THEECHOECHO - UNITED UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONS
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An Online Publication of United University Professions n The Nation’s Largest Higher Education Union
THE
Echo Summer 2021
#VaxUpUUP
Reaching out to
unvaccinated
members
Also
inside:
Statewide elections: Two new VPs, DA, retreat: Members, leaders Member profile: Lizette Rivera
plus Executive Board actions eager for new semester helps student veterans
THE
Echo
Summer 2021
Vol. 7, No. 4
The Echo is an online publication of United
University Professions (UUP), bargaining agent
for the more than 37,000 academic and profes-
sional employees of the State University of New
York.
Contact UUP at P.O. Box 15143, Albany, New
York 12212-5143. Telephone (518) 640-6600 or
toll-free at (800) 342-4206. UUP’s internet site
is www.uupinfo.org. UUP is Local 2190 of
the American Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO)
and is affiliated with NYSUT and the National
Education Association.
UUP STATEWIDE OFFICERS FRED’S MESSAGE...
Unmasked and back in the office, but not out of the woods, UUP President
FREDERICK E. KOWAL Fred Kowal urges all UUP members to get vaccinated. Watch the video HERE.
President
THOMAS J. TUCKER
Vice President
An Online Publication of United University Professions n The Nation’s Largest Higher Education Union
THE
Echo Summer 2021
What ’s inside
this issue
for Professionals #VaxUpUUP
Reaching out to
unvaccinated
members
3 UUP officers resume chapter visits
JAMIE F. DANGLER 4 Labor Notes
Vice President 6 UUP launches campaign to encourage
for Academics Also member vaccination
inside:
8 Spring DA looks beyond pandemic
Statewide elections: Two new VPs, DA, retreat: Members, leaders Member profile: Lizette Rivera
plus Executive Board actions eager for new semester helps student veterans
JERI O’BRYAN-LOSEE Political action 9 Executive Board acts; UUP’s fiscal health sound
Secretary/Treasurer
12 Sen. Schumer a friend to UUP 10 ESF member helps student veterans
ALSO: 13 Member Spotlight
4 Infrastructure bill could be 14 Members named Distinguished Faculty
THOMAS C. HOEY good for labor 16 UUP in the News
Membership
Development Officer 17 UUP a leader at 17 Higher Ed Labor Summit
Higher Ed Labor Summit
18 New statewide VPs to be elected;
19 Members, Executive Board, chapter presidents gather
support Prof. Hannah-Jones 23 UUPConnect Coronavirus newsletter
UUP MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS gets new name
MICHAEL LISI
Director of Media and Publications
MARK HEMPSTEAD FOLLOW UUP
Graphic Designer and Writer
ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER
DARRYL McGRATH
Managing Editor, The Echo
AND INSTAGRAM!
Communications Specialist
ANGELL M. VILLAFAÑE
Communications Assistant
Go to www.UUPinfo.org
to sign up today.
2 THE ECHO Summer 2021
UUP front
Back to campus
Statewide officers to resume visiting chapters
N
Darryl McGrath
PHOTO BY BRUCE KUBE
by
othing beats an in-person con-
versation when members want
to connect with their union.
UUP knows that this tried-
and-true method gives members a chance
to offer ideas, concerns and questions, and
that it also lets statewide officers learn
about the membership. At the chapter level,
one-on-one discussions have also enabled
department representatives to talk up the
benefits of UUP membership with bargain-
ing unit members who have not yet joined.
A personal greeting and a chat over coffee
work better than an email or a note left in a
mailbox, every time.
But this kind of outreach was almost
For their first campus visit since spring 2020, UUP President Fred Kowal and State-
impossible during the worst of the corona- wide Secretary-Treasurer Jeri O’Bryan-Losee spent July 8 at Stony Brook HSC for
virus pandemic, when thousands of UUP a chapter celebration of UUP members. From left: members Kenneth Piorun and
members had to work from home, and James Williams, O’Bryan-Losee, chapter President Carolyn Kube, and Kowal.
UUP President Fred Kowal said. members, because that can allow mem-
PHOTO BY JERI O’BRYAN-LOSEE
“So even when the state started bers to participate in union events in case
to allow limited gatherings, we of severe weather. And we are trying to
avoided travel to our chapters, reduce the use of cars. But in-person visits
however much we wanted to get to chapters are extremely beneficial for all,
back to this part of serving our and this is a part of my work that I genuine-
members. We’ve just been very ly missed.”
careful, and that was the right
way to be.” A chance to learn about
Now, with the state’s pandem- all UUP offers
ic emergency restrictions lifted, Their trip coincided with Stony Brook
with campuses coming back to HSC’s “UUP’s Union Appreciation Day.”
life, and SUNY planning a fully Chapter officers, including Chapter Presi-
Stony Brook HSC Chapter member Michelle Torio, in-person, on-campus fall semes- dent Carolyn Kube—who is also statewide
left, is congratulated by chapter President Carolyn ter, UUP officers are getting back vice president-elect for professionals—
Kube for winning the grand prize in the raffle at the
chapter’s Union Appreciation Day, July 8. in the field. Kowal, who tries to staffed a table outside the hospital walkway,
visit every UUP chapter at least to distribute information about UUP, and
chapter social functions and activities halt- once every year, kicked off his resumption also to let members enter a raffle for $50
ed. Statewide officers stopped their visits of chapter visits with a day at Stony Brook gift cards as well as a grand prize drawing
to chapters, and all the union’s business HSC July 8. Statewide Secretary-Treasur- of an Apple watch, which went to member
unfolded over computer screens during er Jeri O’Bryan-Losee joined him. Both Michelle Torio. “This was a way to recon-
virtual delegate assemblies, rallies and town welcomed the opportunity to thank those nect with our members after the COVID
halls with lawmakers. members in person for all that they did crisis,” Kube said. “We had 215 members
during the worst of the pandemic. stop by the table, and get questions an-
Thanking SB HSC members “It’s great to be able to visit chapters swered about student debt and benefits we
in person again,” Kowal said. “This is the best way offer to our members.”
“Our first concern, always, was the for us to learn what’s going on with mem- Chapters announce officer visits ahead
safety of students, our members and the bers. We’ll probably always do a mix of of time. Please watch your chapter website
communities where campuses are based,” virtual and in-person communications with and email for news of an upcoming visit.
Summer 2021 THE ECHO 3
Labor Notes
Infrastructure bill could be a boon for union workers
President Biden vowed to be a labor-friendly
president, and so far, he’s keeping that pledge.
