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CSEA CONNECTION
by Nidal Kobaissi, CSEA president |
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United We Stand I’m not sure Abraham Lincoln knew that over one hundred years later, people would still remember his words. Since September 11, 2001, “United we stand” has resurfaced as a calming and guiding principle for Americans as they have gone through one of the most devastating events in their history. I still remember the feeling of unity while standing with groups of strangers watching the news that tragic morning. It felt as though Americans had put aside their differences and focused on the things they all had in common. In particular, I was amazed as I watched the barriers that politics had taken years to build crumble in just a few days. People of every faith, race and political belief united for a common cause, the preservation of their way of life as Americans. For me, that was the first day I realized what it really meant to be an American. Almost four years later, that feeling of unity and pride has begun to deteriorate and things are returning to what used to be normal. Politicians have started rebuilding their barriers. Race and religion are once again used as tools to separate people. What happened? Do we need another tragedy to reunite us? As humans we have a basic need to feel safe, physically and emotionally. It seems to me that whenever people are afraid, unsure of the future or feel alone, they find comfort in being together. We already have a common goal, as members of an educational community; the faculty educates our students and the classified create an atmosphere that supports and facilitates our students’ educational experience. No one group on this campus is more important than the other. We are all in this together. The point I am trying to make is that when we are united, when we work together and put aside our differences, we can do great things. While we can’t change the way the rest of the country operates, we can surely try to apply these methods here in our small community. We have some challenges looming ahead of us, from the budget to selecting a new CEO. Let us not wait until tragedy strikes at Glendale College. Many classified staff and faculty that I have spoken to have expressed concerns and even fears about the changes that Glendale College will be facing, in particular about finding a replacement for Dr. Davitt in 2006. It has become increasingly clear to me that a replacement does not exist, but that one needs to be molded by our community. We will need to work together to help the new CEO understand why we appreciate our unique way of doing things. If we wish to preserve our way of life at Glendale College, we will be required to put aside all of our differences and focus all our efforts on working together. Every campus constituency must do its fair share. It will be the responsibility of classified people to hold themselves individually accountable and participate. I am confident that we can face these challenges, and I am ready to do my part. United, we will stand. Will you stand with me? & |
