November 21, 2025 • 26 mins
SUNY Chancellor John King joins us to discuss the second class of Empire Service Corps., student retention rates, and federal & state funding. New York was one of the first state to make Thanksgiving a holiday. We dive into the all of the historic thanksgiving facts about the state - from state proclamations to celebrations at the state museum.
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(00:00):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE STATE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
CELEBRATED ITS SECOND CLASS OF
EMPIRE STATE SERVICE CORPS.
THESE ARE A GROUP OF SUNY
STUDENTS THAT TAKE ON PUBLIC
SERVICE WORK AND SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
(00:39):
RECENTLY, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL
DEPLOYED THE EMPIRE STATE
SERVICE CORPS TO SUPPORT FOOD
BANKS IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS
THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
WOULD BE REMOVING SNAP BENEFITS
FOR MILLIONS OF NEW YORKERS.
TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF THE
SERVICEMEMBERS, WE SPOKE WITH
SUNY CHANCELLOR, JOHN KING.
(00:59):
IN THAT CONVERSATION, THE
CHANCELLOR ALSO HIGHLIGHTED
ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION LEVELS
AT SUNY AND THE CALLS FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON BOTH THE
STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US BACK ON THE SHOW TODAY,
CHANCELLOR.
>> EXCITED TO TALK WITH YOU.
(01:20):
>> NOW WE'RE ABOUT MIDWAY
THROUGH THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL
YEAR.
SO HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR
SUNY?
>> WE'VE HAD A GREAT START TO
THE ACADEMIC YEAR.
LOTS OF WONDERFUL THINGS
HAPPENING ON CAMPUSES.
LOTS OF EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS,
LIKE GOVERNOR'S $300 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN QUANTUM RESEARCH
(01:41):
AT STONEYBROOK, THE GOVERNOR'S
RECONNECT INITIATIVE WHERE WE'RE
PROVIDING FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COVERING TUITION, FEES, BOOKS
AND SUPPLIES FOR 25 TO
55-YEAR-OLDS IN HIGH DEMAND
WORKFORCE AREAS LIKE HEALTH
CARE, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING,
CYBERSECURITY AND I.T. AS WELL
AS GREEN JOBS.
(02:02):
SO WE'RE EXCITED AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT INVESTMENT COME JANUARY.
>> AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO,
SUNY CELEBRATED ITS SECOND CLASS
OF EMPIRE STATE SERVICE CORPS.
HOW HAS THE PROGRAM GROWN WITHIN
THE LAST YEAR?
>> THAT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM
(02:22):
WHERE 500 SUNY STUDENTS ARE PAID
TO DO 300 HOURS A YEAR OF PUBLIC
SERVICE WORK, AND SO THIS IS
STUDENTS WHO ARE TUTORING IN
K-12 SCHOOLS.
THEY ARE ADDRESSING FOOD AND
HOUSING INSECURITY ON CAMPUS AND
IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE SERVING AS HEALTH
COUNSELORS.
THEY'RE WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL
(02:44):
ISSUES AND THESE STUDENTS, THEY
LEARN A TON FROM THE EXPERIENCE
AND THEY ALSO LEARN A TON FROM
EACH OTHER, WORKING ALONGSIDE
FOLKS WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM
THEM, AND THIS FALL, WE'VE
ACTUALLY PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE
IN ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY
JUST LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNOR
CALLED ON US TO LEAD A DAY OF
ACTION ON HUNGER ACROSS THE SUNY
(03:06):
SYSTEM AND OUR EMPIRE STATE
SERVICE CORPS MEMBERS WERE
WORKING ON CAMPUS AND IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO MAY BE
LESS FAMILIAR, CAN YOU HELP US
UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH
IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE ON AND
AT SUNY CAMPUSES ACROSS THE
STATE?
>> WE'RE REALLY PROUD.
SUNY IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN
RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY AT OUR
(03:27):
FOUR UNIVERSITY CENTERS,
STONEYBROOK UNIVERSITY AT
BUFFALO, BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
AND UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY.
RESEARCH RANGES.
WE ARE DOING PHENOMENAL RESEARCH
ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
UB IS REALLY A NATIONAL LEADER
IN THAT WORK BUT ALL FOUR OF OUR
UNIVERSITY CENTERS ARE ENGAGED.
WE'RE DOING TREMENDOUS RESEARCH
WORK IN HEALTH SCIENCES AT OUR
(03:49):
UNIVERSITY CENTERS AS WELL AS
UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE MEDICAL
SCHOOLS.
WE'RE DOING WORK ON BATTERY
TECHNOLOGY AT BINGHAMTON THAT
REALLY IS THE HOPE FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERN
TIER.
WE'RE DOING GREAT RESEARCH
AROUND THE SEMICONDUCTOR
INDUSTRY AND WE'VE GOT THE
WONDERFUL ALBANY NANOTECH
(04:10):
FACILITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SOME OF THE LEADING
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPANIES IN THE
WORLD.
SO WE'RE A NATIONAL LEADER IN
THIS SPACE AND WE CONTINUE TO
WORK TO REMIND PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY OUR MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVEST
IN RESEARCH AT OUR HIGHER
(04:31):
INSTITUTE.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN PRETTY VOCAL
ABOUT THE FEDERAL CUTS COMING
FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
CAN YOU HELP US HOW THAT'S
IMPACTING THE WORKING DONE AT
SUNY?
>> SURE. SO LOOK, FOR 75 YEARS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
HAVE PARTNERED IN RESEARCH.
(04:51):
IF SOMEBODY'S GETTING MEDICAL
TREATMENT TODAY, IT'S VERY
LIKELY THAT TREATMENT WAS
DEVELOPED ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS OR
AT A UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED
HOSPITAL.
. IF SOMEBODY IS USING A CELL
PHONE TODAY, MANY OF THE
ELEMENTS OF THAT CELL PHONE, THE
KEY COMPONENTS WERE DEVELOPED
(05:12):
THROUGH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH.
SO MUCH OF THE NATION'S
INNOVATION LEADERSHIP IN THE
WORLD IS BECAUSE OF RESEARCH
HAPPENING ON HIGHER ED CAMPUSES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN BACKING
AWAY FROM THAT COMMITMENT,
THREATENING TO CUT FUNDING FOR
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
(05:33):
HEALTH, FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION, CANCELING CURRENT
GRANTS SO RESEARCH THAT FOLKS
ARE DOING ON TREATMENTS FOR
CANCER AND ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES JUST
SUDDENLY, THEY'RE HAVING THE RUG
PULLED OUT FROM UNDER THEM,
LOSING THESE GRANTS.
WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT AT SUNY.
WE'VE LOST OVER $20 MILLION IN
(05:54):
GRANT FUNDING AND WE'VE HAD TO
GO TO COURT IN SOME CASES TO GET
GRANT FUNDING RESTORED.
WE'VE HAD TO MAKE APPEALS TO
AGENCIES TO GET GRANT FUNDING
RESTORED AND IT'S VERY SAD
BECAUSE IT'S A THREAT TO
NATIONAL SECURITY.
>> AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE STUDENT
RESPONSE TO THESE CUTS FROM YOUR
PURVIEW?
AND HOW IS YOUR OFFICE WORKING
(06:16):
TO CALM THE POTENTIAL FEARS OF
STUDENTS DURING THIS TIME WHEN
IT COMES TO THESE FEDERAL CUTS?
>> LOOK, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING
FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR
FACULTY.
THEY'RE WORKING ON POTENTIALLY
LIFE-SAVING TREATMENTS AND THEN
SUDDENLY SEE THAT FUNDING GO
AWAY.
IT'S VERY TRAUMATIC BUT WE ARE
(06:37):
WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES
OF AISLE UNDERSTAND HOW
IMPORTANT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE
FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS, AND
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE
STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
STATE INVESTS IN OUR RESEARCH
CAPACITY.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S REALLY BEEN
FANTASTIC IN THAT AREA.
AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A $300
(06:58):
MILLION INVESTMENT IN QUANTUM
RESEARCH AT STONEYBROOK.
WE JUST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE
LAUNCH OF A SUNY BRAIN INSTITUTE
WHERE RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE
SUNY SYSTEM WILL WORK TOGETHER
ON TREATMENTS FOR THINGS LIKE
ALZHEIMER'S, TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURIES.
WE ALSO HAVE JUST RECENTLY
ANNOUNCE $50 MILLION INVESTMENT
(07:19):
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY IN
THEIR RNA INSTITUTE TO WORK ON
BETTER TREATMENT FOR DISEASES
LIKE MUSCULAR DISTROPHY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE
TOGETHER WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL
AND THE LEGISLATURE, NEW YORK
REMAINS A NATIONAL LEADER IN
RESEARCH.