The president’s leanings are seen in everything
from how he’s reshaping the National Labor
Relations Board; to legislation with family
friendly policies, such as the child tax credit
that starts this month; to executive orders that
clearly have a pro-worker tone.
So it’s no surprise that the massive infra-
structure bill that the president hopes to get
through Congress has a definite union slant. As
The Echo was being prepared for publication,
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had
just announced a test vote on this bill, which
cleared the House July 1 but has hit roadblocks
in the Senate.
A small group of Democratic and Republican
senators that reached a compromise on the bill
is still wrangling over how to pay for it. The Democrats want higher transportation, warehousing and telecommunications work.
taxes on the country’s richest residents (an idea that New Yorkers Biden’s American Rescue Plan went through Congress on speed
heard about quite a bit during state budget negotiations) and Repub- dial; it was law well before the storied first 100 days of the new
licans are balking at that plan. administration. The infrastructure bill? Not so fast. But it does
Still, the bill seems to be creeping toward passage, and now is appear to be moving toward its destination: President Biden’s desk,
the time when conservative-to-moderate examination of its fine for signature.
print begins. The Biden administration did not even try to conceal Read more about the bill HERE and HERE.
the fact that this bill will favor labor. For starters, many of the UUP encourages members to ask Congress to fund SUNY and
jobs created for all the new construction will be in areas that tend all public higher education in The American Families Plan, which
to have union membership, such as the skilled trades. However, is the second part of the infrastructure package. This plan will
as the Wall Street Journal noted in its recent detailed analysis of provide funding for child care, education and other services to
the bill, the common perception that skilled trades are all union support families and working Americans. To write to your member
jobs is wrong; union positions are the minority of jobs in utility, of Congress, go HERE.
Labor tackles exploitive “body shops”
The labor movement is known for taking human auction. The men who work through
on the cause of exploited people. Unions have body shops have few protections and no
done this for more than a century in the Unit- benefits.
ed States, as they fought for a five-day work A rally in May by the Construction and
week, the end of child labor and the introduc- General Building Laborers’ Local 79 of the
tion of the minimum wage. Laborers’ International Union of North Amer-
Now, unions are tackling a problem many ica called attention to the plight of former
people have never even heard of: the so- inmates who find work through body shops.
called “body shops” in the construction indus- Laborers’ Local 79 has joined with the Mason
try which take advantage of former inmates Tenders’ District Council in New York City
who have just been released from prison and in a campaign called Laborers Fight Back to
are desperate for work. publicize this problem.
Unscrupulous employment services put Read more about this problem and find
these men up for hire in a practice that has links to information about the Laborers Fight
been starkly described as little better than a Back campaign HERE.
4 THE ECHO Summer 2021
Not so fast!
Judges halt cutoff of unemployment in two states
Wouldn’t it have just been easier to ly halted the cutoff of benefits.
have run out the clock on the federal As for the claims of officials in the states
pandemic unemployment benefits? that cut off the benefits that they did this
The actions of governors in to get people back to work? They probably
more than half the country wouldn’t say that if they’d ever been on un-
beg that question, given that employment. It would be vastly easier to just
they eliminated all or part set your alarm clock and head out the door to
of the federal government’s a job every morning than to sign up for un-
federally funded pandemic employment. But if your job used to be in an
relief aid to unemployed industry that stopped functioning during the
people. In most cases, the coronavirus pandemic (think travel, hotels and
federal programs would have restaurants), the choices have been limited in
stopped in early September the last 15 months.
anyhow. And as The Echo HERE’s a list of the states that cut off
was being prepared for publi- unemployment benefits partially or entirely
cation, state courts in Maryland before the September expiration date of the
and Indiana had at least temporari- federal programs.
University of Vermont staffers unionize
Welcome to the hundreds of University of Vermont pandemic powers to make cuts that reached from adjunct
staff members who recently voted to form a union – faculty to full professors.
never an easy task, and especially difficult during the The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that President
coronavirus pandemic. Biden signed into law provided $39.6 billion in pandem-
Nearly 500 of the 650 staff workers voted in the ic relief money to higher education, but it’s unclear
election, and about 80% of them backed the formation of how much, if any, of the emergency aid will be
UVM Staff United in June. A month earlier, the cleri- used to rehire faculty who lost their
cal and technical employees at UVM had also voted to jobs. Given that enrollments have
join AFT. The two groups of employees are organized also dropped at many campuses
as separate locals, but they expect to join forces at the around the country, and col-
bargaining table to negotiate their contracts, as represen- leges have faced severe budget
tatives of the locals say they share many interests and deficits as a result of revenue
concerns. Combined, the two locals represent more than lost during the pandemic, it’s
1,300 employees. more likely that emergency
The university has pledged to negotiate. aid will be used to just
The union votes at UVM come at a time when higher plug budget gaps, not
education in the United States has seen the loss of about add to expenses.
700,000 jobs during the pandemic. The cuts hit many Read more about
different positions at colleges and universities, and organizing at UVM
tenure did not guarantee security – some governors and HERE.
state legislatures used emergency
Summer 2021 THE ECHO 5
Cover story
#VaxUpUUP
U
by Darryl McGrath I encourage you to make an appointment to
get the COVID-19 vaccine, if you can, to
UP wants to have a conversa- ensure the health of yourself and others.”
tion with its members about the Kowal said he also hopes that the cam-
coronavirus vaccine. paign will simply get people talking, because
Toward that end, the union just as one-on-one conversations can be an
is reaching out to its membership with the effective organizing tool in building union
message that the vaccine is safe and effec- membership, so can conversations between
tive, and that the vaccine is also a good way colleagues help answer questions and allay
to protect vulnerable members of society doubts or fears about getting vaccinated.
who cannot be vaccinated. Those would
include children younger than 12, for whom A range of resources
the vaccine has not yet received emergency The social media part of the
authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, and the relatively limited
campaign is built around the
hash tag of #VaxUpUUP. UUP
Reaching unvaccinated
part of the population that cannot get the has set up a campaign resource
vaccine for medical reasons.
“We are very concerned about ensuring
page that contains social media
graphics, sample social media
UUP members with
encouragement
that all of our members on campuses are posts and a link for making a
vaccinated, but we are just as concerned vaccine appointment. It also
about our retirees all across the country,” includes digital resources—in-
& conversation
UUP President Fred Kowal said. cluding email signatures and
Kowal reiterated that concern in a letter Zoom backgrounds—and links
he sent to members last month as he an- to websites with information
nounced the union’s campaign to encourage about the coronavirus vaccine
vaccination. from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
“UUP members have been on the front and Prevention and the New York State
lines of the pandemic caring for patients at Department of Health.
