May 9, 2024_Ex Com Vote_Statement Regarding Arrests of UMA Students
FSU EX COM E-VOTE 5/9/24
E-vote on releasing an FSU statement regarding the arrests of UMass Amherst students and faculty. Suha drafts the statement and Sana offers revisions. The Executive Committee discusses the statement via email, including the revisions, and votes for FSU to send the statement to the FSU membership. (10 in favor).
From: Sana Haroon <Sana.Haroon@umb.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 8:55 AM
To: Jessica R Holden <Jessica.Holden@umb.edu>; Patricia Krueger-Henney <Patricia.Krueger@umb.edu>; Lynne B Benson <Lynne.Benson@umb.edu>
Cc: Caroline Coscia <Caroline.Coscia@umb.edu>; Chris A Barcelos <Chris.Barcelos@umb.edu>; Dana Commesso <Dana.Commesso@umb.edu>; Faculty Staff Union <FSU@umb.edu>; Hegbloom, Maria <MHegbloom@massteacher.org>; Jared M Poole <Jared.Poole@umb.edu>; Linda Ai-Yun Liu <Linda.Liu@umb.edu>; Lynne B Benson <Lynne.Benson@umb.edu>; Monique Fuguet <Monique.Fuguet@umb.edu>; Suha Ballout <Suha.Ballout@umb.edu>; Wei Zhang - MSIS <Wei.Zhang@umb.edu>
Subject: Re: FSU statement ?
I believe we have agreement about the statement. I think it looks great.
Caroline, I am happy to hand this over to you for next steps:
The Faculty Staff Union at UMass Boston condemns the administration-directed police intervention and the subsequent mass arrests that occurred during a peaceful protest at UMass Amherst. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues and students at UMass Amherst and with the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) that has issued this statement condemning the UMass Amherst administration’s crackdown on protestors. Such a display of force is disproportionate and undermines the foundational principles of academic freedom and the right to peaceful assembly, principles that anchor the public university’s mission to foster a space for open dialogue and exchange of ideas.
We believe that the use of force to suppress protest is fundamentally at odds with the mission of higher education institutions. We will support and defend the rights of all faculty and students across the UMass system to free speech and academic freedom. This pledge resonates with our commitment to uphold workplace and social justice. We call upon Chancellor Reyes, the UMass Amherst administration and President Meehan to reconsider their approach and to honor the sanctity of rights to free speech and protest. The university must remain a safe haven for intellectual growth and social advocacy, free from fear and repression.
From: Caroline Coscia <Caroline.Coscia@umb.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 9:23 AM
To: Sana Haroon <Sana.Haroon@umb.edu>; Wei Zhang - MSIS <Wei.Zhang@umb.edu>; Suha Ballout <Suha.Ballout@umb.edu>; Patricia Krueger-Henney <Patricia.Krueger@umb.edu>; Jared M Poole <Jared.Poole@umb.edu>; Chris A Barcelos <Chris.Barcelos@umb.edu>; Jessica R Holden <Jessica.Holden@umb.edu>; Lynne B Benson <Lynne.Benson@umb.edu>; Dana Commesso <Dana.Commesso@umb.edu>; Linda Ai-Yun Liu <Linda.Liu@umb.edu>; Monique Fuguet <Monique.Fuguet@umb.edu>
Cc: Faculty Staff Union <FSU@umb.edu>; Hegbloom, Maria <MHegbloom@massteacher.org>
Subject: FSU statement ?
Dear Executive Committee members,
As you may be aware, Tuesday evening protesters, including five faculty, were arrested on the UMass Amherst campus.
We are aware of statements made by Amherst unions, including one made by faculty. The MSP (their faculty union) has not yet made a formal statement. MTA did send an email last evening that contained a link to a statement We are waiting to receive copies of the Amherst statements.
FSU - send a statement today or tomorrow????
I know we are in a busy time but ask that you do check your emails today. We will send what has been communicated by our sister unions.
Plese provide feedback about us sending a statement in support of the right to protest and support those arrested.
Sorry about the shortness and not flowery email
Caroline L. Coscia
Faculty Staff Union (FSU) President 2022-2024
Senior Lecturer II, Political Science Department
University of Massachusetts Boston