>> AND IN THE SUMMER, YOU
TRAVELED TO CAPITOL HILL TO
(07:40):
ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
SUNY.
SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
THAT TRIP, AND DO YOU THINK THAT
YOUR EFFORTS WERE WELL RECEIVED?
>> YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS
CONGRESS SO FAR HAS BEEN PUSHING
BACK ON THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA.
WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET YET.
BUT THE HOPE IS WHEN CONGRESS
GETS BACK TO WORK ON THE NEXT
(08:02):
FULL APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS,
THAT WE WILL SEE CONGRESS STEP
UP TO INVEST IN NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, NATIONAL
SCIENCE FOUNDATION, THAT WE'LL
SEE CONGRESS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
LEADERSHIP IN ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE AND QUANTUM
TECHNOLOGY IS CRITICAL TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
(08:23):
THAT ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS
OF POLITICAL PARTY, WANT TO SEE
US FIND BETTER TREATMENTS AND
CURES FOR THINGS LIKE
ALZHEIMER'S AND CANCER.
SO I'M OPTIMISTIC.
THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE VERY
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SUNY.
THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING SURE
THAT THEY VOTE ON BUDGET BILLS
(08:45):
IN A WAY THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR
COMMITMENTS TO SUNY.
>> AND IT'S ALSO APPLICATION
TIME FOR COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES.
SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
THE PROJECTIONS FOR ENROLLMENT
FOR NEXT YEAR?
>> WONDERFUL NEWS ON ENROLLMENT
AT SUNY.
THIS FALL, WE'VE SEEN OUR THIRD
(09:05):
CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF ENROLLMENT
GROW GROWTH ACROSS EVERY SECTOR
OF SUNY.
OUR FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS, OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OUR
TECHNOLOGY CAMPUSES SO WE'RE
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S A SIGN THAT NEW YORKERS SEE
THE TREMENDOUS SUNY VALUE
(09:25):
PROPOSITION, AFFORDABLE
EXCELLENCE AS WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT.
52% OF OUR IN-STATE
UNDERGRADUATES GO TO SUNY
TUITION FREE BECAUSE OF FEDERAL
PELL GRANTS AND THE NEW YORK
STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
SO PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES AT SUNY, THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE A PLACE FOR
(09:46):
EVERYBODY.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, WE'VE GOT
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND
FORESTRY COLLEGE IN SYRACUSE.
IF YOU WANT A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, A PUBLIC
HONORS COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, WE'VE
GOT SUNYGENESEO.
IF YOU WANT A LARGE RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY, WE'VE GOT 30,000
STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY AT
BUFFALO.
(10:07):
IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO THE
MARITIME INDUSTRY, WE'VE GOT
SUNY MARITIME IN THE BRONX.
WHATEVER YOU'RE INTERESTED IN,
WE'VE GOT IT AT SUNY.
PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT AND
THAT'S WHY WE ARE SEEING THE
CONTINUED ENROLLMENT INCREASES.
>> WITH ENROLLMENT TRENDING UP,
WHAT DO THE CURRENT RETENTION
AND GRADUATION RATES LOOK LIKE?
HOW IS SUNY SUPPORTING STUDENTS
MAKING IT ACROSS THE FINISH
(10:28):
LINE?
>> YEAH. SO YOU KNOW, I'D SAY
OUR COMPLETION RATES AND OUR
RETENTION RATES ARE ABOUT
AVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY AND FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE AND FROM THE SUNY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES PERSPECTIVE,
WE WANT TO DO BETTER.
WE WANT TO SEE THOSE IMPROVE.
WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THANKS TO
GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE
LEGISLATURE TO SEE A MAJOR
(10:48):
INVESTMENT IN A PROGRAM CALLED
ASAP, OR ACE, THAT PROGRAM, THE
TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES ARE DOING
ASAP.
FOUR-YEAR CAMPUSES ARE DOING
ACE.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE WRAP-AROUND
SUPPORTS, INTENSIVE ADVISING
THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HELP
STUDENTS GRADUATE AT HIGHER
LEVELS.
(11:08):
WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW THOSE
PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE NOW SERVING
7,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE SUNY
CAMPUSES AND WE EXPECT TO GROW
TO 10,000 NEXT FALL.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN ACADEMIC
MOMENTUM CAMPAIGN WHERE EVERY
CAMPUS IS WORKING TOGETHER WITH
FACULTY TO PLAN STRATEGIES FOR
IMPROVING ADVISING,
STRENGTHENING GATEWAY COURSES,
(11:30):
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH THE
CURRENT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE
TO HELP MORE STUDENTS GET ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE.
NO STUDENT STARTS COLE WITH THE
PLAN TO DROP OUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HELP OUR STUDENTS ALL BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> AND IT WAS REPORTED BY WRBO
THAT SUNY IS POTENTIALLY WORRIED
ABOUT THE LOSS OF INTERNATIONAL
(11:51):
STUDENTS, DUE TO THE CURRENT
FEDERAL POLICIES.
SO HOW IS SUNY SUPPORTING THESE
STUDENTS DURING THIS TIME?
>> YEAH. WE ARE VERY WORRIED
ABOUT THIS.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WALKING AWAY FROM
A REAL STRENGTH OF AMERICAN
HIGHER EDUCATION.
YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE CEOS
OF SOME OF THE TOP COMPANIES IN
SILICON VALLEY, YOU SEE A LOT OF
(12:12):
FOLKS WHO CAME AS INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE A
VITAL PART OF AMERICAN HIGHER
EDUCATION.
WE'RE BETTER WHEN WE'RE
ATTRACTING THE BEST TALENT
AROUND THE WORLD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT A LOT OF
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
WE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER HIGHER
(12:33):
ED INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, SAW A DROP THIS FALL IN
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
ENROLLMENT.
BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH STUDENT AND WITH OUR
CAMPUSES TO MAKE SURE THAT
STUDENTS HAVE GOOD GUIDANCE,
NAVIGATING THE IMMIGRATION
PROCESSES.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
(12:53):
UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE WORLD TO
DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT
STUDENTS CAN START THERE AND
TRANSFER HERE OR HAVE STUDY
ABROAD EXPERIENCES FROM SUNY AT
THOSE INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE
WORLD.
SO WE'RE COMMITTED THAT SUNY IS
A GLOBAL CITIZEN EVEN IF THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING
TO TAKE US BACKWARDS.
(13:13):
>> AND GOING INTO THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT LEVEL
OF FUNDING WILL YOU BE PUSHING
FOR FROM THE GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE IN THE STATE BUDGET
TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING?
>> WELL, WE'RE EXTRAORDINARILY
GRATEFUL AND WE SAY TO GOVERNOR
HOCHUL FOR HER DEEP PASSION FOR
SUNY AND TOGETHER WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, SHE HAS WORK TO
(13:34):
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN SUNY,
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AS WE GO INTO THIS NEXT BUDGET
SESSION, TWO THINGS THAT WILL BE
TOP OF MIND.
ONE, MAKING SURE WE GET HELP
FROM THE STATE TO COVER THE
WELL-DESERVE RAISES THAT ARE
BARGAINED WITH OUR FACULTY AND
STAFF, AND THAT MEANS WE'RE
(13:54):
GOING TO NEED $100 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO
ADDRESS THOSE COLLECTIVELY
BARGAINED RAISES.
WE'VE BEEN GETTING THAT FROM THE
STATE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT'S BEEN HUGELY HELPFUL TO OUR
CAMPUSES.
WE WILL MAKE THE CASE FOR THAT
WE ALSO HAVE BIG CAPITAL NEEDS
ACROSS THE SUNY SYSTEM.
WE'VE GOT A MORE THAN $10
(14:15):
BILLION CRITICAL MAINTENANCE
BACKLOG.
WE'VE GOT LOTS OF WORK WE NEED
TO DO TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE BEST
FACILITIES.
WE ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN THOSE RESEARCH LABS
THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR THE
STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO
WE'RE GOING TO BE ADVOCATING
VERY STRONGLY FOR ADDITIONAL
CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
(14:35):
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY,
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY, CHANCELLOR.
>> THANKS.
ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> IT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO
YOU THAT NEW YORK WAS ONE OF
FIRST STATES TO DECLARE
THANKSGIVING A HOLIDAY BACK IN
(14:56):
THE 1800S.
THE STATE IS RICH IN HISTORY
WITH MONUMENTAL FACTS ABOUT THE
HOLIDAY, FROM PROCLAMATIONS TO
YEARLY TRADITIONS AND
CELEBRATIONS.