The social media graphics use a range of
eye-catching and colorful designs, includ-
“We are very concerned ing a contemporary take on the World War
II poster heroine Rosie the Riveter with a
about ensuring that all of rolled up sleeve, and flexing her arm mus-
our members on campuses cles not to start welding a bomber plane,
are vaccinated.” but to get the shot that could save her life. pus to reopen safely in person in the fall,
The slogans on the graphics encourage vac- and it also asks if they have received the
— UUP President Fred Kowal cination in a non-judgmental way: “Let’s do vaccine. If they have not, the survey offers
this together,” “Don’t hesitate: Vaccinate!” nine reasons for them to cite why they have
SUNY hospitals and supporting students “Vaccinated and proud,” and “Follow the not yet been vaccinated.
through remote and in-person learning at Science: Get vaccinated.” So far, the response to the survey has
campuses for over a year. Your commit- been very good, with 36% of the bargaining
ment to our collective work of keeping our Survey gets strong response unit having completed the survey by late
communities healthy and educating the next UUP has also developed a survey for June. Based on the survey results, UUP
generation of leaders is vitally important,” members that the union has distributed to estimates that 90% of the bargaining unit
Kowal wrote. “Let’s honor that commit- all chapters. The extremely short, simple has been vaccinated.
ment by doing everything we can do to survey asks respondents if they think the UUP does not have the authority to man-
protect our colleagues, students, families COVID-19 vaccination within the campus date that its members be vaccinated, and
and communities. If you have not already, community is important for their cam- Kowal noted that such a mandate would not
6 THE ECHO Summer 2021
be an effective or democratic approach. “One of the really great things
“We are a union; we do not dictate ulti- about being in a professional staff and
matums to our members,” Kowal said. “We faculty union is that we have a very
reach decisions on important issues through intellectual and highly smart group of
a democratic process, with discussion and people, who will generally make good
a vote by delegates or our executive board. decisions,” Glick said.
But we will always encourage our members
to take actions that we consider safe for our A marketing approach
campus communities, and for the communi- to the vaccine
ties that surround SUNY campuses. Just as Glick, who also holds a Master of UUP offers its members various social media
we are vigilant about making sure our mem- Business Administration from North- pieces as part of its #VaxUpUUP campaign.
bers have a safe working environment, so we western University, has read exten-
are being vigilant about strongly encouraging sively about the best ways to persuade needs a successful marketing campaign.
vaccination against COVID-19.” holdouts to get the coronavirus vaccine. In The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Nor does the state or SUNY administration that research, he was particularly struck by has not yet granted full approval to any of
have the authority to require UUP members the writings of Stacy Wood, a marketing the three vaccines in use in the U.S.; all three
to be vaccinated; such a condition professor at North Carolina State are still operating on emergency authoriza-
of employment would have to be University. Wood gained nation- tion. Given that the FDA will soon have six
negotiated with the Governor’s al attention for her co-authored months of data on the first two vaccines to go
Office of Employee Relations. papers published in January and into use—the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines—
So this very important effort for June in the New England Journal full approval for those two most commonly
UUP comes down to dealing with of Medicine and the Journal of used vaccines may not be far behind.
members in the most respectful the American Medical Associa- As for the people who have raised concerns
way possible, by encouraging tion, respectively, which argue about the emergency authorization, Glick
discussion among colleagues, that a marketing approach that said, “I think we have to legitimately recog-
offering valid facts and credible GLICK uses several proven strategies can nize their concerns. As soon as there’s FDA
information, and recognizing work better than a purely medical approval, we expect a large number of our
that members have many reasons for making approach in convincing reluctant people to members who have not been vaccinated will
carefully considered individual choices. get the vaccine. get vaccinated.”
And the UUP membership is especially In other words, the assumption that people As a doctor, Glick understands the temp-
open to such an approach, said Phil Glick, will get a vaccine simply because they are told tation of other medical professionals to feel
president of the Buffalo Health Sciences they should clearly did not work in the rollout exasperated by anyone’s reluctance to be
Center Chapter. Glick is a physician who of the coronavirus vaccine, once the first vaccinated against a disease that has killed
chairs the UUP statewide Ad Hoc Health crush of people who did not need convincing more than 600,000 Americans in less than 18
and Safety Committee, which the union had received their shots. Wood encourages an months. As a student of business practices,
formed during the coronavirus pandemic approach that identifies the different reasons he takes a more nuanced view of the vaccine
to draw on the expertise of its members that other people have waited, tailoring a mar- holdouts.
as it navigated a series of unprecedented keting approach to those different scenarios, “I have to say, having an MBA helped me
situations involving a potentially fatal virus. and viewing the vaccine as a product that be more empathetic to them,” he said.
UUP, SUNY reach COVID testing agreement for fall semester
U
nvaccinated SUNY employees who are part of UUP’s bargain- to get vaccinated. We join with Chancellor Malatras in urging all
ing unit will be tested weekly for COVID-19 throughout the fall SUNY employees and students to get the COVID-19 vaccine as
2021 semester under an agreement between SUNY and UUP. quickly as possible, so as to stop this pandemic in its tracks.”
The Memorandum of Understanding, dated June 29, directs “While we hope the worst of the pandemic is behind us, the
SUNY colleges, universities and hospitals to conduct mandatory last 16 months have taught us to remain cautious and prepared,”
weekly surveillance testing of all unvaccinated employees. Fully Chancellor Jim Malatras said in the release. “Thanks to continued
vaccinated employees who show proof of vaccination will be test- collaboration with our partners in labor, we can continue to test a
ed “less frequently on a sampling basis” to monitor for COVID-19 large segment of our employees when classes resume in the fall.”
cases, according to the agreement. Campuses, after consulting Since August 2020, SUNY has conducted nearly 2.5 million
with UUP chapter leaders, will determine how frequently vaccinat- COVID tests for students, faculty, and staff. The overall sys-
ed employees should be tested. tem-wide positivity rate is 0.39%.
The MOU expires Dec. 31.
“An important distinction in this new agreement is that unvacci- Read the Memorandum of Understanding between UUP and
nated individuals will be tested weekly, with less frequent testing SUNY HERE.
for employees who are fully vaccinated,” UUP President Fred View a video in which UUP President Fred Kowal urges UUP
Kowal said in a July 1 SUNY press release. “The key to making members to get the COVID-19 vaccine HERE.
our campuses and our communities safe is for everyone who can, — Michael Lisi
Summer 2021 THE ECHO 7
UUP news
On the rebound
Spring DA marks shift as UUP emerges from pandemic
U
Darryl McGrath
PHOTO BY MICHAEL LISI
by
UP is ready to get back to
campus.
