CO-CHAIRS
Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr.
Julius C. C. Edelstein
Stanley H. Lowell, Esq.
Dr. Shirley L. Mow

Secretary
Dr. Sandi E. Cooper

Deputy Secretary
Dr. Kenneth S. Sherrill

Treasurer
Dr. Jeffrey Kroessler

Members
(List in formation)

Ms. Joyce Phillips Austin
Ms. Helen Birenbaum
Dr. Frank Bonilla
Dr. Richard Boris
Dr. Stephen Brier
Dr. Walter Goldstein
Dr. Michael Kahan
Dr. John W. Kneller
Dr. Frederick S. Lane
Hon. Franz S. Leichter
Dr. James A. Malone
Dr. Cecilia McCall
Hon. Ruth Messinger
Mr. Jos˝ Peralta
Dr. Irwin H. Polishook
Dr. Sumner M. Rosen
Mr. Edward L. Sadowsky
Dr. Joshua L. Smith
Dr. Bernard Sohmer
Dr. Richard C. Wade 

Acting Executive Director
Dr. Walter Goldstein

January 28, 1999

A massive assault has been mounted against The City University of New York under the guise of raising standards. This guise is transparent. The real object of the attacks is to restrict and reduce enrollment and to downsize and dismantle the University.

The Friends of CUNY is being relaunched to preserve the historic mission of the University – to integrate the poor and the immigrant population into the American socio-economic fabric. CUNY must continue to provide access to a quality education, receive adequate funding and permit professional educators to determine academic standards and policies.

The Friends of CUNY is committed to the view that higher education is crucial to personal success. Section 6201 of the New York State Education Law requires that "the University will continue to maintain and expand its commitment to academic excellence and to the provision of equal access and opportunity for students, faculty and staff from all ethnic and racial groups and from both sexes."

The Friends of CUNY insist that this mandate be fulfilled.