FOR MORE ON THAT, OUR ELISE
KLINE ATTENDED A THANKSGIVING
EVENT AT THE STATE MUSEUM WHERE
SHE SPOKE WITH HISTORIANS AND
VISITORS.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
(15:17):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANKSGIVING IS A HOLIDAY
CELEBRATED TODAY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THROUGH A VARIETY OF
TRADITIONS FROM FEAST OF ROASTED
TURKEY, STUFFING, MASHED
POTATOES AND CRANBERRY SAUCE TO
WATCHING FOOTBALL AND FIGHTING
WITH RELATIVES.
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING THAT IS
MOST POPULARLY KNOWN DATES BACK
TO 1621 BUT NOT EVERYTHING
DESCRIBED AND PICTURED FROM THAT
FIRST HARVEST IS ACCURATE.
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING THAT IS
MOST POPULARLY KNOWN DATES BACK
TO 1621, BUT NOT EVERYTHING
DESCRIBED AND PICTURED FROM THAT
FIRST HARVEST IS ACCURATE.
(15:39):
AT A FIRST-TIME EVENT HOSTED AT
THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM,
RETHINKING THANKSGIVING, PERRY
GROUND, A TRADITIONAL
STORYTELLER AND CULTURAL
EDUCATOR, TALKS TO MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE
MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND THE
HOLIDAY.
>> I GIVE THIS ALL AROUND NEW
YORK STATE AND AT NATIONAL
CONFERENCES SOMETIMES, AND
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS AMAZED AT WHAT
THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS EVENT
(16:00):
AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT,
WHICH IS FACTUALLY INCORRECT AND
MANY PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THE
TRUTH.
>> THE STORY MOST AMERICANS KNOW
OF WHAT IS REGARDED AS THE FIRST
THANKSGIVING IS A HARVEST FEAST
BETWEEN THE PILL FILMS AND THE
NATIVE AMERICANS IN 1621 IN
PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.
GROUND SAYS THERE ARE MANY
THINGS WRONG WITH THIS STORY AND
THE PICTURES PAINTED DEPICTING
THIS STORY.
(16:21):
FIRST, THE HARVEST IN 1621
WASN'T THE FIRST THANKSGIVING
AND THE SETTLERS DIDN'T CALL
THEMSELVES PILGRIMS, RECORDS
SHOW OTHER THANKSGIVING HARVEST
EVENTS DATING BACK TO 1565 IN
SPANISH FLORIDA.
THE ENGLISH SETTLERS CALLED
THEMSELVES SAINTS AND WE KNOW
THEM TODAY AS PILGRIMS BECAUSE
OF THE PILGRIM PRESS NEWSLETTER.
SECOND, THE 16 IT 1 HARVEST
WASN'T HELD AS A RELIGIOUS
OBSERVANCE, AND THE FOOD ON THE
(16:41):
HARVEST TABLE WASN'T THE TURKEY,
POTATOES AND CRANBERRIES THAT WE
ALL KNOW AND LOVE TODAY.
IT WAS A LOT OF SEAFOOD AND
CORN.
GROUND SAYS THESE ARE THE MOST
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS.
>> IT WASN'T THE FIRST.
THERE WAS ONE ALMOST 80 YEARS
BEFORE THAT HELD BY SPANISH
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE ALSO THINK THAT THIS
HOLIDAY IS BASED ON A NATIVE
AMERICAN RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.
(17:02):
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
IT WAS A HARVEST FEAST.
IT WAS A BIG PARTY IS WHAT THEY
WERE HAVING TO CELEBRATE THE
FACT THAT THEY HAD FOOD TO GET
THROUGH THE WINTER.
>> GROUNDS ALSO SAYS FOR MANY
NATIVE AMERICANS, THANKSGIVING
ISN'T SOMETHING THEY CELEBRATE
FONDLY BECAUSE SOON AFTER THE
162 HARVEST, THE PEQUOT PEOPLE
WERE MASSACRED IN A NEW ENGLAND
WAR.
>> THE IDEA BEHIND THANKSGIVING
IS SOMETIMES PAINFUL TO NATIVE
(17:23):
AMERICANS BECAUSE THEY EQUATE
THAT NEGATIVE HISTORY THAT
HAPPENED IN NEW ENGLAND IN AND
THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA TO
NATIVE PEOPLE WITH THE IDEA OF
THE COMING EUROPEAN SETTLERS,
OFTEN PORTRAYED AS THE PILGRIMS
WHO CAME IN 1620.
GROUNDS SAYS HE PERSONALLY TRIES
TO SEPARATE THE EVENTS.
>> I TRY TO SEPARATE THOSE TWO
AND ISOLATE THE EVENT, WHICH WAS
(17:45):
A POSITIVE THING, BUT ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT PAINFUL HISTORY
THAT EXISTS IN NATIVE AMERICA
BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED LATER.
>> OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED
LATER, AFTER THE 1621 HARVEST,
PROGRESSED THE HOLIDAY TO WHAT
WE THINK OF TODAY.
AND SOME PARTS OF THAT HISTORY
TOOK PLACE IN NEW YORK.
IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1789, THE
NATION'S CAPITAL AT THAT TIME,
(18:06):
GEORGE WASHINGTON ISSUED FIRST
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION DEDICATING
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, TO BE A
DAY OF THANKS.
GOVERNOR DEWITT CLINTON ALSO
PROCLAIMED THANKSGIVING AS AN
ANNUAL HOLIDAY AROUND THE SAME
TIME PERIOD, MAKING NEW YORK ONE
OF THE FIRST STATES TO DO SO.
KENNETH DAVIS, A THANKSGIVING
HISTORIAN, SAYS THESE
PROCLAMATIONS WERE ALSO PART OF
A LARGER GROUP OF PROCLAMATIONS
MANY SET FOR THURSDAYS IN
(18:26):
NOVEMBER.
>> FOR SOME REASON, THURSDAYS IN
NOVEMBER BECAME ESTABLISHED
PRETTY EARLY ON.
BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU READ OF
THEIR ACTUAL PROCLAMATIONS,
THEY'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A
DAY TO BE HUMBLE, PRAYERFUL,
GRATEFUL TO WHATEVER WORD THEY
USED FOR GOD.
(18:47):
>> THESE ARE PIECES OF
THANKSGIVING HISTORY MANY NEW
YORKERS ARE NOT AWARE OF TODAY.
ANTHONY CEKIC, A VISITOR AT THE
RE-THINKING THANKSGIVING EVENT,
SAYS HE LEARNED FOR THE FIRST
TIME ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S
PROCLAMATION.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW THE ORIGIN OF
THE HOLIDAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WASHINGTON
WAS THE ONE WHO FIRST FORMED IT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN
(19:09):
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS
TAUGHT.
>> ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION WAS
DECLARED IN 1863, DURING THE
CIVIL WAR AND IS LARGELY THOUGHT
TO BE THE START OF THANKSGIVING
BECOMING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
DAVIS SAYS WASHINGTON'S
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION WAS
DONE AT THE REQUEST OF CONGRESS
AND AT THE TIME MEANT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
>> IT WAS TRULY A DAY OF
THANKSGIVING, WHICH MEANT A DAY
(19:30):
OF SOLEMN DAY OF PRAYER AND
HUMBLE REFLECTION, NOT AN EXCUSE
FOR A THREE-HOUR DINNER.
>> DAVIS ADDS IN 1864,
THANKSGIVING STARTED TO BECOME
THE HOLIDAY THAT MANY AMERICANS
KNOW TODAY, AND IT HAD ANOTHER
CONNECTION TO NEW YORK.
>> WHILE THE CIVIL WAR IS STILL
RAGING, A GROUP OF NEW YORKERS
SENT THREE OR FOUR SHIPLOADS OF
(19:52):
THANKSGIVING DINNERS TO THE
UNION ARMY THAT WAS THEN CAMP
OUT IN VIRGINIA, ATTACKING THE
CAPITAL OF RICHMOND.
>> DAVIS SAYS THE SOLDIERS WERE
VERY GRATEFUL AND THIS WAS THE
FIRST RECORDED MEAL SENT TO
AMERICAN FIGHTING FORCES.
ACCORDING TO THE 1864 REPORT
FROM THE UNION LEAGUE OF NEW
YORK, THEY RAISED $51,000 TO
(20:12):
SEND THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF
POULTRY AND CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS
OF APPLES, TURNIPS, POTATOES,
CAKES, AND CASH TO A VARIETY OF
FORTS THAT YEAR.
THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS FIRST-HAND
ACCOUNTS OF SOLDIERS' GRATITUDE
WHEN THEY RECEIVED THEIR HOLIDAY
MEALS.