That was the tone of the UUP
Spring 2021 Delegate Assem-
bly, as delegates came together for what
UUP leaders hope will be the last all-virtual
DA. Although UUP opted for the fully vir-
tual event in what marked the final weeks
before Gov. Cuomo lifted the coronavirus
state of emergency, the union is clearly
looking toward the fall semester and a shift
back to campuses.
Challenges remain, as UUP President
Kowal noted during the DA, held June 4-5.
They include an academic year that will be
almost but not entirely “back to normal,”
along with upcoming contract negotiations
that will reflect needs that surfaced during UUP President Fred Kowal opened his remarks at the virtual 2021 Spring Delegate
the pandemic, such as telecommuting, Assembly by acknowledging the sacrifices and life-saving work of members during the
workload and child care. coronavirus pandemic.
But Kowal focused throughout the DA
on the incredible and often life-saving work testing for unvaccinated employees. To posted through July for seven open UUP
of UUP members through the 15 months of read more about the testing agreement, see Executive Board positions.
the coronavirus pandemic. Page 7 of this issue of The Echo, and go
“Throughout this year of COVID, I have HERE and HERE to read the SUNY press A leaner but strongly focused
been moved so often by the work of many release on the testing agreement, and the Negotiations Team
of us to literally save the lives of COVID memorandum of understanding between Albany Chapter member Bret Benjamin,
victims, to re-create a learning environment UUP and SUNY. the chief negotiator for upcoming contract
so that our students could continue their edu- Delegates approved a temporary consti- talks, told delegates that negotiations will
tutional amendment to allow mail ballots
cation and bring their dreams into reality, and involve close work with chapters through-
instead of in-person voting for out the process.
the statewide election, which was In addition to Benjamin, Negotiations
“Throughout this year of COVID, underway as this issue of The Echo Team members include Redetha Abra-
I have been moved so often by was produced. The candidates for ham-Nichols of Downstate Medical Center,
statewide vice president for pro- Jennifer Drake of Cortland, Mindy Heath of
the work of many of us.” fessionals and vice president for Upstate Medical University, Shoshana Her-
— UUP President Fred Kowal academics ran unopposed. shkowitz of Stony Brook, Jude Jayatilleke
Since the DA, the statewide of Buffalo State, Aaron Major of Albany,
Executive Board authorized Sec- Pamela Malone of Empire State College,
to conduct the life-saving research that has retary-Treasurer Jeri O’Bryan-Losee to cast Jackie Pittsley of Cortland, Benita Roth of
led us out of the COVID nightmare,” he said. a single ballot to elect Stony Brook HSC Binghamton, Idalia Torres of Fredonia and
Chapter President Carolyn Kube as state- Bill Tusang of Cobleskill.
Testing agreement since DA wide VP for Professionals, and Brockport The current contract runs through July 1,
Four days after the DA, on June 29, 2021, Chapter President Alissa Karl as statewide 2022.
the state announced an agreement for VP for Academics. O’Bryan-Losee will cast
continued COVID-19 testing of SUNY those ballots July 30. Both candidates ran Actions to Executive Board;
employees, including those in the UUP unopposed. VPs tackle issues
bargaining unit, with more frequent Go HERE to read candidate statements Because the virtual format of the DA
8 THE ECHO Summer 2021
created a tighter schedule, delegates voted
on sending special orders of business and
resolutions to the statewide Executive Board
instead of voting on such actions at the DA.
See Page 18 of this issue of The Echo for a
UUP’s post-pandemic
summary of the Executive Board’s vote on
those referrals.
Telecommuting figured strongly into the
fiscal health is sound
June 4 Professional Delegates Meeting, by Darryl McGrath
powers during the pandemic to slash
where delegates said they hope to see it ex- budgets and staff, and to consolidate
tended. While the original pilot telecommut- campuses.
A
s UUP emerges from the 15-month But not at SUNY, where UUP went to
ing agreement ended July 2, campuses are al-
coronavirus pandemic, it does so considerable lengths to work with the
lowed to operate under the pilot agreement’s in excellent fiscal condition.
terms to allow for phased return to in-person SUNY administration and the Governor’s
That was the encouraging news that Office of Employee Relations to adjust
work through September 7. Beyond that, statewide Secretary-Trea- to changing conditions
under new guidance from the Governor’s Of- surer Jeri O’Bryan-Losee with as little harm to mem-
fice of Employee Relations, telecommuting delivered to delegates at bers as possible. There
may continue under specific COVID-related the virtual 2021 Spring Del- were some non-renewals
circumstances related to Americans with egate Assembly, June 4-5. of adjunct faculty—a sit-
Disabilities Act requests and child and elder “UUP is fiscally prepared uation that UUP tried as
care needs. SUNY and all state agencies can to meet any challenges hard as it could to avert
submit telecommuting plans to address these we may encounter,” O’Bry- whenever possible—and
circumstances to GOER for approval by July an-Losee stated in her sup- at first, campuses seemed
31. UUP has been in discussions with SUNY plemental written report, fated to get hit with pain-
about what the plan may include. For more which included additional ful budget deficits. But the
information on the union’s work of the Biden adminis-
details on the new telecommuting agreement,
current financial statement O’BRYAN-LOSEE tration and Senate Majori-
see HERE.
for 2020-21. In her main ty Leader Chuck Schumer
At the Academic Delegates’ meeting, led report to the membership, she singled
by outgoing statewide Vice President for Ac- to steer a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief
out for special thanks the Finance Com- package into law helped avert massive
ademics Jamie Dangler, concerns about bias mittee members, “…who have done cutbacks.
and validity problems in student evaluations extraordinary work during the pandemic
of teaching dominated the discussion. Some to recommend the budgets you will be Operating expenses under budget
chapters have made gains in this area, but voting on at the DA.” And that, in turn, contributed to UUP
not all campus adminis¬trations are open to Delegates resoundingly approved emerging from the pandemic with its
suggestions. UUP is developing a tool kit to the proposed 2021-22 UUP budget, membership intact. As O’Bryan-Losee
help chapters to continue tackling this issue; which has an operating budget of noted in her supplemental report, all
that will be ready in July. $10,311,219. The budget can be but one of the categories of operating
In other business, members heard reviewed in the Delegate Assembly sec- expenses were within budget as the
reports by Vice President for Profession- tion of the UUP Members Only page fiscal year closed. The exception was
on the UUP website (uupinfo.org), along chapter release time—a reflection of
als Tom Tucker and Dangler, as well as
the unusual demands placed
Membership Development Officer Tom
on chapter leaders during the
Hoey. O’Bryan-Losee presented a 2021-22 pandemic.
