooklyn? Why the sixth full year. As such, will extend its tenure period, questions and answer. have so many Brooklyn College the decision to grant or deny so that we do not lose candi- tenure must be made during dates who are good instructors Q. Why does CUNY want to change the graduates gone on to serve with the fifth year to be in compli- and who perform needed serv- tenure clock? distinction in the state Legislature? ance with the terms of the ice to the department, college The issue is fundamentally about fair- For some answers, see page 8. A. statute. Since the deadline for and university, and who, with ness—fairness to the candidate and fair- notification of reappointment sufficient time, would prove ness to his or her evaluators. The five- with tenure is December 1st to be successful scholars in year tenure clock actually provides a fac- of the fifth year, the period of Chancellor Goldstein their respective fields." ulty member with only three-and-one- assessment prior to considera- The University has pro- half to four years to develop a body of tion for tenure is in fact even shorter. posed a modification to current statutory work to be evaluated. Over the past several years, CUNY fac- language that would lengthen the tenure In the sciences, this is a short period of ulty have expressed many concerns about clock to seven years in response to faculty time to establish a lab and show promis- the short tenure clock. The following com- concerns. ing results. In the humanities, it is a ment from a CUNY department chair is a We have scheduled a town meeting to short period of time to publish a book case in point: clarify and help shape implementation of or articles in refereed journals. These "I have many times encountered the sit- the proposed new tenure clock, consistent problems are underscored by external uation in which the candidate simply with proposed legislative reform. We wel- needs more time than five years (four, in come the ideas and comments of all full- Continued on back page An Historic Training Ground for Leaders ne of the best measures of a uni- leading roles in advancing progressive 99, when Governor Pataki nominated him versity’s worth is the success of agendas in New York State and lent strong to the State Court of Claims. Waldon also Oits students after graduation. By support for public higher education and served in Congress. that yardstick, The City University has set The City University. Brooklyn Borough President Marty the standard as a democracy of excellence Shirley Chisholm (Brooklyn College, Markowitz (Brooklyn, 1970) spent a total and opportunity. CUNY’s graduates have 1946), the first African-American woman of nine years earning his degree in political made enormous contributions to every elected to Congress, served in the State science (while working full time), and field of endeavor, including medicine and Assembly from 1964-68. She fought to served as student government president in the sciences, engineering, the arts, architec- pass legislation that helped create CUNY’s the School of General Studies during ture, business, law, teaching and public SEEK Program (Search for Education, seven of those years. He was elected to the service. For example, eleven Nobel Elevation and Knowledge), which has New York State Senate in 1978 and to his Laureates are CUNY graduates, and the made it possible for many disadvantaged borough’s presidency in 2001. Bronx Borough President Adolfo University is also a leading source of top youths to attend college.