>> THE FINAL THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION CAME FROM PRESIDENT
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT IN 1933.
IT THEN BECAME THE FEDERAL
HOLIDAY THAT IT REMAINS AS TODAY
(20:32):
IN 1941 AFTER CONGRESS PASSED A
BILL AND ROOSEVELT SIGNED IT.
THE HOLIDAY ALSO BECAME LARGELY
THE TRADITION IT'S CELEBRATED AS
TODAY BECAUSE OF SARAH HALE,
ALSO CALLED THE MOTHER OF
THANKSGIVING.
>> SHE WAS THE EDITOR OF A
MAGAZINE CALLED, "LADY GODEY'S
BOOK."
IT WAS THE, I SUPPOSE, YOU COULD
SAY, IT WAS THE "GOOD
HOUSEKEEPING" OR MAYBE THE
(20:53):
MARTHA STEWART OF ITS DAY.
AND SHE HAD BEEN LOBBYING FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO MAKE THANKSGIVING
AN OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
>> GROUND TALKED ABOUT HALE AND
THANKSGIVING PRODUCT CLAMMING AS
DURING HIS RETHINKING
THANKSGIVING EVENT.
HE EMPHASIZED EDUCATION AROUND
THIS TOPIC ISN'T INTENDED TO
TAKE AWAY FROM THE AMERICAN
TRADITIONS THAT HAVE GROWN OVER
(21:14):
THE YEARS.
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY
PEOPLE'S THANKSGIVING
TRADITIONS.
EACH TURKEY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU
LIKE TO DO, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE
TO DO, OR WATCH FOOTBALL OR GO
SHOPPING, OR THE OTHER
TRADITIONS THAT AMERICANS HAVE
CREATED SURROUNDING THIS
HOLIDAY, BUT WHAT I WANT PEOPLE
TO UNDERSTAND IS SOME OF THE
ACTUAL HISTORY, PARTICULARLY AS
IT RELAYS TO NATIVE AMERICANS.
(21:35):
>> GROUND SAYS THIS EVENT IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A TIME
WHEN PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT
NATIVE AMERICANS, MAKING IT THE
PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE
THEM ON ACCURATE HISTORY.
>> WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THEM IN
THE SAME WAY IN THE SPRING AND
SUMMER, BUT HERE, BECAUSE OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY IN
OCTOBER AND BECAUSE OF
THANKSGIVING IN NOVEMBER, NATIVE
AMERICANS ARE ON OUR MINDS.
SO IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR US TO
(21:55):
RECONSIDER HOW WE THINK ABOUT
NATIVE AMERICANS.
IT'S A GOOD TIME TO RETHINK
THANKSGIVING.
>> JENNIFER SAUNDERS, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE STATE MUSEUM,
SAYS THE MUSEUM FELT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO PUT THIS EVENT
TOGETHER TO HELP CELEBRATE
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
SAUNDERS STRESSES NATIVE
AMERICAN HISTORY IS AMERICAN
HISTORY.
>> SO MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN,
WE'RE BRINGING IN VOICES AND
PERSPECTIVES FROM ALL OF THE
(22:17):
FOLKS WHO MAKE UP AMERICAN
HISTORY AND NEW YORK STATE
HISTORY AND PERRY IS ONE OF
THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT VOICES.
>> PERRY SAYS THE IMPACT ON
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IS
SIGNIFICANT.
>> THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT
EACH OTHER, THE BETTER WE CAN
HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, THE BETTER
WE CAN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER,
AND WE CAN SHARE THINGS LIKE
(22:39):
THANKSGIVING IN A POSITIVE WAY.
>> AND FOR SOME MEMBERS OF
PUBLIC, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED FOR THEM.
AVERY FORTIN, A LOCAL CAPITAL
REGION RESIDENT, HAD LOTS OF
EVENT OPTION TO CHOOSE FROM ON
THE NOVEMBER SATURDAY THAT THE
RETHINKING EVENT TOOK PLACE, BUT
THEY CHOSE THIS ONE.
>> THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT
EVENTS THAT WERE SCHEDULED FOR
THE SAME TIME AND I PICKED THIS
ONE BECAUSE I WANT TO PAY MORE
(22:59):
OHMAGE TO THE TRADITIONS BEFORE
THE COLONIZERS, IF YOU WILL.
>> FORTIN SAYS THEY LEARNED A
LOT AT THE EVENT, TAKING AWAY
NEW KNOWLEDGE OF SOME OF THE
ORIGINAL HARVEST TABLE ITEMS AND
A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE
PEQUOT WAR AND KING PHILLIPS'
WAR, WHERE THE SETTLERS AND THE
NATIVE AMERICANS GOT ALONG.
>> PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE
TRADITIONS AND TO THAT PERIOD OF
(23:19):
PEACE, AND NOT TO BE SILLY, BUT
I'M GOING TO INCLUDE A LOT MORE
CORN IN MY THANKSGIVING DINNER
BECAUSE IT WAS AN ORGANIC CROP
AND I KIND OF REALLY LIKE CORN.
>> CEKIC ALSO SAYS HE DIDN'T
KNOW THERE WAS A PERIOD OF PEACE
BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AND THE
NATIVE AMERICANS.
>> COEXISTENCE, LIKE I DIDN'T
KNOW THAT THEY GOT ALONG FOR 50
YEARS, AGAIN, I ALWAYS THOUGHT
(23:40):
THAT THE FIGHTING IMMEDIATELY
HAPPENED.
SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD
SAY THE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE WAS
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT
I LEARNED.
>> SARA RADCLIFFE, WHO ALSO
ATTENDED THE RETHINKING
THANKSGIVING EVENT, ALSO SAYS
SHE LEARNED A LOT OF NEW THINGS
SHE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE.
>> I KNOW THAT MANY OF THE
STORIES AROUND THANKSGIVING ARE
REALLY NOT TRUE, BUT PERRY
(24:02):
DESCRIBED SO MANY OTHER THINGS
THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACT THAT
THE HOLIDAY IS ONLY 84 YEARS
OLD.
YEAH, THAT I HAD NO IDEA.
>> GROUND SAID BEFORE THE EVENT
THAT HE WANTED PEOPLE TO WALK
AWAY HAVING LEARNED MORE AND
WITH THE EXCITEMENT TO CONTINUE
TO LEARN MORE AND THAT SEEMS TO
BE HOW THE PUBLIC REACTED
>> WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AFFECTED
BY THIS HOLIDAY AS NEW YORKERS,
(24:24):
AND IF WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER
BETTER AND WE CAN CONTINUE WITH
THE IDEA OF SHARING AND
CELEBRATING TOGETHER, I THINK IT
WILL BE A GOOD WAY THAT NEW
YORKERS CAN LEAD US INTO THE
FUTURE.
>> GROUND SAYS HE'S VERY BUSY
AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR, GIVING
THESE TALKS AROUND THE STATE,
BUT WHEN HE SLOWS DOWN FOR
THANKSGIVING THURSDAY, HE THINKS
ABOUT PEACE AND COEXISTENCE.
(24:46):
>> I THINK OF THE EVENT BACK IN
1621.
I THINK ABOUT TWO VERY DIFFERENT
GROUPS OF PEOPLE GETTING
TOGETHER TO SHARE, TO LIVE IN
PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BECAUSE FOR
MANY YEARS, THEY DID LIVE
PEACEFULLY WITH EACH OTHER, AND
SO IF WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT,
IF WE CAN REMEMBER THE WAY THAT
PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES,
(25:07):
FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
WORLD WERE ABLE TO PEACEFULLY
COEXIST, THEN I THINK WE CAN
HAVE A HAPPIER THANKSGIVING.
>> THANKSGIVING FOR MANY NEW
YORKERS MEANS FAMILY,
THANKFULNESS, TOGETHERNESS, AND
OF COURSE FOOD.
MANY NEW YORKERS ALSO PLAYED A
KEY ROLE IN HELPING THE HOLIDAY
DEVELOP.
NOT ONLY DID THE STATE HELP THE
HOLIDAY GROW THROUGH
PROCLAMATIONS AND MEAL DONATIONS
(25:27):
TO SOLDIERS, BUT IN THE 1950S,
TWO CORNELL UNIVERSITY
PROFESSORS CREATED THE EMPIRE
WHITE TURKEY, A BREED SAID TO
HAVE CHANGED THANKSGIVING
DINNERS FOREVER AND BECOME THE
TOP CHOICE FOR TURKEYS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY IN THE YEARS SINCE.
ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
NEW YORK'S RICH THANKSGIVING
HISTORY, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
(25:48):
WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG, OR BY
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
(26:10):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(00:19):
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE STATE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
CELEBRATED ITS SECOND CLASS OF
EMPIRE STATE SERVICE CORPS.