budget with $10.3 million in operating funds “UUP is fiscally prepared When the SUNY system
that delegates overwhelmingly approved. to meet any challenges abruptly shut down in March
(See the sidebar at right for a story about
O’Bryan- Losee’s budget presentation.) Del-
we may encounter.” 2020, a number of terrible
scenarios seemed possible:
egates also heard from member Gwen Kay, — UUP Secretary-Treasurer Jeri O’Bryan-Losee massive budget cuts, retrench-
outgo¬ing president of the SUNY University ments, the loss of programs
Faculty Senate and a strong UUP ally. and majors. As UUP faced
Also at the DA, UUP honored the out- with O’Bryan-Losee’s report to the DA, many uncertainties that spring, it pre-
standing work of chapter journalists for and her supplemental written report. pared for the worst and worked hard
their newsletters and websites in the annual to make sure that the worst didn’t
Pandemic hit higher ed hard happen. At the Spring 2020 Delegate
journalism contest. You can read the list of
winners HERE. This good news comes as many Assembly, delegates authorized UUP to
public and private sector organiza- move money from its reserve fund to
UUP members can go to the UUP Mem-
tions, which were hit hard during help the union face the unknown.
bers Only page of the UUP website to see
the pandemic, continue to struggle. As O’Bryan-Losee noted in her sup-
the DA agenda, officers’ reports, the 2021 Unionized faculty at public colleges plemental report one year later, UUP
statewide election calendar, and the UUP and universities in various parts of the had yet to touch that emergency money
2021-22 budget. country were not immune, as some as of the 2021 Spring DA. In this case,
The 2021 Fall Delegate Assembly is state legislatures and governors took planning for the worst turned out to be
tentatively scheduled as a hybrid event Oct. advantage of extraordinary emergency simply that: planning.
15-16 in Rochester.
Summer 2021 THE ECHO 9
UUProfile
A personal
mission
ESF’s Dr. Lizette Rivera draws on
Army background to understand,
help student veterans
D
by Darryl McGrath
r. Lizette Rivera has only to look back at
her experience as a former Army Reservist
who returned to graduate school after de-
ployment to understand the special issues
that veterans face in college.
Whether these students are just entering higher
education, or they’re returning to a degree program
that was interrupted by deployment, the transi-
tion to campus and civilian life can be lonely
and even isolating. They know there may be
other veterans in their midst, but it’s not
always easy to find them.
So when Rivera started at SUNY
College of Environmental Science
and Forestry in January 2020—
unaware that the SUNY sys-
tem would shut down in two
months during the coronavi-
rus pandemic—it didn’t take
long to identify one of her
first challenges.
“Our students were
very adamant: They
wanted ESF to be more
inclusive and more
welcoming to veter-
ans,” said Rivera, who
is a UUP member; the
director of student in-
clusion initiatives; and
special assistant to the
chief diversity officer
in the ESF Office
of Inclusion, Diver-
Lizette Rivera
is an Army Veteran
who served at
Guantanamo Bay,
and has drawn on
her own experience
as a student veteran
to help veterans at
SUNY ESF.sity and Equity. She served in the Army dissertation after moving from the Midwest.
Reserve from 1998 to 2004, including a “I loved it,” she recalled. “There I was,
year-long deployment to the U.S. Navy among other veterans. It was that sense of
base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and earned camaraderie, ‘Oh, OK, everyone here is a
her doctorate in education after returning veteran.’”
to civilian life. She also holds a master’s in
public administration.
Wide outreach at ESF
At ESF, she helps a range of students, At ESF, Rivera has started a Veterans’
not just veterans. But as an Army Veteran Initiative, which provides outreach and
who remembers how much it meant to support. In addition to helping form a
finally connect with other students who had student veterans’ club, Rivera also helped
served, she knew how important it was to the students organize the first Veterans’ Day
reach this often-marginalized part of the program at ESF. She oversees the work of
student body. Her outreach to veterans at a student veteran coordinator, a newly bud-
ESF caught the attention of Justin Culkow- geted part-time position staffed by a student,
ski, a fellow ESF Chapter member who and a Veterans’ Employee Resource Group
co-chairs the union’s statewide Veterans is one of several such resource groups that
Affairs Committee along with ESF Chapter her office has started.
retiree William Borgstede. Because Rivera When she started at ESF, only four em-
had quickly become a UUP member—she ployees identified as veterans, but Rivera
comes from a union background—they suspects the number is much higher. She
were able to recommend Rivera for mem- Rivera proudly displays her honor cords hopes to establish greater outreach to those
bership on the statewide committee, where on her academic regalia. UUP provides employees as ESF returns to full in-person
her ideas could help an even broader group the cords to members to signify their instruction in the fall.
of students. military service. As a woman veteran, she also brings
“I became acquainted with Dr. Rivera to her work an understanding of some of
when she invited SUNY ESF alumni who think I was there a month before the shock the special concerns that women face in
were veterans to participate in a virtual wore off.” the military. Among the plans for the ESF
meeting about initiating a student veterans She is proud of her service, but she talks Veterans’ Club this fall: a screening of the
club at ESF,” Culkowski explained in a honestly about her adjustment to civilian documentary “The Invisible War,” about the
written comment. “One of her driving forc- life when she returned. sexual assault of female service members.
es for the club was to assist veterans at ESF “I knew that I just wanted to dive back into She said that SUNY Chancellor Jim
transition to civilian life. I was impressed my civilian life,” she said. “When I came Malatras has made this a great time to
with her insights and enthusiasm and am back, the number-one goal I had was finish- achieve positive changes for veterans, of
looking forward to her bringing these quali- ing my master’s degree. But emotionally and which there are thousands, both as students
ties to the UUP Veterans Committee.” mentally, I was just not in a good spot.” and employees, in the SUNY system.
A staff member on campus who worked “One of his goals is to make the SUNY
Fulfilling the mission, as a liaison to veterans helped her obtain system more inclusive for veterans,” said
from here to Guantanamo credit for prior work, an accommodation Rivera, who’s well on her way to making
that enabled her to graduate sooner at a that happen at ESF.
