*Special Bulletin*

An open letter to Robert Kahn

04-08-2009

Dear Patriot reader,

Mr. Robert  Kahn  of the Grants Development Office has recently sent an e-mail  to  the faculty and staff of LaGuardia Community College attacking  the Patriot Returns, calling it both a "rag", and "a daily campaign organ for the CUNY Alliance." He then states that he "would prefer to have a reasonable discussion of issues"  but did not have decency to copy the e-mail to  the Patriot's Editor. 

I regret to tell you that Mr.Kahn's statements are far from the truth. I do not know how many perks have been provided to Mr. Kahn by Barbara Bowen or the New Caucus. Nor do I know what was promised to him as payment for this attack. However, we do  believe that Mr. Kahn is lacking in academic prowess, for before writing, a true academic will research his or her topic. I will be absolutely clear: the editor of the Patriot has no affiliation with  the CUNY Alliance.

Mr. Kahn is apparently grossly ignorant of the fact that the Patriot's critical endorsement was the single most important element which got Barbara Bowen elected as the President of the PSC in 2000 (Vol. 16.1).

Now, in 2009, after observing and examining nine long years of Bowen's failed presidency, the Editor of the Patriot Returns is morally obligated to advocate for her defeat.

The Patriot Returns is well known in the university as the voice of the people and the editor tells it as he sees it. The Patriot Returns has researched and revealed PSC activities which have been counter to the interests of union members.

We advise Mr. Kahn to do his research and acquire appropriate historical perspective by reading archived issues of the Patriot Returns, which can be found at www.patriotreturns.com.

As for the candidates on the CUNY Alliance slate, please note that last time we  checked, there were four candidates at the top of the ticket: two  men and two women. One is a Republican; the rest are Democrats. One is an African-American. Of the 27 candidates of the executive committee 25 are Democrats and 5 are African American. Do your research, Mr. Kahn, which will reveal the lack of diversity on the New Caucus slate. If one includes candidates for delegates to conventions, the CUNY Alliance represents 16 of 17 campuses. We believe CUNY Alliance has done its share. We will leave it to the membership to decide whether the New Caucus is honest, and whether it puts diversity into practice (Click here)
http://www.patriotreturns.com/editions/vol22n02.htm

AS ALWAYS, THE PATRIOT WILL BE AT YOUR SERVICE  WITH THE LATEST RESEARCHED NEWS ON THE ELECTIONS. 


Best to you all.
Sharad Karkhanis, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus 

Issues of The Patriot may be accessed at
http://www.patriotreturns.com
Archived editions are available at
http://www.patriotreturns.com/archive.htm

As you know, Susan O'Malley has sought to silence the Patriot by bringing a lawsuit which seeks to limit his free speech and financially bankrupt him. Interested colleagues have weighed in at
www.freespeechcuny.blogspot.com