Spring Break
Paterson To CUNY
Do More With Less...Again
Gayil Talerman
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: News
Earlier last month, Governor David Paterson announced plans to further cut funding to CUNY. This is in addition to the $44 million deduction implemented last semester.
"I think it's pretty ridiculous and unfair," said Emanuel Bennet, Chief of Campus Affairs for student Government, in regards to the prospective increase. He said "Most people who decide to go to CUNY… is not necessarily because of choice, but because they lack the resources to go to an expensive, prestigious university."
The proposed legislation includes a $ 53 million cut to CUNY, as well as a 120 dollar reduction in TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) assistance per person.
Figures given by the Professional Staff Congress, the union that represents more than 20,000 faculty and staff at the City University of New York, show that 36 percent of the proposed cuts are directed at higher education facilities. SUNY will experience a 90 million dollar reduction in funds and the Higher Education Services Cooperation will suffer a decrease of 35 million dollars.
"It's easy to say that students should pay as opposed to taking it from other areas," said Student Government president, Jamari Robinson. "I'm sure there are other reasonable places they could cut from."
Brooklyn College's chapter of NYPIRG has been actively protesting these potential budget cuts and TAP reductions. For the past few months, its members have been calling elected officials and encouraging Brooklyn College students to call as well.
Kathleen Jordan, member of the board of directors for NYPIRG, said that these calls are making a difference. She said that Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, "was actually hanging up on students who called in." Jordan explained that ironically, "[It] is great, because if they are [government officials] annoyed with us, then that means they are getting the message."
In fact, Jordan and Hassan said both Silver and Carl Kruger, Brooklyn Senator and leader of the Senate Finance Committee, have declared their opposition to TAP reductions.
"I think it's pretty ridiculous and unfair," said Emanuel Bennet, Chief of Campus Affairs for student Government, in regards to the prospective increase. He said "Most people who decide to go to CUNY… is not necessarily because of choice, but because they lack the resources to go to an expensive, prestigious university."
The proposed legislation includes a $ 53 million cut to CUNY, as well as a 120 dollar reduction in TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) assistance per person.
Figures given by the Professional Staff Congress, the union that represents more than 20,000 faculty and staff at the City University of New York, show that 36 percent of the proposed cuts are directed at higher education facilities. SUNY will experience a 90 million dollar reduction in funds and the Higher Education Services Cooperation will suffer a decrease of 35 million dollars.
"It's easy to say that students should pay as opposed to taking it from other areas," said Student Government president, Jamari Robinson. "I'm sure there are other reasonable places they could cut from."
Brooklyn College's chapter of NYPIRG has been actively protesting these potential budget cuts and TAP reductions. For the past few months, its members have been calling elected officials and encouraging Brooklyn College students to call as well.
Kathleen Jordan, member of the board of directors for NYPIRG, said that these calls are making a difference. She said that Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, "was actually hanging up on students who called in." Jordan explained that ironically, "[It] is great, because if they are [government officials] annoyed with us, then that means they are getting the message."
In fact, Jordan and Hassan said both Silver and Carl Kruger, Brooklyn Senator and leader of the Senate Finance Committee, have declared their opposition to TAP reductions.
Be the first to comment on this story