Rivera’s journey began 18 years ago when
time when she wanted to move forward
she deployed as an Army Reservist to Guan-
in her personal life. She never forgot the UUP members interested in
tanamo Bay, two months before she was to
understanding she received, nor the time learning more about the UUP
have graduated from her master’s program in
she spent at a campus veterans’ center in Veterans Affairs Committee can go
Chicago. Her deployment took a circuitous
Massachusetts where she worked on her to the committee’s webpage HERE.
route to Cuba: She was ordered
to report first to a unit in Indiana,
then to a mobilization site in New
Jersey. From there, she went to
Minnesota to help soldiers prepare
legal paperwork prior to leaving
for their assignments. And then
she headed to Guantanamo Bay—
not her original destination, but an
example of the sometimes-abrupt
changes that soldiers expect in
fulfilling a mission.
“I think one thing that’s
important to know about re-
servists is, we are called up to
fill in gaps,” Rivera explained.
“I’m OK with change; I embrace Rivera helped expand membership at the ESF Veterans Club (left) and she has sought to recog-
change—that’s the military way. nize student veterans for their service to the country through gestures such as this presentation
Once we finally arrived in Cuba, I of a Veteran Appreciation Coin to mark Veterans Day 2020.
Summer 2021 THE ECHO 11UUPfront
A friend indeed
Sen. Schumer proves a steadfast ally to UUP
S
By Darryl McGrath differences between the two parties, not
© ISTOCK/STU99
differences on how to pay for the legislation.
ome people forget the friends who
But Schumer exuded confidence that he’s on
were there for them at the begin-
the right side of history in this effort, as he
ning, before they had a national and
addressed nearly 1,500 voting rights advo-
even international name as a mover
cates June 16 in a virtual Town Hall hosted
and shaker.
by the New York Working Families Party
Fortunately for UUP, Senate Majority
and co-sponsored by UUP.
Leader Chuck Schumer has, if anything,
The “For the People Act” has passed the
paid even more attention than ever before
House but could fail by a single vote in the
to the labor movement in general, and his
Senate. Time is of the essence; Schumer
longtime home-state stalwart of UUP in
wants the bill signed into law before the
particular, during his first six months in his
2022 elections, so that the U.S. Department
powerful leadership position. Now one of
of Justice can wield its power against dozens
the most closely watched politicians in the
of new state laws or pending state bills that
world, and the subject of numerous head-
aim to restrict voting rights.
lines and news analyses, Schumer has never-
“These bills, sadly, are aimed at people of
theless made solid time for his friends in the
color,” Schumer said in that event. “I don’t
labor and social justice movements. have to tell you how critical this legislation
“UUP has had the privilege of watching SCHUMER
is to defending our democracy.”
Majority Leader Schumer’s rise from a state issues, including child poverty and relief for Since Schumer spoke in that event, two
lawmaker to a national dealmaker who is low-income and working-poor Americans. notable shifts have occurred: The U.S. Su-
helping change the way our country thinks UUP Executive Board members heard preme Court upheld one of the newer, more
and acts for the better, with a strong focus about the accomplishment from the senator restrictive voting laws, in Arizona; and the
on helping people who need it most,” UUP in an exclusive March 29 meeting in which U.S. Department of Justice has signaled its
President Fred Kowal said as he reflected on Schumer also delivered a memorable quote intent to go after individual new state voting
the union’s close relationship with Schumer, as he promised UUP leaders that federal aid
which has included phone conversations to public higher education was forthcoming
with the senator on key funding issues for and abundant. SUNY received $915 million
public higher education. through the American Rescue Plan. “...we know that he
“He is an excellent advocate for President
Biden’s agenda, an agenda that matches
“Do not let the governor or anyone tell
you they don’t they have the money for
has our back.”
UUP’s goals of building a strong middle SUNY,” Schumer said at the time. “As we — UUP President Fred Kowal
class, with equal representation and equal say in Brooklyn, we have the eff’in money.
opportunity for everyone in this great, Tell ’em Uncle Chuck said that.”
diverse country. We’re proud that Sen. And then it was on to the next challenges: laws that the department deems discrimina-
Schumer is advocating for us.” voting rights, and infrastructure. tory.
UUP is likely to hear updates on this
Tackling major efforts to help On the right side of history effort directly from Schumer himself, given
working people Schumer has spent a great deal of time Schumer’s fondness for the labor movement
And so far, Schumer has built an impres- since his exuberant March meeting with and his admiration for what unions do to
sive track record, during a period that’s been UUP on two ambitious bills: The For the help underrepresented people vote. And
compared to the hit-the-ground-running ap- People Act, which would strengthen voting UUP is grateful for this close connection,
proach of FDR in his first months in office. rights; and a major infrastructure package especially in a year when the union put forth
President Biden signed the bill for the that encountered resistance in the Senate, but a first-ever federal legislative agenda. (More
$1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law which now stands a chance at passage, albeit on UUP’s growing focus on federal legisla-
March 11, after Schumer skillfully steered it in a pared-down form. Senate Democrats tive efforts in the next issue of The Voice, to
through a challenging pathway in a Senate announced a bipartisan deal shortly before be published in late August.)
with a 50-50 split that left no margin for the Fourth of July. The House has not yet Said Kowal, “As we have told the senator,
error. The bill has been likened to a mod- taken up the bill. he knows he has our support in this and so
ern-day version of President Johnson’s Great The voting rights bill has been more many efforts, because we know that he has
Society because it addresses so many social problematic, as it touches on philosophical our back.”
12 THE ECHO Summer 2021member spotlight
Each year, hundreds of UUP members publish books and articles, and are
recognized for accomplishments on campus and in their communities.
The Echo is pleased to recognize three in this issue.
Simons scores award for sports writing Altschuler vice-chairs peace group
Bill Simons of the Oneonta UUP Chapter won the UUP Oswego delegate Bruce Altschuler is now vice-
Simon Rockower first-place award for excellence in chair of Brooklyn for Peace, a nonprofit community-based
writing about sports from the American Jewish Press group that has sponsored forums on peace and social
Association at its virtual justice topics since 1984.
annual awards presentation As vice-chair, Altschuler
on June 24, 2021. Simons’ has moderated recent virtual
entry, Ballfield or synagogue: forums on the link between
Hank Greenberg’s High Holiday the military and the climate
dilemma, won in the category crisis, and another on the re-
of weekly and biweekly newspa- lationship between the labor
pers and monthly newspapers movement and movements
and magazines. for peace and justice in the
The story originally appeared United States.
last year in The Binghamton Re- UUP co-sponsored the
porter, a weekly newspaper that forum on the link between
SIMONS covers the Jewish community. ALTSCHULER the military and the climate
One judge commented, “Jew- crisis, Climate Crisis: the mili-
ish sports fans know about Hank Greenberg, but this tary and the Green New Deal, which was held April 2,
story gives the entire context and all the details that we 2021, and which can be viewed HERE.
