Paterson To CUNY
Do More With Less...Again
Gayil Talerman
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: News
Demonstrations have also been mobilized in objection to these potential budget cuts. On October 15, the CUNY Campaign to Defend Education protested in front of the Department of Education. Other protests were held last week at Hunter College as well.
Although cuts to education are part of a larger package in which reductions are sought to be implemented (social services, health care, and transportation included), education is one of the hardest hit institutions, with a $587 million cut. In a press conference held on Oct. 27 at the state Capitol, Patterson admitted that, "This is a very painful plan." However, these steps, in addition to the one billion dollar budget cut implemented last year, would help clear New York State's 3 billion dollar deficit.
" I think that small increases in tuition are acceptable, as long as it stays affordable," said Dana Nacer, a senior majoring in the fine arts. "No one wants to pay more money for anything, but I guess I'm most supportive of it [the tuition increase] if I see the direct results."
Unfortunately, Brooklyn College has already been negatively affected from last year's budget cut.
Jordan said that the economics department is functioning under extreme conditions. "Every single class is operating at the fire safety limit; they physically can't shove any more students into the class," she said. Jordan attributes this problem to the large number of courses cut this past summer.
Adjunct Classics Professor, Aaron Poochigian, said that although it is only his first semester teaching at Brooklyn College, he has "noticed a considerable strain on resources," including "photocopying" and "printing." He added, "These students are presumably already under enough of a financial strain…it would be keeping with the school's mission statement" if tuition was to remain low.
The new budget cut proposal will be voted on this week by the legislature. If it is passed, the bill will continue on to Governor Patterson, who has the final vote.
"The goal is to get in as many calls as possible (in protest) before the legislature votes to let them know that we're following what's going on and that we're not okay with it," said Hassan. "For all the people who say 'I don't have an effect on the decisions the government makes,' that's not necessarily true."
Although cuts to education are part of a larger package in which reductions are sought to be implemented (social services, health care, and transportation included), education is one of the hardest hit institutions, with a $587 million cut. In a press conference held on Oct. 27 at the state Capitol, Patterson admitted that, "This is a very painful plan." However, these steps, in addition to the one billion dollar budget cut implemented last year, would help clear New York State's 3 billion dollar deficit.
" I think that small increases in tuition are acceptable, as long as it stays affordable," said Dana Nacer, a senior majoring in the fine arts. "No one wants to pay more money for anything, but I guess I'm most supportive of it [the tuition increase] if I see the direct results."
Unfortunately, Brooklyn College has already been negatively affected from last year's budget cut.
Jordan said that the economics department is functioning under extreme conditions. "Every single class is operating at the fire safety limit; they physically can't shove any more students into the class," she said. Jordan attributes this problem to the large number of courses cut this past summer.
Adjunct Classics Professor, Aaron Poochigian, said that although it is only his first semester teaching at Brooklyn College, he has "noticed a considerable strain on resources," including "photocopying" and "printing." He added, "These students are presumably already under enough of a financial strain…it would be keeping with the school's mission statement" if tuition was to remain low.
The new budget cut proposal will be voted on this week by the legislature. If it is passed, the bill will continue on to Governor Patterson, who has the final vote.
"The goal is to get in as many calls as possible (in protest) before the legislature votes to let them know that we're following what's going on and that we're not okay with it," said Hassan. "For all the people who say 'I don't have an effect on the decisions the government makes,' that's not necessarily true."
Be the first to comment on this story