THESE ARE A GROUP OF SUNY
STUDENTS THAT TAKE ON PUBLIC
SERVICE WORK AND SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
(00:39):
RECENTLY, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL
DEPLOYED THE EMPIRE STATE
SERVICE CORPS TO SUPPORT FOOD
BANKS IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS
THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
WOULD BE REMOVING SNAP BENEFITS
FOR MILLIONS OF NEW YORKERS.
TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF THE
SERVICEMEMBERS, WE SPOKE WITH
SUNY CHANCELLOR, JOHN KING.
(00:59):
IN THAT CONVERSATION, THE
CHANCELLOR ALSO HIGHLIGHTED
ENROLLMENT AND GRADUATION LEVELS
AT SUNY AND THE CALLS FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON BOTH THE
STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US BACK ON THE SHOW TODAY,
CHANCELLOR.
>> EXCITED TO TALK WITH YOU.
(01:20):
>> NOW WE'RE ABOUT MIDWAY
THROUGH THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL
YEAR.
SO HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR
SUNY?
>> WE'VE HAD A GREAT START TO
THE ACADEMIC YEAR.
LOTS OF WONDERFUL THINGS
HAPPENING ON CAMPUSES.
LOTS OF EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS,
LIKE GOVERNOR'S $300 MILLION
INVESTMENT IN QUANTUM RESEARCH
(01:41):
AT STONEYBROOK, THE GOVERNOR'S
RECONNECT INITIATIVE WHERE WE'RE
PROVIDING FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COVERING TUITION, FEES, BOOKS
AND SUPPLIES FOR 25 TO
55-YEAR-OLDS IN HIGH DEMAND
WORKFORCE AREAS LIKE HEALTH
CARE, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING,
CYBERSECURITY AND I.T. AS WELL
AS GREEN JOBS.
(02:02):
SO WE'RE EXCITED AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
ABOUT INVESTMENT COME JANUARY.
>> AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO,
SUNY CELEBRATED ITS SECOND CLASS
OF EMPIRE STATE SERVICE CORPS.
HOW HAS THE PROGRAM GROWN WITHIN
THE LAST YEAR?
>> THAT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM
(02:22):
WHERE 500 SUNY STUDENTS ARE PAID
TO DO 300 HOURS A YEAR OF PUBLIC
SERVICE WORK, AND SO THIS IS
STUDENTS WHO ARE TUTORING IN
K-12 SCHOOLS.
THEY ARE ADDRESSING FOOD AND
HOUSING INSECURITY ON CAMPUS AND
IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE SERVING AS HEALTH
COUNSELORS.
THEY'RE WORKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL
(02:44):
ISSUES AND THESE STUDENTS, THEY
LEARN A TON FROM THE EXPERIENCE
AND THEY ALSO LEARN A TON FROM
EACH OTHER, WORKING ALONGSIDE
FOLKS WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM
THEM, AND THIS FALL, WE'VE
ACTUALLY PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE
IN ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY
JUST LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNOR
CALLED ON US TO LEAD A DAY OF
ACTION ON HUNGER ACROSS THE SUNY
(03:06):
SYSTEM AND OUR EMPIRE STATE
SERVICE CORPS MEMBERS WERE
WORKING ON CAMPUS AND IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO MAY BE
LESS FAMILIAR, CAN YOU HELP US
UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH
IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE ON AND
AT SUNY CAMPUSES ACROSS THE
STATE?
>> WE'RE REALLY PROUD.
SUNY IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN
RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY AT OUR
(03:27):
FOUR UNIVERSITY CENTERS,
STONEYBROOK UNIVERSITY AT
BUFFALO, BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
AND UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY.
RESEARCH RANGES.
WE ARE DOING PHENOMENAL RESEARCH
ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
UB IS REALLY A NATIONAL LEADER
IN THAT WORK BUT ALL FOUR OF OUR
UNIVERSITY CENTERS ARE ENGAGED.
WE'RE DOING TREMENDOUS RESEARCH
WORK IN HEALTH SCIENCES AT OUR
(03:49):
UNIVERSITY CENTERS AS WELL AS
UPSTATE AND DOWNSTATE MEDICAL
SCHOOLS.
WE'RE DOING WORK ON BATTERY
TECHNOLOGY AT BINGHAMTON THAT
REALLY IS THE HOPE FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERN
TIER.
WE'RE DOING GREAT RESEARCH
AROUND THE SEMICONDUCTOR
INDUSTRY AND WE'VE GOT THE
WONDERFUL ALBANY NANOTECH
(04:10):
FACILITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SOME OF THE LEADING
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPANIES IN THE
WORLD.
SO WE'RE A NATIONAL LEADER IN
THIS SPACE AND WE CONTINUE TO
WORK TO REMIND PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY OUR MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVEST
IN RESEARCH AT OUR HIGHER
(04:31):
INSTITUTE.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN PRETTY VOCAL
ABOUT THE FEDERAL CUTS COMING
FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
CAN YOU HELP US HOW THAT'S
IMPACTING THE WORKING DONE AT
SUNY?
>> SURE. SO LOOK, FOR 75 YEARS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
HAVE PARTNERED IN RESEARCH.
(04:51):
IF SOMEBODY'S GETTING MEDICAL
TREATMENT TODAY, IT'S VERY
LIKELY THAT TREATMENT WAS
DEVELOPED ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS OR
AT A UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED
HOSPITAL.
. IF SOMEBODY IS USING A CELL
PHONE TODAY, MANY OF THE
ELEMENTS OF THAT CELL PHONE, THE
KEY COMPONENTS WERE DEVELOPED
(05:12):
THROUGH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH.
SO MUCH OF THE NATION'S
INNOVATION LEADERSHIP IN THE
WORLD IS BECAUSE OF RESEARCH
HAPPENING ON HIGHER ED CAMPUSES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN BACKING
AWAY FROM THAT COMMITMENT,
THREATENING TO CUT FUNDING FOR
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
(05:33):
HEALTH, FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION, CANCELING CURRENT
GRANTS SO RESEARCH THAT FOLKS
ARE DOING ON TREATMENTS FOR
CANCER AND ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES JUST
SUDDENLY, THEY'RE HAVING THE RUG
PULLED OUT FROM UNDER THEM,
LOSING THESE GRANTS.
WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT AT SUNY.
WE'VE LOST OVER $20 MILLION IN
(05:54):
GRANT FUNDING AND WE'VE HAD TO
GO TO COURT IN SOME CASES TO GET
GRANT FUNDING RESTORED.
WE'VE HAD TO MAKE APPEALS TO
AGENCIES TO GET GRANT FUNDING
RESTORED AND IT'S VERY SAD
BECAUSE IT'S A THREAT TO
NATIONAL SECURITY.
>> AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE STUDENT
RESPONSE TO THESE CUTS FROM YOUR
PURVIEW?
AND HOW IS YOUR OFFICE WORKING
(06:16):
TO CALM THE POTENTIAL FEARS OF
STUDENTS DURING THIS TIME WHEN
IT COMES TO THESE FEDERAL CUTS?
>> LOOK, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING
FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR
FACULTY.
THEY'RE WORKING ON POTENTIALLY
LIFE-SAVING TREATMENTS AND THEN
SUDDENLY SEE THAT FUNDING GO
AWAY.
IT'S VERY TRAUMATIC BUT WE ARE
(06:37):
WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES
OF AISLE UNDERSTAND HOW
IMPORTANT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE
FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS, AND
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE
STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
STATE INVESTS IN OUR RESEARCH
CAPACITY.
GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S REALLY BEEN
FANTASTIC IN THAT AREA.
AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A $300
(06:58):
MILLION INVESTMENT IN QUANTUM
RESEARCH AT STONEYBROOK.
WE JUST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE
LAUNCH OF A SUNY BRAIN INSTITUTE
WHERE RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE
SUNY SYSTEM WILL WORK TOGETHER
ON TREATMENTS FOR THINGS LIKE
ALZHEIMER'S, TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURIES.
WE ALSO HAVE JUST RECENTLY
ANNOUNCE $50 MILLION INVESTMENT
(07:19):
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY IN
THEIR RNA INSTITUTE TO WORK ON
BETTER TREATMENT FOR DISEASES
LIKE MUSCULAR DISTROPHY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE
TOGETHER WITH GOVERNOR HOCHUL
AND THE LEGISLATURE, NEW YORK
REMAINS A NATIONAL LEADER IN
RESEARCH.
>> AND IN THE SUMMER, YOU
TRAVELED TO CAPITOL HILL TO
(07:40):
ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
SUNY.
SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
THAT TRIP, AND DO YOU THINK THAT
YOUR EFFORTS WERE WELL RECEIVED?
>> YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS
CONGRESS SO FAR HAS BEEN PUSHING
BACK ON THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA.
WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET YET.
BUT THE HOPE IS WHEN CONGRESS
GETS BACK TO WORK ON THE NEXT
(08:02):
FULL APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS,
THAT WE WILL SEE CONGRESS STEP
UP TO INVEST IN NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, NATIONAL
SCIENCE FOUNDATION, THAT WE'LL
SEE CONGRESS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
LEADERSHIP IN ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE AND QUANTUM
TECHNOLOGY IS CRITICAL TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
(08:23):
THAT ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS
OF POLITICAL PARTY, WANT TO SEE
US FIND BETTER TREATMENTS AND
CURES FOR THINGS LIKE
ALZHEIMER'S AND CANCER.
SO I'M OPTIMISTIC.
THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE VERY
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SUNY.
THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING SURE
THAT THEY VOTE ON BUDGET BILLS
(08:45):
IN A WAY THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR
COMMITMENTS TO SUNY.
>> AND IT'S ALSO APPLICATION
TIME FOR COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES.
SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
THE PROJECTIONS FOR ENROLLMENT
FOR NEXT YEAR?
>> WONDERFUL NEWS ON ENROLLMENT
AT SUNY.
THIS FALL, WE'VE SEEN OUR THIRD
(09:05):
CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF ENROLLMENT
GROW GROWTH ACROSS EVERY SECTOR
OF SUNY.
OUR FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS, OUR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OUR
TECHNOLOGY CAMPUSES SO WE'RE
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S A SIGN THAT NEW YORKERS SEE
THE TREMENDOUS SUNY VALUE
(09:25):
PROPOSITION, AFFORDABLE
EXCELLENCE AS WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT.
52% OF OUR IN-STATE
UNDERGRADUATES GO TO SUNY
TUITION FREE BECAUSE OF FEDERAL
PELL GRANTS AND THE NEW YORK
STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
SO PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES AT SUNY, THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE A PLACE FOR
(09:46):
EVERYBODY.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, WE'VE GOT
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND
FORESTRY COLLEGE IN SYRACUSE.
IF YOU WANT A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, A PUBLIC
HONORS COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, WE'VE
GOT SUNYGENESEO.
IF YOU WANT A LARGE RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY, WE'VE GOT 30,000
STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY AT
BUFFALO.
(10:07):
IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO THE
MARITIME INDUSTRY, WE'VE GOT
SUNY MARITIME IN THE BRONX.
WHATEVER YOU'RE INTERESTED IN,
WE'VE GOT IT AT SUNY.
PEOPLE ARE SEEING THAT AND
THAT'S WHY WE ARE SEEING THE
CONTINUED ENROLLMENT INCREASES.
>> WITH ENROLLMENT TRENDING UP,
WHAT DO THE CURRENT RETENTION
AND GRADUATION RATES LOOK LIKE?
HOW IS SUNY SUPPORTING STUDENTS
MAKING IT ACROSS THE FINISH
(10:28):
LINE?
>> YEAH. SO YOU KNOW, I'D SAY
OUR COMPLETION RATES AND OUR
RETENTION RATES ARE ABOUT
AVERAGE IN THE COUNTRY AND FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE AND FROM THE SUNY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES PERSPECTIVE,
WE WANT TO DO BETTER.
WE WANT TO SEE THOSE IMPROVE.
WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THANKS TO
GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE
LEGISLATURE TO SEE A MAJOR
(10:48):
INVESTMENT IN A PROGRAM CALLED
ASAP, OR ACE, THAT PROGRAM, THE
TWO-YEAR CAMPUSES ARE DOING
ASAP.
FOUR-YEAR CAMPUSES ARE DOING
ACE.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE WRAP-AROUND
SUPPORTS, INTENSIVE ADVISING
THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HELP
STUDENTS GRADUATE AT HIGHER
LEVELS.
(11:08):
WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW THOSE
PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE NOW SERVING
7,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE SUNY
CAMPUSES AND WE EXPECT TO GROW
TO 10,000 NEXT FALL.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN ACADEMIC
MOMENTUM CAMPAIGN WHERE EVERY
CAMPUS IS WORKING TOGETHER WITH
FACULTY TO PLAN STRATEGIES FOR
IMPROVING ADVISING,
STRENGTHENING GATEWAY COURSES,
(11:30):
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH THE
CURRENT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE
TO HELP MORE STUDENTS GET ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE.
NO STUDENT STARTS COLE WITH THE
PLAN TO DROP OUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HELP OUR STUDENTS ALL BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> AND IT WAS REPORTED BY WRBO
THAT SUNY IS POTENTIALLY WORRIED
ABOUT THE LOSS OF INTERNATIONAL
(11:51):
STUDENTS, DUE TO THE CURRENT
FEDERAL POLICIES.
SO HOW IS SUNY SUPPORTING THESE
STUDENTS DURING THIS TIME?
>> YEAH. WE ARE VERY WORRIED
ABOUT THIS.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WALKING AWAY FROM
A REAL STRENGTH OF AMERICAN
HIGHER EDUCATION.
YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE CEOS
OF SOME OF THE TOP COMPANIES IN
SILICON VALLEY, YOU SEE A LOT OF
(12:12):
FOLKS WHO CAME AS INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE A
VITAL PART OF AMERICAN HIGHER
EDUCATION.
WE'RE BETTER WHEN WE'RE
ATTRACTING THE BEST TALENT
AROUND THE WORLD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS PUT A LOT OF
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.
WE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER HIGHER
(12:33):
ED INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE
COUNTRY, SAW A DROP THIS FALL IN
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
ENROLLMENT.
BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH STUDENT AND WITH OUR
CAMPUSES TO MAKE SURE THAT
STUDENTS HAVE GOOD GUIDANCE,
NAVIGATING THE IMMIGRATION
PROCESSES.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
(12:53):
UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE WORLD TO
DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT
STUDENTS CAN START THERE AND
TRANSFER HERE OR HAVE STUDY
ABROAD EXPERIENCES FROM SUNY AT
THOSE INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE
WORLD.
SO WE'RE COMMITTED THAT SUNY IS
A GLOBAL CITIZEN EVEN IF THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING
TO TAKE US BACKWARDS.
(13:13):
>> AND GOING INTO THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT LEVEL
OF FUNDING WILL YOU BE PUSHING
FOR FROM THE GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATURE IN THE STATE BUDGET
TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING?
>> WELL, WE'RE EXTRAORDINARILY
GRATEFUL AND WE SAY TO GOVERNOR
HOCHUL FOR HER DEEP PASSION FOR
SUNY AND TOGETHER WITH THE
LEGISLATURE, SHE HAS WORK TO
(13:34):
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN SUNY,
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AS WE GO INTO THIS NEXT BUDGET
SESSION, TWO THINGS THAT WILL BE
TOP OF MIND.
ONE, MAKING SURE WE GET HELP
FROM THE STATE TO COVER THE
WELL-DESERVE RAISES THAT ARE
BARGAINED WITH OUR FACULTY AND
STAFF, AND THAT MEANS WE'RE
(13:54):
GOING TO NEED $100 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO
ADDRESS THOSE COLLECTIVELY
BARGAINED RAISES.
WE'VE BEEN GETTING THAT FROM THE
STATE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT'S BEEN HUGELY HELPFUL TO OUR
CAMPUSES.
WE WILL MAKE THE CASE FOR THAT
WE ALSO HAVE BIG CAPITAL NEEDS
ACROSS THE SUNY SYSTEM.
WE'VE GOT A MORE THAN $10
(14:15):
BILLION CRITICAL MAINTENANCE
BACKLOG.
WE'VE GOT LOTS OF WORK WE NEED
TO DO TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE BEST
FACILITIES.
WE ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN THOSE RESEARCH LABS
THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR THE
STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO
WE'RE GOING TO BE ADVOCATING
VERY STRONGLY FOR ADDITIONAL
CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
(14:35):
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY,
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY, CHANCELLOR.
>> THANKS.
ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> IT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO
YOU THAT NEW YORK WAS ONE OF
FIRST STATES TO DECLARE
THANKSGIVING A HOLIDAY BACK IN
(14:56):
THE 1800S.
THE STATE IS RICH IN HISTORY
WITH MONUMENTAL FACTS ABOUT THE
HOLIDAY, FROM PROCLAMATIONS TO
YEARLY TRADITIONS AND
CELEBRATIONS.
FOR MORE ON THAT, OUR ELISE
KLINE ATTENDED A THANKSGIVING
EVENT AT THE STATE MUSEUM WHERE
SHE SPOKE WITH HISTORIANS AND
VISITORS.
