SUNY Canton holds picket against merger, replacing Kennedy
TIMES STAFF WRITER
CANTON — “Hey hey, ho ho, this merger's got to go.”
So went the cheers of about two hundred SUNY Canton students, faculty and staff participating in a picket Wednesday morning in the college's Roselle Academic Plaza. The hour-long event, which was organized by SUNY Canton's chapter of United University Professions, was designed to express the faculty union's concern over the impending removal of SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy and the planned shared services at SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam.
“We're here in support of Dr. Kennedy,” said David Butler, president of the union chapter. “We don't see how removing him will help SUNY Canton or SUNY.”
According to Mr. Butler, the SUNY Canton faculty wants to see Mr. Kennedy at the helm for an additional two years beyond the 2011-12 academic year. Mr. Butler and other faculty members cited Mr. Kennedy's leadership as a key reason for growth and success at the college.
“I'm standing up for Dr. Kennedy and for SUNY Canton as an institution. We need to keep a president and I think it should be Dr. Kennedy, and we need to keep our autonomy,” said D. Anthony “Tony” Beane, a professor of veterinary science at SUNY Canton. “I think we're a good example for SUNY schools, and to take away our president when we've been doing everything right is a slap in the face.”
Signs carried by the picketers Wednesday ranged from the understated to the inflammatory: “2 colleges, 2 presidents,” “We are not a feeder school,” “We won't be Schwallered” and “Save SUNY, fire Zimpher.” Students and faculty also led cheers such as “Canton ... won't merge,” “Who stays? Kennedy stays!” and “Whose house? Roos House!”
For the picket, the college Student Government Association funded the printing of T-shirts bearing the words “SUNY Canton + SUNY Potsdam” with a red slash through them. The Student Government Association also plans to have SUNY Canton students take buses to Albany to attend SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher's open meetings in September.
“With this picket, we're hoping to voice the student opinion. We're trying to show that this is our school, our education, our president and we deserve our own,” said Nafeesa A. Johnson, a SUNY Canton student and a member of the SUNY Student Assembly's executive committee. “In my eyes, this is very successful. The faculty and students are coming together: All in all, regardless of what's happening, we're truly a family on this campus.”
