Remarks of Chair, Professor Rishi S. Raj
Plenary Session, CCNY Faculty Senate Meeting
Faculty Senate Meeting, February 25, 2010
Ladies and Gentlemen, I open my remarks by uttering the words of a noted author, orator,
abolitionist and father of the Modern Civil Rights Movement Frederick Douglass, going back to
1847.
 Right is of no gender
 Truth is of no color
 And we are all one, the children of the same God
 We stand tall today on the backs of those who came before us
 Those who do not know their past will not, their future. Feeling the
vibrations of utterance of these words, saying them with voice from my
mouth, I feel strengthened in my consciousness and also feel privileged.
With these words, I am pleased along with you all to dedicate this session of the Faculty
Senate to the celebration of Black History Month. Measured on any scale, a historic milestone
has been achieved in the struggle for justice and equality.
The Faculty Senate salutes all our African-American colleagues for their significant
contributions to the advancement of The City College for which we are grateful.
I have asked the previous administration several times and today I ask again the present
administration to implement the recommendations of the Minority Task Force of GSOF. The
Senate will keep on asking and will be persistent until it is done.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Ignorance about each other, unnecessary suspiciousness, misjudgment, using foul words
in communication, hatred and false ego are trademarks of decline and reflect poor knowledge and
lack of education on the part of the society. It can only be eradicated through Education and
knowledge. About the same time when Frederick Douglass wrote those words, the foundation of
the City College was being laid to educate the Children of all the people. It was similar to the
idea of common school of Thomas Jefferson and other founding leaders who once said, “that an
educational system that offered equality of opportunity would avail the common-wealth of those
talents and virtue which nature has sown as liberally among the poor, as the rich.” President
Lincoln subscribed to these same ideas. What a great vision the founders of this great institution
had at that time.
This has clearly been demonstrated through the paintings of murals of great prophets and
philosophers at the entrance to the office of our past presidents where Confucius, Rama, Zoraster,
Buddha, Krishna, Abraham, are on the left and Moses, Hermes, Paul, Socrates, Orpheus, Plato are
on the right.
No where in the world one can observe such a degree of humility, humbleness and the
spirit of reverence given to such great souls in the educational institution as at The City College.
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We at the Senate are so fortunate to be operating from this space under the shadow of
such great souls and carrying out a responsibility of higher level of sensitivity and humility to our
colleagues than at any other place. If no one else, Senate will always be there to help and attend
to concerns of all our colleagues, students and even administrators. We ask the administrators
concerned to pay attention to several female members of faculty as well as staff not being treated
with proper considerations of fairness; in scheduling, allocation of space, retention, tenure and
promotion and intimidation. Yesterday, it took me more than 2 hours to calm down and bring
peace to a highly stressed female staff member. If this continues we will have big problems in
achieving our goal of diversity and equality for all irrespective of gender or race. We cannot
afford to see people to reach extreme levels of tensions.
In the same spirit of liberty and freedom, I am pleased to report that Senator Joseph
Birman has been awarded the highest Human Right award named after the late Andrei Sakharov.
In his speech to APS, Professor Birman clearly noted that the activities on defending Human
Rights for scientists and educators are not for a particular group but for all the academics no
matter where ever the injustice prevail: whether it is scholars in Iran, Palestine, Tibet, China,
Russia etc. Our congratulations to Professor Birman and we know how fortunate we are that he is
our colleague and that there are people amongst us who are involved with such activities of
Human Right values beyond their normal academic duties and possessing higher levels of
awakened consciousness.
His speech delivered to the American Physical Society on acceptance of his award has
been put at the front desk. CCNY also arranged a reception in his honor last week in the Senate
Office. Dean Lemons organized that reception.
As far as other college business is concerned, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee met on
February 11, 2010 and discussed and acted on many issues.
 On the issue of CV’s, submission to Provost’s office, active discussion took
place. President Paaswell participated in this discussion. This led to issuing a
memo to all college wide faculty which you all have received.
 Discussion took place regarding CUNY’s freedom to raise tuition. Professor
Crain will present a resolution on the issue for your discussion and approval.
 To enhance access of opportunity for education to all at City, which is one of the
missions of City College, and to relieve space and congestion pressures due to
increased student population, and proper management, the Senate Executive
Committee wants the administration to start evening session as soon as possible
or by Fall 2010. Professor Wilner will present some thoughts and resolutions on
this effort.

Professor Watkins will present issues relating to the Committee on Personnel
Matters.

The Senate Executive Committee would also like to vigorously debate the issue
of Academic Integrity; student cheating, plagiarism etc. We shall convene this
session in collaboration with the Office of Academic Standards and Student
Government as this matter is of concern to all.

The Senate Executive committee investigated the Irani Fund (2 million) which
has been passive for the last 3 to 4 years to support visiting scholars and student
scholarships although there have been disbursements from the fund for whatever
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purpose is unknown. Some activity has now been initiated in this regard in the
Philosophy Department due to Senate’s investigation.

The Senate Executive Committee asks the administration to diligently work to
fill in all the Senior Level Acting positions.

The Senate Executive Committee would love to have and invite all the
distinguished scholars, researchers and academic leaders at the College to attend
our meetings and blend with the College Community. We are asking the
administration to create a forum where these distinguished academic leaders can
present their thoughts and enrich our College’s environment. Democracy and
diversity are dependent on shared knowledge the ideas of which were advanced
by even the father of this nation, George Washington through the philanthropy of
portion of his estate to this cause. Shared knowledge enhances patriotism,
feeling of solidarity and a sense of belonging to a wider community.
On the Presidential Search, the committee has received about 100 applications and
nominations. We have already met three times. The committee in its Feb 19 meeting has
narrowed this number down to about 25 potential candidates. Further screening will continue to
narrow down the search to 15. Your representatives actively participated and presented
themselves strongly, openly, and to the best interest of the college in these meetings. They shall
continue to do so in the future. If there are any specific questions you would like the committee
members to pose to the candidates, please forward them to us.
I have also requested Professor Jane Gallagher to convene a meeting of the College wide
financial committee and report to us on the situation of fund allocation and future expectations.
I am also asking the Vice President of Student Affairs and President’s Deputy to convene
a meeting of PAC steering committee to meet the college governance requirements.
Although we have become recently a PhD awarding institution in Engineering and
Sciences we need rigorous charter to clearly define who can mentor the PhD candidates at the
City and other PhD related guidelines to maintain national level standards. There are many
questions which need to be answered in this area.
I must also bring to your attention results of a survey on higher education conducted
recently by the center for Public Policy and reported in the Chronicles of higher education.
60% of the surveyors reported that public perception of higher education is declining on a
long term basis. People believe that colleges are more concerned with their financial well being
than with giving students a quality education on college access and affordability. They are acting
like a business with rising tuition costs and other imposed fees. Many of the elite universities
hoarding billions of dollars in their chests without opening them up. These are not very
encouraging results. The presidential search committee members will be informed of this survey.
“If we wish to see a change we must be that change” It is said by the man of the century,
Mahatma Gandhi. I believe that with the new changes that are to come at the college, we shall
see faculty and staff having a better future ahead. The best is yet to come. I am reminded of this
spirit everyday when I pass through the Senate doors, under the shadow of the murals of our great
Prophets who were symbols of new beginning, hope, liberty and freedom and vision for the
future. The dream with which this institution was founded that the, “knowledge is the supreme
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means of liberation”, will be eventually realized and we shall all have a role in it. When we will
all work together in harmony, peace and respect for each other, it will certainly happen. That is
my Dream also.
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