Fwd: [NYSR Core] Fill This Form Out: NYSR Winter Retreat Head Count
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Brendan I McQuade
Dec 10, 2012, 9:55:41 AM12/10/12
to binghamton-defend...@googlegroups.com, binghamto...@googlegroups.com
Hi all,
There is going to be a NYSR retreat this January. If anyone wants to try to rebuild Binghamton's link to the NYSR network, this is the event to attend. These retreats are critical moments where people across the state meet to formulate a plan of action. It is a great opportunity to meet folks from all across SUNY and CUNY involved in the student movement and the anti-austerity struggles around the university.
Since last year, NYSR has lost some momentum for many of reasons. While the organization's failure to come up with a more formal structure to integrate new members/chapters and make short term decisions on the state level is the most obvious reason, this failure to develop as an organization is inseparable from a number of interpersonal problems: the dominance of the Albany chapter, the divisions between SUNY and CUNY and attitudes of many who fancy themselves as people of the "left", "radicals", or whatever other noun fits one's personal political conceit.
I'd like to say a few words on this final interpersonal problem becuase it is the only one over which anyone on these listserves has any immediate control. While I understand the importance of criticism, I also know nothing happens without a little volunteerism and making a few leaps of faith. If our willingness to criticize NYSR for not exemplifying our perfect politics was matched by earnest effort to help the organization transcend our critiques, then, New York State would look like Quebec and NYSR would not be contracting into something that resembles Citizen Action for students. I say all this becuase right now becuase it is easy to be down on NYSR. However, the organization's fates could quickly turn around if a few people could bring some new energy, renewed enthusiasm and desperately needed commitment and follow-through.
So this email is a bit a of a challenge to some (you know who you are) who have expressed interest in NYSR and the student movement, talked the talk of radical politics but, thus far, have felt the best way to act their professed radical politics was to refrain from participating in the state wide student movement. Right now, we are the students second largest public university system in the country, during a time when popular institutions are being undermined by a relentless attack from the owners of the world. When, if not now? Who, if not us?
Finally, I'd like to close by further emphasizing the position of my colleagues in the sociology department. We are the graduate students in what might be the most radical department in the SUNY. Will we step up the responsibility that this historical moment demands from those in our position or we will cynically and selfishly pursue our degrees, while public higher education in New York State is eviscerated? My apologies if that sounds too melodramatic but I honestly feel the choice confronting us is this stark and serious.
If anyone has any questions about NYSR or the retreat, please feel free to email me off the list.
Brendan
---------- Forwarded message ----------
There is going to be a NYSR retreat this January. If anyone wants to try to rebuild Binghamton's link to the NYSR network, this is the event to attend. These retreats are critical moments where people across the state meet to formulate a plan of action. It is a great opportunity to meet folks from all across SUNY and CUNY involved in the student movement and the anti-austerity struggles around the university.
Since last year, NYSR has lost some momentum for many of reasons. While the organization's failure to come up with a more formal structure to integrate new members/chapters and make short term decisions on the state level is the most obvious reason, this failure to develop as an organization is inseparable from a number of interpersonal problems: the dominance of the Albany chapter, the divisions between SUNY and CUNY and attitudes of many who fancy themselves as people of the "left", "radicals", or whatever other noun fits one's personal political conceit.
I'd like to say a few words on this final interpersonal problem becuase it is the only one over which anyone on these listserves has any immediate control. While I understand the importance of criticism, I also know nothing happens without a little volunteerism and making a few leaps of faith. If our willingness to criticize NYSR for not exemplifying our perfect politics was matched by earnest effort to help the organization transcend our critiques, then, New York State would look like Quebec and NYSR would not be contracting into something that resembles Citizen Action for students. I say all this becuase right now becuase it is easy to be down on NYSR. However, the organization's fates could quickly turn around if a few people could bring some new energy, renewed enthusiasm and desperately needed commitment and follow-through.
So this email is a bit a of a challenge to some (you know who you are) who have expressed interest in NYSR and the student movement, talked the talk of radical politics but, thus far, have felt the best way to act their professed radical politics was to refrain from participating in the state wide student movement. Right now, we are the students second largest public university system in the country, during a time when popular institutions are being undermined by a relentless attack from the owners of the world. When, if not now? Who, if not us?
Finally, I'd like to close by further emphasizing the position of my colleagues in the sociology department. We are the graduate students in what might be the most radical department in the SUNY. Will we step up the responsibility that this historical moment demands from those in our position or we will cynically and selfishly pursue our degrees, while public higher education in New York State is eviscerated? My apologies if that sounds too melodramatic but I honestly feel the choice confronting us is this stark and serious.
If anyone has any questions about NYSR or the retreat, please feel free to email me off the list.
Brendan
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <cayde...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 9, 2012 at 7:32 PM
Subject: [NYSR Core] Fill This Form Out: NYSR Winter Retreat Head Count
To: co...@nystudentsrising.org
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Date: Sun, Dec 9, 2012 at 7:32 PM
Subject: [NYSR Core] Fill This Form Out: NYSR Winter Retreat Head Count
To: co...@nystudentsrising.org
If you have trouble viewing or submitting this form, you can fill it out online:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dGI2d09qTVFSc1A4NFNOYkpMVzRlOXc6MQ
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dGI2d09qTVFSc1A4NFNOYkpMVzRlOXc6MQ
NYSR Winter Retreat Head Count
4 delegates are from each campus chapter (hopefully!) are invited to a set location. Ideally: 2 of the 4 will to be people of color and 2 of the 4 will be women and/or trans* and/or queer. If you're campus is not able to reach this quota, we would like folks to try to strive for diversity in their campus organizing across race, gender, sexuality and class background in the future.
How many people does your campus have capacity to send to the NYSR winter retreat in New Paltz?
January 4/5/6, 2013
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