HERE'S THAT STORY.
(15:17):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANKSGIVING IS A HOLIDAY
CELEBRATED TODAY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THROUGH A VARIETY OF
TRADITIONS FROM FEAST OF ROASTED
TURKEY, STUFFING, MASHED
POTATOES AND CRANBERRY SAUCE TO
WATCHING FOOTBALL AND FIGHTING
WITH RELATIVES.
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING THAT IS
MOST POPULARLY KNOWN DATES BACK
TO 1621 BUT NOT EVERYTHING
DESCRIBED AND PICTURED FROM THAT
FIRST HARVEST IS ACCURATE.
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING THAT IS
MOST POPULARLY KNOWN DATES BACK
TO 1621, BUT NOT EVERYTHING
DESCRIBED AND PICTURED FROM THAT
FIRST HARVEST IS ACCURATE.
(15:39):
AT A FIRST-TIME EVENT HOSTED AT
THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM,
RETHINKING THANKSGIVING, PERRY
GROUND, A TRADITIONAL
STORYTELLER AND CULTURAL
EDUCATOR, TALKS TO MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE
MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND THE
HOLIDAY.
>> I GIVE THIS ALL AROUND NEW
YORK STATE AND AT NATIONAL
CONFERENCES SOMETIMES, AND
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS AMAZED AT WHAT
THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS EVENT
(16:00):
AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT,
WHICH IS FACTUALLY INCORRECT AND
MANY PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THE
TRUTH.
>> THE STORY MOST AMERICANS KNOW
OF WHAT IS REGARDED AS THE FIRST
THANKSGIVING IS A HARVEST FEAST
BETWEEN THE PILL FILMS AND THE
NATIVE AMERICANS IN 1621 IN
PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.
GROUND SAYS THERE ARE MANY
THINGS WRONG WITH THIS STORY AND
THE PICTURES PAINTED DEPICTING
THIS STORY.
(16:21):
FIRST, THE HARVEST IN 1621
WASN'T THE FIRST THANKSGIVING
AND THE SETTLERS DIDN'T CALL
THEMSELVES PILGRIMS, RECORDS
SHOW OTHER THANKSGIVING HARVEST
EVENTS DATING BACK TO 1565 IN
SPANISH FLORIDA.
THE ENGLISH SETTLERS CALLED
THEMSELVES SAINTS AND WE KNOW
THEM TODAY AS PILGRIMS BECAUSE
OF THE PILGRIM PRESS NEWSLETTER.
SECOND, THE 16 IT 1 HARVEST
WASN'T HELD AS A RELIGIOUS
OBSERVANCE, AND THE FOOD ON THE
(16:41):
HARVEST TABLE WASN'T THE TURKEY,
POTATOES AND CRANBERRIES THAT WE
ALL KNOW AND LOVE TODAY.
IT WAS A LOT OF SEAFOOD AND
CORN.
GROUND SAYS THESE ARE THE MOST
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS.
>> IT WASN'T THE FIRST.
THERE WAS ONE ALMOST 80 YEARS
BEFORE THAT HELD BY SPANISH
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE ALSO THINK THAT THIS
HOLIDAY IS BASED ON A NATIVE
AMERICAN RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.
(17:02):
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
IT WAS A HARVEST FEAST.
IT WAS A BIG PARTY IS WHAT THEY
WERE HAVING TO CELEBRATE THE
FACT THAT THEY HAD FOOD TO GET
THROUGH THE WINTER.
>> GROUNDS ALSO SAYS FOR MANY
NATIVE AMERICANS, THANKSGIVING
ISN'T SOMETHING THEY CELEBRATE
FONDLY BECAUSE SOON AFTER THE
162 HARVEST, THE PEQUOT PEOPLE
WERE MASSACRED IN A NEW ENGLAND
WAR.
>> THE IDEA BEHIND THANKSGIVING
IS SOMETIMES PAINFUL TO NATIVE
(17:23):
AMERICANS BECAUSE THEY EQUATE
THAT NEGATIVE HISTORY THAT
HAPPENED IN NEW ENGLAND IN AND
THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA TO
NATIVE PEOPLE WITH THE IDEA OF
THE COMING EUROPEAN SETTLERS,
OFTEN PORTRAYED AS THE PILGRIMS
WHO CAME IN 1620.
GROUNDS SAYS HE PERSONALLY TRIES
TO SEPARATE THE EVENTS.
>> I TRY TO SEPARATE THOSE TWO
AND ISOLATE THE EVENT, WHICH WAS
(17:45):
A POSITIVE THING, BUT ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT PAINFUL HISTORY
THAT EXISTS IN NATIVE AMERICA
BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED LATER.
>> OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED
LATER, AFTER THE 1621 HARVEST,
PROGRESSED THE HOLIDAY TO WHAT
WE THINK OF TODAY.
AND SOME PARTS OF THAT HISTORY
TOOK PLACE IN NEW YORK.
IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1789, THE
NATION'S CAPITAL AT THAT TIME,
(18:06):
GEORGE WASHINGTON ISSUED FIRST
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION DEDICATING
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, TO BE A
DAY OF THANKS.
GOVERNOR DEWITT CLINTON ALSO
PROCLAIMED THANKSGIVING AS AN
ANNUAL HOLIDAY AROUND THE SAME
TIME PERIOD, MAKING NEW YORK ONE
OF THE FIRST STATES TO DO SO.
KENNETH DAVIS, A THANKSGIVING
HISTORIAN, SAYS THESE
PROCLAMATIONS WERE ALSO PART OF
A LARGER GROUP OF PROCLAMATIONS
MANY SET FOR THURSDAYS IN
(18:26):
NOVEMBER.
>> FOR SOME REASON, THURSDAYS IN
NOVEMBER BECAME ESTABLISHED
PRETTY EARLY ON.
BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU READ OF
THEIR ACTUAL PROCLAMATIONS,
THEY'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A
DAY TO BE HUMBLE, PRAYERFUL,
GRATEFUL TO WHATEVER WORD THEY
USED FOR GOD.
(18:47):
>> THESE ARE PIECES OF
THANKSGIVING HISTORY MANY NEW
YORKERS ARE NOT AWARE OF TODAY.
ANTHONY CEKIC, A VISITOR AT THE
RE-THINKING THANKSGIVING EVENT,
SAYS HE LEARNED FOR THE FIRST
TIME ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S
PROCLAMATION.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW THE ORIGIN OF
THE HOLIDAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WASHINGTON
WAS THE ONE WHO FIRST FORMED IT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN
(19:09):
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS
TAUGHT.
>> ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION WAS
DECLARED IN 1863, DURING THE
CIVIL WAR AND IS LARGELY THOUGHT
TO BE THE START OF THANKSGIVING
BECOMING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
DAVIS SAYS WASHINGTON'S
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION WAS
DONE AT THE REQUEST OF CONGRESS
AND AT THE TIME MEANT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
>> IT WAS TRULY A DAY OF
THANKSGIVING, WHICH MEANT A DAY
(19:30):
OF SOLEMN DAY OF PRAYER AND
HUMBLE REFLECTION, NOT AN EXCUSE
FOR A THREE-HOUR DINNER.
>> DAVIS ADDS IN 1864,
THANKSGIVING STARTED TO BECOME
THE HOLIDAY THAT MANY AMERICANS
KNOW TODAY, AND IT HAD ANOTHER
CONNECTION TO NEW YORK.
>> WHILE THE CIVIL WAR IS STILL
RAGING, A GROUP OF NEW YORKERS
SENT THREE OR FOUR SHIPLOADS OF
(19:52):
THANKSGIVING DINNERS TO THE
UNION ARMY THAT WAS THEN CAMP
OUT IN VIRGINIA, ATTACKING THE
CAPITAL OF RICHMOND.
>> DAVIS SAYS THE SOLDIERS WERE
VERY GRATEFUL AND THIS WAS THE
FIRST RECORDED MEAL SENT TO
AMERICAN FIGHTING FORCES.
ACCORDING TO THE 1864 REPORT
FROM THE UNION LEAGUE OF NEW
YORK, THEY RAISED $51,000 TO
(20:12):
SEND THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF
POULTRY AND CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS
OF APPLES, TURNIPS, POTATOES,
CAKES, AND CASH TO A VARIETY OF
FORTS THAT YEAR.
THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS FIRST-HAND
ACCOUNTS OF SOLDIERS' GRATITUDE
WHEN THEY RECEIVED THEIR HOLIDAY
MEALS.
>> THE FINAL THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION CAME FROM PRESIDENT
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT IN 1933.
