Statement by the Chairperson Robert Ramos at the Brooklyn College SoFedUp Student Organization Protest

My name is Robert Ramos, Chairperson of University Student Senate. USS represents over 450,000 students throughout the City of New York, including Brooklyn College.

We would first like to applaud all of you for coming. And we hope that all of you continue the passionate in support of our disabled CUNY brothers and sisters. Without your help, we cannot affect change in a positive direction.

When we became aware of the reason for today’s protest, through the flyers, we were outraged that disabled students were not being fairly treated in Brooklyn College, that in  fact they were being  “discriminated”  against at Brooklyn College, my home campus.

Consequently, we contacted the college administration, the disabled students on campus and the CUNY Central Office. And we were very surprised as to what we discovered.

What we learned is that Brooklyn College is one of New York State’s most supportive higher education institutions for students with disabilities.  Furthermore, it is led by one of CUNY’s most experienced and knowledgeable disability services professionals, Roberta Adelman!

Secondly, in the 2006 – 07 budget request, the University has devoted more than $4 million dollars for the provision of disabled accommodations and support services.

Thirdly, Brooklyn College has protocols in place to minimize the impact of any physical access accommodations that arise for students with disabilities. BC has relocated classes to disabled accessible locations whenever they realize that disabled students would take a certain course. Furthermore, all problems with the elevators were addressed immediately by an on-site elevator mechanic in order to ease the difficulties that may arise.

Lastly, much of CUNY’s aging infrastructure was built long before the passage of the America’s with Disabilities Act.  Student leaders working but independently and alongside CUNY’s administration have been lobbying tirelessly over the years, at the city, state and federal levels, to obtain more funds to renovate older structures, or construct new building where all the students of CUNY, especially our disabled brothers and sisters, have an access! Therefore, I urge all CUNY students to sign up for lobbying. You could do so by going on to our website, www.uss.cuny.edu.)

With all this said, I am very concerned; I am deeply concerned that with all these policies in place, Mr. Harris feels the need a “massive demonstration” in order for him to be heard. As the Chairperson of USS, your elected student leader, I promise all of you that we will find out the reason.

Mr. Michael A. Harris, I would like to ask you to join me in opening a dialogue with the administration here at Brooklyn College.  The key to affecting a positive change in this regard is a good faith negotiation between us the students of CUNY and Administration.  As you all know, negotiation begins with the representatives of the respective parties engaging in a civil dialogue.  Mr. Harris, will you join me in a gentlemanly discourse with the head of Brooklyn College? If you so, I also resolve that if the result of this discourse is not to our satisfaction that we the students of CUNY will gather all our energy and resourses to ensure that our disabled brothers and sisters receive all that they are entitled too.  We have over 450,000 students in the City University of New York, 450,000 voices that must not, that cannot be ignored, and we are confident that we will succeed!

What do you say, Mr. Harris?  Will you allow me to assist you in resolving this matter?