never knew for a better appreciation of the all-time great Altschuler was a delegate and chapter grievance
Jewish slugger. Wonderful!” chair during most of the 37 years he taught political
The Simon Rockower award was created in 1979 by science at SUNY Oswego. He is also co-chair of the
Rockower’s sons to honor their father’s love for Jewish Solidarity Committee. In retirement, he has continued
journalism. The American Jewish Press Association, his scholarly writing. He is a co-author, with Oswego
based in Chandler, Arizona, was founded in 1944 to members Helen Knowles and Jaclyn Schildkraut, of
support the English-language Jewish press in North Lights, Camera, Execution! Cinematic Portrayals of
America. Capital Punishment, published in 2019 by Lexington
The AJPA today represents Jewish media organiza- Books. He and Knowles are also under contract with
tions, individual journalists and communications profes- Lexington Books for a book on films about freedom of
sionals, as well as newspapers. the press.
Sharfstein gains funding for development of bioengineered blood thinner
Susan Sharfstein, a professor of nanobio- Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and
science at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, has Training, which is based at the Albany cam-
received $250,000 in new funding from the pus of SUNY Poly.
National Science Foundation for work on Sharfstein received a Fulbright Global Schol-
developing a bioengineered version of the ar Fellowship in 2017 for research in Ireland
blood thinner known as heparin. and Australia, and has also been recently
Her work could lead to a more cost-effec- selected as a Fulbright ambassador in her
tive treatment and more reliable production field, to encourage research and collaborative
of heparin, which is a naturally occurring efforts among other nanotech scientists.
substance in the body that is also produced Heparin is a widely prescribed anticoag-
as a prescription medication derived from ulant that is often prepared in China, and
animals. The NSF award will be applied to SHARFSTEIN some concerns have been raised about
continued research on this project with TEGA regulation of its production. Sharfstein’s
Therapeutics Inc., and it will also support research at project aims to develop a production system with
the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ more reliable oversight.
Summer 2021 THE ECHO 13Distinguished UUPers
C
ongratulations to 15 UUP members from and a distinguished reputation within their cho-
chapters across the state who sen field, through extraordinary contributions
were recently appointed to the to, and impact on, the candidate’s field of
Distinguished Faculty Rank by study, often evidenced by significant re-
the SUNY Board of Trustees. search and/or creative activity,” according
The Trustees approved the appoint- to an April 6 memo to the Trustees from
ments—for distinguished professorship, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras recom-
distinguished service professorship and mending candidates to appoint.
distinguished teaching professorship— The Distinguished Service Profes-
April 6. The appointees are members of sorship honors and recognizes extraor-
the Binghamton, Buffalo Center, Buffalo dinary service by SUNY faculty. To be
HSC, Cortland, Empire State College, Fre- appointed to this rank, candidates must
donia, Old Westbury, Oswego, Plattsburgh and show substantial distinguished service,
Stony Brook chapters. at the local, community, or regional levels and at the state,
“We are extremely proud of our members, who have been national or international levels.
honored for their service and dedication to the University, to public To be recognized as a Distinguished Teaching Professor, candi-
higher education, to vital research, and to the students they serve,” said dates must demonstrate consistently superior mastery of teaching;
UUP President Fred Kowal. “These talented individuals deserve our outstanding service to students and commitment to their ongoing
congratulations.” intellectual growth, scholarship and professional development; and
To be appointed as a Distinguished Professor, a candidate must be adherence to rigorous academic standards and requirements.
someone who has achieved “national and/or international prominence — Michael Lisi
DISTINGUISHED FACULTY APPOINTEES
Jaimee Wriston Colbert, professor of Pedro Ontaneda, professor of mathemat- Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, neurolo-
English and creative writing at Bing- ical sciences at Binghamton University, is gy professor at the University at Buffalo,
hamton University, considered one of the foremost geometers is the director of the
is a leading voice in the world. His University’s Jacobs
in eco-fiction and a notable early-career Multiple Sclerosis
master of the nov- discoveries con- Center for Treatment
el-in-stories format cerning harmonic and Research and
and has published maps and dynamical executive director of
seven books, includ- systems led to his The New York State
ing 2018’s “Vanish- most recent and most MS Consortium. Her
ing Acts,” which won profound discovery: research productivity
the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award the existence of vast puts her in the top 1 percent of clinical
for Best Family Saga and was a finalist numbers of previously unknown spaces, neuroscientists worldwide.
for five other awards. or “manifolds,” of negative curvature.
Dr. Thomas A. Russo, division chief
Gloria E. Meredith, professor of phar- Mark D. Poliks, professor of systems of infectious diseases at the University
macy and pharma- science and industrial engineering at at Buffalo’s Jacobs
ceutical sciences at Binghamton University, is founder School of Medicine
Binghamton Univer- and director of the and Biomedical
sity, is an interna- university’s Center Sciences, is an in-
tionally recognized for Microelectron- ternational expert on
neuroscientist who ics Manufacturing. bacterial infectious
has made foundation- He has created new diseases. He has pro-
al contributions to the additive and semi-ad- duced foundational
study of Parkinson’s ditive manufacturing research focusing on
Disease and the understanding of psy- approaches for the gram-negative bacteria, including antibi-
chostimulants on neural circuits. fabrication of sen- otic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli),
sors, thin-film transistors and RF devices Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella
and antennas on flexible plastic or glass. pneumonia.
14 THE ECHO Summer 2021Dr. Frank A. Scannapieco, oral biol- Ian Reifowitz, professor of history Maurizio Del Poeta, professor of
ogy professor and studies at Empire microbiology and immunology at Stony
chair at the Uni- State College, has Brook University,
versity at Buffalo, established a national is internationally
was one of the first and international rep- recognized for his
scientists to study the utation as a subject pioneering work in
effect of oral patho- area expert on the lipid-mediated in-
gens on nosocomial intersections of race, fectious diseases; he
bacterial pneumonia ethnicity, nationalism pioneered the study
and chronic obstruc- and politics. of unique metabolic
tive pulmonary diseases. pathways in fungal
James A. Davis, music professor and infections and successfully identified
Gerard J. Puccio, chair of SUNY Fredonia’s Music Histo- several new enzymes involved in fungal
professor and chair ry Area, is an inter- pathogenesis, especially enzymes of
of creativity and nationally renowned lipid metabolism.
