Letter from UFCT President Israel Kugler to Frederick Burkhardt: Removal of Department Chairmen at Kingsborough Community College
Item
UNITED Federation of College Teachers
LOCAL 1460 + AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO
Affiliated with New York State AFL-CIO, New York Clty Central Labor Council
New York State Federation of Teachers
ISRAEL KUGLER, PRESIDENT
HAIG BOHIGIAN, V.P. FoR PuBLic 4 YR, COLLEGES
ROBERT SPECTOR, V.P. FOR PRIVATE COLLEGES
EVELYN LERNER, V.P. FOR PuBLIC 2 YR, COLLEGES
Hon. Frederick Burkhardt, Chairman
Board of Higher Education
535 East 80th Street
New York, New York 10021
Dear Dr. Burkhardt:
260 Park Avenue South
New York, N. Y. 10010
673-6310-11
CARL VON DER LANCKEN, SECRETARY
ADA AGRONIN, TREASURER
ANTONY DE MELAS, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE
IRVING PANKEN, DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION
July 19, 1971
We are deeply disturbed by the action of the Board of
Higher Education in removing from office all department chair-
men at the Kingsborough Community College.
The United Federation of College Teachers considers these
removals as a serious violation of due process. It is out-
rageous that elected chairmen should be removed from their posts
on the basis of vague allegations and without written charges,
hearings or the right to defend themselves.
We call upon the Board of Higher Education to reconsider
its decision immediately before irreparable harm is done to
the very concept of faculty self-governance and before faculty
morale is completely shattered and destroyed at the college,
IK:ck
opeiu #153
QQ 357
Sincerely yours,
Prral kur
Dr. Israel Kugler
President
LOCAL 1460 + AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO
Affiliated with New York State AFL-CIO, New York Clty Central Labor Council
New York State Federation of Teachers
ISRAEL KUGLER, PRESIDENT
HAIG BOHIGIAN, V.P. FoR PuBLic 4 YR, COLLEGES
ROBERT SPECTOR, V.P. FOR PRIVATE COLLEGES
EVELYN LERNER, V.P. FOR PuBLIC 2 YR, COLLEGES
Hon. Frederick Burkhardt, Chairman
Board of Higher Education
535 East 80th Street
New York, New York 10021
Dear Dr. Burkhardt:
260 Park Avenue South
New York, N. Y. 10010
673-6310-11
CARL VON DER LANCKEN, SECRETARY
ADA AGRONIN, TREASURER
ANTONY DE MELAS, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE
IRVING PANKEN, DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION
July 19, 1971
We are deeply disturbed by the action of the Board of
Higher Education in removing from office all department chair-
men at the Kingsborough Community College.
The United Federation of College Teachers considers these
removals as a serious violation of due process. It is out-
rageous that elected chairmen should be removed from their posts
on the basis of vague allegations and without written charges,
hearings or the right to defend themselves.
We call upon the Board of Higher Education to reconsider
its decision immediately before irreparable harm is done to
the very concept of faculty self-governance and before faculty
morale is completely shattered and destroyed at the college,
IK:ck
opeiu #153
QQ 357
Sincerely yours,
Prral kur
Dr. Israel Kugler
President
Title
Letter from UFCT President Israel Kugler to Frederick Burkhardt: Removal of Department Chairmen at Kingsborough Community College
Description
This letter from UFCT President Israel Kugler stemmed from the unprecedented decision of the CUNY governing board to remove all department chairmen from the bargaining unit at Kingsborough Community College in July 1971. Although the UFCT did not represent the full time faculty who served as chairs, (the rival Legislative Conference did), it strongly supported the principle of elected chairpersons. While the elections of chairmen were legally only a recommendation, the college president had previously overwhelmingly accepted them.
Contributor
Professional Staff Congress
Creator
Kugler, Israel
Date
July 19, 1971
Language
English
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Original Format
Diary / Correspondence
Kugler, Israel. Letter. “Letter from UFCT President Israel Kugler to Frederick Burkhardt: Removal of Department Chairmen at Kingsborough Community College.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/451