PSCcuny

WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?

The testimonial dinner for the President on March 29 serves only
one purpose: the personal aggrandisement of Edgar Draper.

If Draper had the genuine confidence of faculty, staff and students,
he would not have to make a public display of their support. He is
exacting tribute as a political show of strength for the BHE and govern-
mental officials. He has everything to gain by such a dinner; we have
nothing to gain.

Success for the testimonial hinges on whether Draper can fill
800 seats in a grand ballroom at the Hotel Americana. Since the promo-
tional activities of the dinner's organizers smack more of desperation
than confidence, the event seems to be in real trouble. Look at what's
happening:

eee item: Thousands of dollars of invitations and promotional
mailings have been sent at public expense through the MCC
mailroom. In some instances, mid-term exams submitted well
in advance have not been run off, because the mailroom was
too busy duplicating and distributing material for the
dinner.

eco Item: Invitations have been sent to students. There is
something obscene about asking $20 a plate for a dinner
when financial aid is being cut and 88% of MCC's students
come from families earning less than $7500 a year.

eee Item: The minutes of the President's Testimonial Dinner
Committee stated that tickets would be solicited from con-
tractors who sell goods and services to the College.

eee item: Every faculty member at Staten Island Community
College and Medgar Evers College has received an invita-
tion. The minutes of the Dinner Committee stated that
all of City University's faculty would be invited. We are
investigating whether this was done, and at whose expense!

eee item: Promotional literature claims sponsorship by "faculty
and staff of MCC". No vote, however, was ever taken to
sponsor the dinner. Draper evidently does not want a real
vote testing confidence in his administration.

It is clear from the above that, lacking enough people from MCC
itself to "honor" the President, the dinner's promoters are casting
farther and farther afield in their search for occupants of the 800
seats.

The dinner is an attempt to shakedown MCC faculty, staff and
students. By boycotting the dinner, we say no to Draper and the tactics
his administration is using to keep faculty in line. By boycotting the
dinner, we are telling Draper that we want an administration based on
respect, not intimidation.

Together, we are stronger than any administration. Boycott the
dinner. Join the informational picket line in front of the Americana
on March 29.

ad hoc Committee of the BMCC-PSC
to Boycott the President's Dinner