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Joseph Miele, second from left, announced he was stepping down as State APSCUF parliamentarian at legislative assembly in April. The professor of psychology plans to retire from East Stroudsburg University in two years. Photos/Kathryn Morton

Out of all 28 years Joseph Miele has been an APSCUF member, his fondest memory stems from the strike of 2016. Standing in solidarity with his fellow East Stroudsburg University colleagues on the picket line, he says, was “an exhilarating moment.” Although he would have much rather been in the classroom teaching, the unity of faculty and students demanding quality public higher education was an outstanding time that he said he will never forget.

Miele is stepping down from his position of State APSCUF parliamentarian, a role he has held since February 2016, and the professor of psychology plans to retire in two years. He originally took on the APSCUF role because he knew a little about the rules and wanted to help the organization, he said.

APSCUF President Kenneth M. Mash, a political-science professor at East Stroudsburg University, praised Miele for his work ethic, “even-keeled temperament,” and deep and abiding commitment to APSCUF service at both the state and chapter levels.

Miele, seated, with the East Stroudsburg contingent in April.

APSCUF’s ESU chapter president, Nancy VanArsdale, a professor of English, lauded Miele’s contributions at the local level as well.

“Joe has done amazing service,” VanArsdale said, describing Miele’s APSCUF work, including as ESU grievance chair, meet-and-discuss chair, helping to rewrite sabbatical guidelines, and as a legislative assembly delegate. “He was also one of our strike captains in the big and successful strike. Many, many faculty go to Joe, often on a weekly basis, to get guidance related to interpreting the CBA.”

Miele has seen APSCUF evolve into an organization that works with individuals and stands up to the state when it defunds education, he said. The greatest thing a union has to offer is the balance it creates with management, he said.

“Every member needs to know someone has their back,” Miele said. “We know what happens when the balance shifts too much one way or the other. When there’s good balance, there’s good productivity.”

Miele said he will be sad to say goodbye to some of the great APSCUF friends he’s made over the years. As he begins his farewells, Miele advises members that you “get out of APSCUF what you put into it.” You might not always win, but if you’re open-minded and willing to work with the administration, great things can happen, he said. For the incoming parliamentarian, he also suggests proficiency in “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

He said he plans to stay in eastern Pennsylvania, wants to get involved in local charities and help people locally, and also join a classic-car club, as he drives a 1979 Cadillac Eldorado.

—John Danvers, APSCUF intern

Service Employees International Union members prepare to rally Tuesday, June 12, in the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda in support of unions in Pennsylvania. Photo/Kathryn Morton

As workers nationwide await the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Janus v. AFSCME case, APSCUF today stood in solidarity with Service Employees International Union members to proclaim that Pennsylvania needs unions. Click here to view additional photos from the rally on APSCUF’s Facebook page.

APSCUF members and legislators discuss higher-education issues at Legislative Reception Tuesday, June 5, at The Capitol Gastropub. Photo/Kathryn Morton

It’s been an advocacy-packed week for APSCUF members in Harrisburg.

APSCUF members talked with legislators and union supporters about higher-education issues and our 14 universities at APSCUF’s annual Legislative Reception Tuesday, June 5, at The Capital Gastropub. Click here to view additional photos from the event.

APSCUF members flank Sen. Vincent Hughes during a press conference to announce Pennsylvania Promise bills Wednesday, June 6, in the State Capitol. Photo/Kathryn Morton

The next morning, members hit the Capitol for advocacy meetings with their legislators and to attend a press conference announcing Pennsylvania Promise House and Senate bills. Visit PApromise.org to learn more about the plan to make college affordable for all Pennsylvanians who want to pursue higher education. Click here to view photos and here to view a video from the Pennsylvania Promise announcement.

Thank you to all who attended events this week. Want to talk with your legislators about the importance of quality, affordable public higher education in Pennsylvania? Click here to look up your legislators’ contact information.

We are always proud to recognize APSCUF members’ accomplishments, whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, or in the community. Here are some of their achievements from the spring semester.

• Bloomsburg University English faculty member Michael Martin led writing students to create a website and online cookbook of “easy, quick, affordable, and healthy meals that college students can make.”
• Cal U Professor Holiday Adair contributed to the discussion on mental-health screenings and mass shootings in American schools.
• Cheyney University APSCUF members handed out literature about the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court case.
• Rod Raehsler, professor of economics at Clarion University, will serve alongside Nobel laureates on the internationally recognized Omricon Delta Epsilon honor society. He was chosen as vice president for the national chapter.
• Jyh-Hann Chang of East Stroudsburg University presented about changing the ways we view individuals who have disabilities.
• Stan Swank, former head coach of Edinboro University women’s basketball, retired as the all-time winningest coach in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference history
• The women’s basketball team at Indiana University of Pennsylvania reached this year’s Final Four under the guidance of Coach Tom McConnell, who was also named PSAC West Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
• Kutztown University faculty member William Bender is using his skills as a licensed social worker to combat substance abuse in his community.
• Lock Haven faculty member Praful Bhatt is making waves in the classroom and in private medical practice.
• Mark Thompson, a faculty member at Mansfield University, helped train 16 FBI agents on how to analyze blood-spatter evidence at crime scenes.
• Brittany Hartman, Millersville University track-and-field throws coach, is USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year
• Shippensburg University Professor Kim van Alkemade published her second book, “Bachelor Girl.”
• Wilma Cavill, retired safety-management assistant professor from Slippery Rock University, donated $25,000 to support students entering her field of study.
• West Chester University Professor Jonathan Friedman spoke at an event that remembers the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

APSCUF aims to keep our members and followers updated on our faculty members’ and coaches’ successes. Don’t forget to follow us on our social media sites for more stories featuring our incredible faculty and coaches. Have a story to be told? Tag APSCUF on social media or email us at .

—John Danvers, APSCUF intern

Hi, my name is John Danvers, and I am excited to be APSCUF’s government-relations and public-relations student intern for summer 2018. My home institution is Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where I am a double major in economics and political science with a minor in philosophy. After I complete my undergraduate studies, I plan on attending law school, while also earning a graduate degree in public policy. My career ambitions include working as a public-policy attorney and running for public office. Some of the issues I am most passionate about include healthcare, education, and social justice.

I was motivated to intern with APSCUF because of the recent attacks made on public-sector unions. The American middle class was built by workers who assembled to advocate for their rights, and the systematic dismantling of unions forced by state legislatures and courts around the country worries me greatly. Supporting unions is bigger than a political cause. It’s standing with the steel worker who wants to send his children to college, the coach who spends days in the blistering heat to train our athletes, or the professor who works countless hours to give his or her students a quality education. I’m thrilled to be working with APSCUF over the next 10 weeks, and I can’t wait to learn as much as I can.

Finally, let me tell you a little more about me! Some of my hobbies and interests include running, working out, listening to music (I’m a huge John Mayer fan.), and exploring the great outdoors. I am a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Clarion University, and I enjoy hanging out with my brothers. Lastly, I’m a huge animal lover as well, and I have two dogs and three cats at home. I look forward to meeting many of you at Legislative Reception and wish you all a safe and pleasant summer.