IT THEN BECAME THE FEDERAL
HOLIDAY THAT IT REMAINS AS TODAY
(20:32):
IN 1941 AFTER CONGRESS PASSED A
BILL AND ROOSEVELT SIGNED IT.
THE HOLIDAY ALSO BECAME LARGELY
THE TRADITION IT'S CELEBRATED AS
TODAY BECAUSE OF SARAH HALE,
ALSO CALLED THE MOTHER OF
THANKSGIVING.
>> SHE WAS THE EDITOR OF A
MAGAZINE CALLED, "LADY GODEY'S
BOOK."
IT WAS THE, I SUPPOSE, YOU COULD
SAY, IT WAS THE "GOOD
HOUSEKEEPING" OR MAYBE THE
(20:53):
MARTHA STEWART OF ITS DAY.
AND SHE HAD BEEN LOBBYING FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO MAKE THANKSGIVING
AN OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
>> GROUND TALKED ABOUT HALE AND
THANKSGIVING PRODUCT CLAMMING AS
DURING HIS RETHINKING
THANKSGIVING EVENT.
HE EMPHASIZED EDUCATION AROUND
THIS TOPIC ISN'T INTENDED TO
TAKE AWAY FROM THE AMERICAN
TRADITIONS THAT HAVE GROWN OVER
(21:14):
THE YEARS.
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY
PEOPLE'S THANKSGIVING
TRADITIONS.
EACH TURKEY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU
LIKE TO DO, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE
TO DO, OR WATCH FOOTBALL OR GO
SHOPPING, OR THE OTHER
TRADITIONS THAT AMERICANS HAVE
CREATED SURROUNDING THIS
HOLIDAY, BUT WHAT I WANT PEOPLE
TO UNDERSTAND IS SOME OF THE
ACTUAL HISTORY, PARTICULARLY AS
IT RELAYS TO NATIVE AMERICANS.
(21:35):
>> GROUND SAYS THIS EVENT IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A TIME
WHEN PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT
NATIVE AMERICANS, MAKING IT THE
PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE
THEM ON ACCURATE HISTORY.
>> WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THEM IN
THE SAME WAY IN THE SPRING AND
SUMMER, BUT HERE, BECAUSE OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY IN
OCTOBER AND BECAUSE OF
THANKSGIVING IN NOVEMBER, NATIVE
AMERICANS ARE ON OUR MINDS.
SO IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR US TO
(21:55):
RECONSIDER HOW WE THINK ABOUT
NATIVE AMERICANS.
IT'S A GOOD TIME TO RETHINK
THANKSGIVING.
>> JENNIFER SAUNDERS, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE STATE MUSEUM,
SAYS THE MUSEUM FELT IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO PUT THIS EVENT
TOGETHER TO HELP CELEBRATE
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
SAUNDERS STRESSES NATIVE
AMERICAN HISTORY IS AMERICAN
HISTORY.
>> SO MAKING SURE THAT, AGAIN,
WE'RE BRINGING IN VOICES AND
PERSPECTIVES FROM ALL OF THE
(22:17):
FOLKS WHO MAKE UP AMERICAN
HISTORY AND NEW YORK STATE
HISTORY AND PERRY IS ONE OF
THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT VOICES.
>> PERRY SAYS THE IMPACT ON
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IS
SIGNIFICANT.
>> THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT
EACH OTHER, THE BETTER WE CAN
HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, THE BETTER
WE CAN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER,
AND WE CAN SHARE THINGS LIKE
(22:39):
THANKSGIVING IN A POSITIVE WAY.
>> AND FOR SOME MEMBERS OF
PUBLIC, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED FOR THEM.
AVERY FORTIN, A LOCAL CAPITAL
REGION RESIDENT, HAD LOTS OF
EVENT OPTION TO CHOOSE FROM ON
THE NOVEMBER SATURDAY THAT THE
RETHINKING EVENT TOOK PLACE, BUT
THEY CHOSE THIS ONE.
>> THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT
EVENTS THAT WERE SCHEDULED FOR
THE SAME TIME AND I PICKED THIS
ONE BECAUSE I WANT TO PAY MORE
(22:59):
OHMAGE TO THE TRADITIONS BEFORE
THE COLONIZERS, IF YOU WILL.
>> FORTIN SAYS THEY LEARNED A
LOT AT THE EVENT, TAKING AWAY
NEW KNOWLEDGE OF SOME OF THE
ORIGINAL HARVEST TABLE ITEMS AND
A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THE
PEQUOT WAR AND KING PHILLIPS'
WAR, WHERE THE SETTLERS AND THE
NATIVE AMERICANS GOT ALONG.
>> PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE
TRADITIONS AND TO THAT PERIOD OF
(23:19):
PEACE, AND NOT TO BE SILLY, BUT
I'M GOING TO INCLUDE A LOT MORE
CORN IN MY THANKSGIVING DINNER
BECAUSE IT WAS AN ORGANIC CROP
AND I KIND OF REALLY LIKE CORN.
>> CEKIC ALSO SAYS HE DIDN'T
KNOW THERE WAS A PERIOD OF PEACE
BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AND THE
NATIVE AMERICANS.
>> COEXISTENCE, LIKE I DIDN'T
KNOW THAT THEY GOT ALONG FOR 50
YEARS, AGAIN, I ALWAYS THOUGHT
(23:40):
THAT THE FIGHTING IMMEDIATELY
HAPPENED.
SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD
SAY THE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE WAS
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT
I LEARNED.
>> SARA RADCLIFFE, WHO ALSO
ATTENDED THE RETHINKING
THANKSGIVING EVENT, ALSO SAYS
SHE LEARNED A LOT OF NEW THINGS
SHE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE.
>> I KNOW THAT MANY OF THE
STORIES AROUND THANKSGIVING ARE
REALLY NOT TRUE, BUT PERRY
(24:02):
DESCRIBED SO MANY OTHER THINGS
THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE FACT THAT
THE HOLIDAY IS ONLY 84 YEARS
OLD.
YEAH, THAT I HAD NO IDEA.
>> GROUND SAID BEFORE THE EVENT
THAT HE WANTED PEOPLE TO WALK
AWAY HAVING LEARNED MORE AND
WITH THE EXCITEMENT TO CONTINUE
TO LEARN MORE AND THAT SEEMS TO
BE HOW THE PUBLIC REACTED
>> WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AFFECTED
BY THIS HOLIDAY AS NEW YORKERS,
(24:24):
AND IF WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER
BETTER AND WE CAN CONTINUE WITH
THE IDEA OF SHARING AND
CELEBRATING TOGETHER, I THINK IT
WILL BE A GOOD WAY THAT NEW
YORKERS CAN LEAD US INTO THE
FUTURE.
>> GROUND SAYS HE'S VERY BUSY
AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR, GIVING
THESE TALKS AROUND THE STATE,
BUT WHEN HE SLOWS DOWN FOR
THANKSGIVING THURSDAY, HE THINKS
ABOUT PEACE AND COEXISTENCE.
(24:46):
>> I THINK OF THE EVENT BACK IN
1621.
I THINK ABOUT TWO VERY DIFFERENT
GROUPS OF PEOPLE GETTING
TOGETHER TO SHARE, TO LIVE IN
PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BECAUSE FOR
MANY YEARS, THEY DID LIVE
PEACEFULLY WITH EACH OTHER, AND
SO IF WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT,
IF WE CAN REMEMBER THE WAY THAT
PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES,
(25:07):
FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
WORLD WERE ABLE TO PEACEFULLY
COEXIST, THEN I THINK WE CAN
HAVE A HAPPIER THANKSGIVING.
>> THANKSGIVING FOR MANY NEW
YORKERS MEANS FAMILY,
THANKFULNESS, TOGETHERNESS, AND
OF COURSE FOOD.
MANY NEW YORKERS ALSO PLAYED A
KEY ROLE IN HELPING THE HOLIDAY
DEVELOP.
NOT ONLY DID THE STATE HELP THE
HOLIDAY GROW THROUGH
PROCLAMATIONS AND MEAL DONATIONS
(25:27):
TO SOLDIERS, BUT IN THE 1950S,
TWO CORNELL UNIVERSITY
PROFESSORS CREATED THE EMPIRE
WHITE TURKEY, A BREED SAID TO
HAVE CHANGED THANKSGIVING
DINNERS FOREVER AND BECOME THE
TOP CHOICE FOR TURKEYS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY IN THE YEARS SINCE.
ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."
>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON
NEW YORK'S RICH THANKSGIVING
HISTORY, YOU CAN VISIT OUR
(25:48):
WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
NEWSLETTER BY GOING TO
NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG, OR BY
SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.
(26:10):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:42):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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