Greetings Friends and Fellow Herkimer Alumni!
I am sending this petition to you on behalf of a very dear friend of mine, Dick Friedrich. As I am sure many of you know, Professor Friedrich retired last spring from a distinguished and utmost honorable career that started in 1959, the year my father was born. Over that time he helped shape the minds of many students who have gone on to do great things, and, speaking for myself, taught me to, well...speak for myself. I could sit here all day and write pages on his accomplishments and the things I have seen him do first-hand to make his students (us) feel a little less helpless in the midst of struggle, a little less alone when the world turned a cold shoulder, and selflessly provide that pat on the back when we had no one else to push us that extra inch toward our goals.
On my last day of classes, before seeing us off to our next school, job, or future endeavor, he gave a short speech; one that I will carry with me forever. Professor Friedrich explained how a person, throughout their life, wears many hats and plays many roles. He was for instance, a father, a brother, an uncle, and a friend. However, above all of these roles, he, in his heart of hearts, considered himself a teacher. I will never forget the sense of determination and passion that those words ignited inside my soul. A determination to find out who and what I truly am, and at the end of whatever career I chose, to carry the conviction that my life had been purposeful, not just to other people, but most importantly to myself.
These are only a small sliver of the life lessons I have taken from my professor, my mentor, and my friend Dick Friedrich. And I know I'm not alone here. So, when I found out that the "Senior Administration" at Herkimer County Community College, more importantly President Ann Marie Murray Ph.D. and Dean of Academic Affairs, Michael Oriolo, in an attempt to publicly humiliate this great man, DENIED him the title of Professor Emeritus, an honor that has NEVER been denied by the Board to any other retiring faculty member of HCCC, it goes without saying that I was appalled. Emeritus is an honor defined by Webster’s Dictionary as, “holding after retirement an honorary title corresponding to that held last during active service.” In other words it is a sentiment that says thank you for your service, we appreciate the work you’ve done, our doors are always open to you. They sent him a letter, one that I have personally read, which provides an explanation for his denial of this great honor. In their words:
"The Board does not believe you will be an important source of information and advice for the college."
Even before this decision was made, a great number of faculty members sent the board a letter on behalf of Mr. Friedrich explaining his great service to our college and in short, what he has provided to his students both inside and outside of the classroom. They requested the Board to reconsider, but to no avail.
What I ask you, my fellow Alumni, is this; is a public and state-funded institution, or any other institution that provides higher education, not the sum of its parts? Are we not those parts?
Do we not represent the “college” of which the Board speaks? The “college” that will not, in their opinion, benefit from the information and advice that this great man has and will continue to offer? Can a few people, for reasons not justified, dictate the denial of this honor to a man who possesses such wisdom and kindness? The generations of graduates that came before and the many yet to come must defend those we choose to honor!
If this man has given to you even a small fraction of what he has given to me, I urge you to sign this petition and request a review of the Board’s decision to restore this honorable title to the most honorable of men. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the President and Dean of Academic Affairs who spearheaded this effort to humiliate our teacher and friend with their childish politics, which are public information, will be provided.
I thank you for your time and send my best to you and yours in this New Year.
God Bless America!
Sincerely,
Chase Dominick