#CUNYrising Rally, March and Meeting—Thurs., Mar. 10, 5 PM
New Yorkers are mobilizing to defend their university. A coalition of 25 community, student, religious, and labor groups has been forming in response to the proposed cuts to CUNY, the planned tuition increase, and the failure to resolve CUNY contracts. The coalition, CUNY Rising Alliance, is organizing its first public action this Thursday: a protest, march and meeting, starting at 5 PM at Governor Cuomo’s Manhattan office. The action will begin at 5 PM with a rally outside the governor’s office (633 Third Ave., between 40th and 41st). It will continue with a march to the Community Church of New York (40 E. 35th St.) where New Yorkers will hear about the crisis at CUNY and plan next steps in the campaign. Please RSVP to let us know you will be there and help spread the word with this flier (English/Spanish).
There’s Still Time to Tell Albany: Invest in CUNY, Fund the PSC-CUNY Contract
Reports indicate that the Senate and Assembly will print their one-house bills this week. The bills aren’t binding, but they establish negotiating positions for the rest of the budget season. Send a message today to Albany, before the bills are printed. Tell your legislators to fund the PSC contract. You can send the sample letter we have drafted or write a letter telling your own story. The choice is yours. Once you have sent your message, please help to spread the word! The sample letter is written so that it is appropriate for anyone with a connection to CUNY. Share it widely.
Student-Led March to #SaveCUNY—Sun., Mar. 13, 12 PM
CUNY students, led by the University Student Senate, will march across the Brooklyn Bridge this Sunday, March 13 to demand State investment in their university, an end to tuition hikes and a fair contract for CUNY faculty and staff. They’re mobilizing CUNY students, alumni, faculty and staff, and elected officials to join in the march. The crowd will assemble Sunday at 12 Noon at City Hall Park before heading to the bridge. Members of the PSC will be marching with the CUNY students to keep the momentum going after Thursday’s #CUNYrising event. RSVP here to join in, and spread the word with this flier. Let’s stand by our CUNY students as they are standing by us. Another CUNY is possible!
CUNY Writers against Austerity: A Reading in Defense of CUNY—Sun., Mar. 20, 4 PM
Fifty accomplished writers of poetry and fiction from CUNY’s faculty will add their creative voices to the fight to protect quality education at CUNY. Happening Sunday, March 20 from 4-7 PM at the Great Hall of Cooper Union (7 E. 7th Street, NYC), it will be the largest ever reading by CUNY poets and writers. The marathon reading is the writers’ public contribution to the PSC contract fight and to the union’s effort to increase funding for the University. The event is free and open to the public. Voluntary contributions will benefit the PSC Militancy Fund. Doors open at 3:30 PM. RSVP here and spread the word with this flier.
Labor Goes to the Movies Presents: The Conversation—Fri., Mar. 11
The PSC’s film series explores the theme “Surveillance” with a screening of The Conversation (Coppola, US, 1974) at 6:30 PM Friday, March 11 in the PSC Union Hall (61 Broadway, 16th Floor). Gene Hackman plays a surveillance operator hiring himself out to private clients. A nonpareil professional, he delivers recordings of conversations, normally impossible for any other bugger, and expresses no concern for the use of the information, despite evidence of lethal consequences. This tightly wrapped ethos begins to unravel when his latest case uncovers threats of imminent danger, and Hackman loses his moral bearings as he discovers a world of surveillance beyond even his paranoid ken. Refreshments provided. $2 suggested donation. Doors open at 6 PM.