change leadership at musicologist whose
SUNY Buffalo State research has been Yi-Xian Qin, professor and chair of
College, developed credited with biomedical engineer-
FourSight, a psy- single-handedly con- ing at Stony Brook
chological measure structing the world’s University, is one of
of creative-thinking most nuanced and the world’s leading
preferences. complete account bone biomechanists.
of Civil War music’s importance for He has groundbreak-
John T. Foley, professor of physical American society. ing research on bone
education and reha- biomechanics and
bilitation at SUNY J. Kirk Cochran, professor of ma- mechanobiology,
Cortland, pioneered rine geochemistry enabling improved
the use of secondary at Stony Brook treatment of disorders such as osteoporo-
data analysis and University, is the sis and delayed fracture healing.
large data sets to world leader in
analyze the health the application of Paul B. Shepson,
benefits of physical radionuclides as dean and profes-
activity—methods tracers for the ocean sor of marine and
that have extended to studies in public carbon cycle in the atmospheric sciences
health, health education, obesity, exer- water column and at Stony Brook Uni-
cise science, and disability studies. sediments. versity, is an inter-
nationally known
atmospheric chemist
focused on climate
change, specifically on atmospheric
chemistry and the air-surface interactions
in Arctic, urban and forest environments.
STAYCONNECTED!
To receive the union’s weekly UUPConnect newsletter
in your in box, email UUP Media & Publications Director
Mike Lisi at mlisi@uupmail.org.
If your chapter has a news item or an event, email it to
us so it can be shared statewide.
Questions and concerns about the newsletter can be
directed to Mike Lisi or to UUPconnect@uupmail.org.
Summer 2021 THE ECHO 15UUP in the news
A ROUND-UP OF UUP MEDIA MENTIONS
I
by Michael Lisi April 14: “SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras May 10: “SUNY and CUNY to require all
on the book, the budget and the vaccine” in-person students to be vaccinated begin-
n The News is a compilation of media Spectrum News 1, Albany ning this fall”
(radio, television and newspapers President Kowal is quoted about UUP’s WKBW-TV, Buffalo
across the state) spotlighting UUP. push for hazard pay for essential workers President Kowal is interviewed about
These news clips are from April at SUNY’s public teaching hospitals in this SUNY’s decision to require all in-person stu-
through July 2021. story about SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. dents to get vaccinated before returning to
campus.
April 20: “Activists finally seeing move-
April 4: “Budget deal freezes SUNY, ment on fossil fuel divestment” May 12: “SUNY mandatory vaccination
CUNY tuition, expands TAP” The Legislative Gazette, Albany plan won’t include SUNY employees”
Times Union, Albany New Paltz Chapter member Brian Obach is The Buffalo News, Buffalo
UUP President Fred Kowal is quoted in this quoted in this story about UUP’s push to In this interview, President Kowal notes that
story about the state Legislature taking get TIAA to disinvest from fossil fuels and more than 80% of SUNY employees are vac-
action to benefit SUNY. agribusiness. cinated against COVID-19.
April 5: “Will Higher Ed Be Short- April 22: “Environmental bills being looked
Changed?” at in the NYS legislature”
Spectrum News 1, Albany WTEN-TV, Albany
This story, which appeared on Capital Speakers from UUP’s April 22 virtual envi-
Tonight, chronicles UUP’s fight for more ronmental roundtable are quoted in this
funding for SUNY in the state’s 2021-21 news report on the viability of the Climate
budget. Change and Community Investment Act.
This interview also aired on Nexstar stations
April 13: “UUP says it’s working with (WTEN’s owner) across upstate New York.
May 13: “United University Professions
SUNY chancellor to find funding for President Fred Kowal on SUNY & CUNY
SUNY hospitals” May 4: “Unions Made A Difference
Mandatory Vaccines”
Capital Tonight, Spectrum News 1, Albany During The Pandemic”
Empire State Weekly, WTEN-TV
President Kowal spoke with Capital Tonight WAMC National Public Radio, Albany
President Kowal discusses mandatory
host Susan Arbetter about working with President Kowal talks about the many con-
vaccines for SUNY and CUNY students in
SUNY to get COVID-19 hazard pay for essen- tributions made by UUP and labor unions
this interview, which aired on Empire State
tial workers at SUNY’s public hospitals. This during the pandemic in this radio commen-
Weekly. The show is broadcast on Nexstar
story appeared on Spectrum News outlets tary.
stations (WTEN’s owner) across upstate
across New York, and on Spectrum News New York.
13 in Orlando, Fla. May 10: “SUNY faculty leader considers
COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students”
June 30: “Vaccinations Key To Safe
April 13: “Following pause of Johnson & The Capitol Pressroom, WCNY National Public
Return To Campus In Fall”
Johnson vaccine Governor Cuomo says Radio, Syracuse
WAMC, Albany
enough Moderna & Pfizer to keep up In this radio interview, President Kowal talks
President Kowal urges UUP members and
schedule” about the need for as many SUNY students
SUNY students to get vaccinated before
WTEN-TV, Albany as possible to get vaccinated before return-
classes start in the fall in this commentary
In this interview, President Kowal urges the ing to campus in the fall. Capitol Pressroom
for WAMC.
state to aggressively continue its vaccina- airs on NPR stations across the state,
tion efforts despite the Center for Disease including in New York City.
July 11: “Tenured faculty at New York
Control and Prevention’s decision to pause colleges still mostly white men”
the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine May 10: “SUNY and CUNY students must
Times Union, Albany
in April. This interview also aired on Nexstar be vaccinated before returning to in-person
classes this fall” President Kowal talks about UUP’s push for
stations (WTEN’s owner) across upstate
AM Metro NY, New York City more diversity in SUNY’s tenured ranks in
New York.
this news story.
President Kowal is quoted in this story about
April 14: “Cuomo’s New Tax Plan to Feed mandatory vaccines for SUNY students.
July 12: What Academic Labor Wants
a Wealth of CUNY and SUNY Funds”
Inside Higher Ed, Washington, D.C.
The Knight News, Queens May 10: “New York to Require College
Students to Get Covid-19 Vaccine” President Kowal is quoted in this story
UUP is mentioned in this story about the
Bloomberg Law, Arlington, Va. about a July 9 virtual higher education
need for more funding for CUNY and SUNY,
summit of more than 75 higher education
possibly by instituting higher taxes on corpo- President Kowal is quoted in this story
locals. UUP, the nation’s largest higher edu-
rations and the rich. about mandatory vaccines for SUNY stu-
cation union, was one of the organizers of
dents.
the event.
16 THE ECHO Summer 2021You can also read
