Fred Kowal

Higher education inspires people to question authority, engage in critical thinking and share controversial ideas.

I wrote this commentary on the evening of January 6th, a day that left me feeling saddened, concerned and confused. I was drawn to the wise words of President Theodore Roosevelt, words I’ve often given thought to since Donald Trump entered the political arena nearly a decade ago.

A few years ago, I had this idea to open the doors to SUNY for communities that host or are nearby our campuses. My plan was simple: Anyone who wanted to was welcome to take a free course each semester at a SUNY college or university.

What’s happening at West Virginia University is deplorable.

So autumn is upon us and I find myself in a reflective mood. It was a very busy summer for my union, United University Professions.

Last December, just before the holidays, my union, United University Professions, lost a great leader, and a great friend. Rowena Blackman-Stroud was a warrior for justice, an inspiration to many, and a mentor to those who were lucky enough to know and learn from such a tireless advocate.

So, we’ve completed another round of elections, and thankfully, democracy was victorious on Election Day. Voters recognized the threat posed to democracy by pro-MAGA election deniers and came out in record numbers to defeat many of them on Nov. 8.

There’s been much hue and cry over the past month from critics of President Joe Biden and his decision last month to cancel student debt for borrowers with federal student loans.

Independence Day just felt different to me this year.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy has a core principle known as the Seventh Generation, which dictates that any decisions made today must result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future.