Roo Rallly

I've never attended a strike or picket before, but I have the feeling this one was a little unusual. It was an informational picket protesting SUNY Central's decision to create an administrative alliance between SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam, with SUNY Canton's president, Joe Kennedy taking an early retirement and SUNY Potsdam's president, Fritz Schwaller, overseeing both campuses. The picket was organized by UUP on the SUNY Canton Roselle Plaza to show solidarity and support for President Kennedy.

Marchers included UUP members–faculty and staff from SUNY Canton–and a number of students. It was certainly not the image I had in my mind of union action. Union members and students rallying in support of administration? It was also somewhat amusing that a number of the faculty marchers were former police officers. And that design students were working with university police for surveillance purposes (in addition to creating some of the signs and documenting the event for media purposes.)

As far as rallies go, it was pretty peaceful. The most trouble that arose was in coming up with rhyming chants–they were so close yet so far! In class afterwards, about half of the students admitted they were unaware of the rally or the issues being addressed by it. I'm not sure how cognizant college students are in general about college presidents; I remember not even realizing that Patti McGill Petersen served food to us in Dana dining hall during a severe winter storm back in the day and as a student I couldn't even have told you what she looked like.

I overheard a particularly telling comment near the end of the rally. One older gentleman walked over to some staff members and said, "You all are probably too young to remember this, but back in the Sixties we used to do this all the time." There were some chuckles, and then another gentleman replied, "Back then they would have had Molotov cocktails. Now they have cappucinos!" Indeed.