Editor's note: Editorials detail the views of the authors and do not represent the position of the paper. Publication of an editorial does not imply endorsement of its content.
It was a rewarding visit to Albany with the Queens College New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) chapter on February 28th, Higher Education Action Day.
On this day, we advocated on behalf of thousands of students. Members of Congress and members of the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), CUNY Rising, and NYPIRG chapters gave motivational speeches to the students.
Kahlil Anderson, New York State House of Representatives (NYS) 31st District Representative, shares her experience nine years ago as an undergraduate at Queen's College, and her own experience fighting for exactly the same thing. , described the ongoing struggle for a free and fully funded City University and State University of New York. Cause. Anderson said CUNY's students, faculty, and staff were at a loss when budget cuts were made.
Chairman Frederic Kowal, president of the United University Professions (the country's largest higher education union), gave an uplifting speech, and the students in the audience cheered wildly.
Kowal called out government officials, including New York Gov. Cathy Hochul, and argued that her proposed plan to close SUNY Downstate Hospital shows hypocrisy. She claims that Hochul values minority health care because the SUNY Downstate Hospital she wants to close serves minority women. says.
Other speakers expressed similar concerns about CUNY and SUNY's lack of funding, saying that the student body should study in the library now instead of going to Albany to advocate for CUNY's New Deal. Ta. The speakers also encouraged us, the students, to support the State University of New York Student Senate's proposal for a free MetroCard to financially support students at the State University of New York's 25 campuses. It reminded me of that.
I had a chance to speak with Blair Horner, NYPIRG's executive director, and asked her if she believed CUNY would be tuition-free, as it was until 1976.
“Public universities should be tuition-free, but it's not a short-term strategy. Certainly, CUNY will never be free unless people demand it, and students who support it will cover tuition.” “It will enhance the potential of the TAP program,” Horner said.
Then I went to a meeting with officials Sam Berger and Nili Rozic, neither of whom were listed as New Deal sponsors at the City University of New York. The main platforms to advocate for are racial equity and economic equity, increased state investment in the New York State University New Deal, stabilization and increase in funding for NYU campuses and community colleges, and increased funding for NYU campuses and community colleges. These included blocking the governor's plan to close New York state hospitals and reforming the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). aid, restoring student assistance programs and investing in infrastructure.
Group 20 and I met with Mr. Berger's representative, Rachel, and when we asked him about his position on the numerous policy proposals included in the bill, Mr. Berger continued to insist that they were in the study phase. As I focused on the large TV in his room, it became clear that Berger might have been stuck in his research for so long because of the video game controller sitting next to the TV. Ta.
We went to Rep. Rozic's office and met with her legislative aide, Lisa. Lisa said Rozic's lack of sponsorship of the bill does not indicate that she does not support it. Lisa said Rozic is cautious because the bill could change completely after several amendments and end up being a completely different bill when it reaches the floor. this is true.
I started sharing my personal struggles as a QC student after a student in my group told me that she once had to choose between eating lunch and paying tuition. I found myself in a precarious situation during my first year of college, a few months after my mother passed away, due to the high rate of inflation in food options at QC and the inadequate counseling services provided. We talked about what happened.
Tasha Jeffers, a second-year political science student at QC University, expressed frustration with the cuts to Search for Education, Advanced Knowledge, and Knowledge (SEEK), which is designed to reach high school graduates who are deserving of eligible equity. ).
“As a SEEK student and NYPIRG member, I have had to take advantage of the opportunity to represent students on campus. Tutoring, Metrocards, and SEEK teacher budgets have all been cut. “I am saddened that the SEEK department was so cutthroat over the summer that we were unable to enroll 500 low-income minority students in need,” Jeffers said.
Speak out in support of a fully funded City University of New York on Higher Education Action Day and draw attention to the many inequities happening at our universities, including the firing of 26 professors just before the spring 2024 semester. What we were able to do was empowering for us as students.