Chancellor Milliken’s Statement to the CUNY Community

To the Members of the CUNY Community:

We have just experienced a long, contentious campaign and what was to many a surprising outcome. I have spoken to many of our students about their reactions to the results, and those range from confusion to concern to a sense of vulnerability for themselves or their friends and classmates.

We cannot be certain about whether or how statements made in the midst of a hard-fought campaign will be translated into policies beginning in January. What we can be certain about are our own values and the critical mission of The City University of New York. CUNY’s mission is the same today as it was a week ago, and it will be the same next year. For nearly 170 years, CUNY has been committed to providing opportunity to immigrants and low-income and underrepresented students. This will not change, and the city and the country will be much better for it. Our students bring ambition, talent and dreams and they contribute immeasurably to making New York the world’s greatest city. In fact, it’s obvious to anyone who has paid attention that New York is what it is today because of the very students CUNY has welcomed and educated for generations.

I know that all of my colleagues at CUNY join me in proudly embracing CUNY’s history and share my commitment to sustaining its vital mission in the years ahead.

Sincerely,

James B. Milliken

Chancellor