Thegovernor'sproposalanditseffectoncuny the Reaction

Vol. 70, Number 9 Information Now January 29, 1997 ,Pataki pillages CUNY: Calls for $400 Tuition Hike Large Cuts to FinacialAid and Budget Proposed; Baruch Stands to Lose $4 Million TheGovernor'sProposalandItsEffectonCUNY The Reaction By Deirdre A. Hussey By Dusan Stojkovic ~ For the third year in a row State $109 million. States and will continue to be a Governor George E. Pataki has Also proposed is a change in bargain. Even with the Governor George E. Pataki's proposed a decrease in the bud- the procedure ofcomputinghouse- Governor's suggestions, New latest proposal to slash the State «get to the City University ofNew York has the most gerier- Budget for Higher Education has York (CUNY), makingspringtime ous Tuition Assistance pro- disconcerted and outraged CUNY b~dget battles a yearly ritual. gram in the country." students. At least the ones who This year, Pataki has proposed Every year the Gover- have heard of it. his most ambitious plan to date, nor proposes a budget to "That's the worst thing they suggests a $400 tuition hike, a the statelegislature, which could do," states Isra Prince $56.9 millio in the operating the legislature debates and Sammy, emphasizing that educa budget for highe cation and eventually ratifies a bud- tion must be a top priority of gov $176 million reduction in state get based on his sugges ernment, "not just for the sake of finical aid. tions and their own modifi- handing people diplomas, but As Governor Pataki enters cation proposals. Ifthe leg- rather preparing them to function 1 . third year of a promised " Islataire passes a budget as productive members within so reductio ate taxes and fac- that severely deereases ciety." ing a 1998 re-e bid, the funding to CUNY, it is the Pei-Cen Lin, a surprised Ac proposal for CUNY has x final decision of the Board countaney major, says, "Nobody pected . to the lack of voting of Trustees to pass a reso- told me aboutthiscurrentround of power tu nts have shown in lutionto raise t u ition, budget cuts. It's going to be devas the pa t. ataki's hard-hitting Since Pataki became Gov- tating."Sheaddspensively, "I guess :propas ~ ~':ciJNY_ -.~. ];eJiam-'~~·~.....- ,.r' .... .. ,.~"V1:!rY·-s'tate· .we--n neve-r1ilrish'omrschooting:"" - .. se~ -~ ~firiaricial mer in the sta legisla- :;{ propoSifh;s suggested . ,_. "t=thlnkthe cuts in ture, wher t e egislators verecuts to-the CUNYbud- aid are going to hurt people most," beat back Pataki s proposed cuts get. In 1995, the state Ieg- says Nadine Dominique, a Com islature cut $100.1 million puter Information Systems major, .•to the operating budget. In his prop d budget, from the CUNY budget, pointing out that a number ofher forcing the Board of Trustees to friends were forced to choose be Pat es tha $5 9 million Governor George E. Patki grins at raise tuition by $750 a year. Ac· tween school and work after losing reduction w I be par- students' fate cording Reynolds's office, CUNY monetary assistance in the past tially absorbed b crease In has lost over 119,000 students two years. "Once again, people are ~ revenues from th 400 tuition holdincome, which determines aid .•..'.:: since 1995 as a result. just going to have to make that ~~:.....leaving CUNY only a $33 eligibility. Currently a student's choice and many of them will opt millio atirigbudget reduc award is based en net income-in for work," the graduating senior tion. The oper· d et funds come after deductions. Pataki has suggested that it be based on Fed Baruch Slated adds. all individual college s es, continued on page 3 such as hiring professors; sup eral Aggregated Gross Income, a For $4 Million Cui port staff, inc In counselors figure that represents one's in come before taxable deductions. and financial a offic s; library According to the Governor's hours and othe servic . In doing so the state will lower the number of students eligible and proposal, Baruch is slated for $4 million in cuts, a figure that ex save $15.5 million. Large Any increase in tuition will cludes the loss of revenue due to Contents not be reflected in the' 1997-98 students dropping out owing to a e tal part of TAP award, but will be based on lack of financial aid and a tu· ~95, t roposal are the rious ways the 1996-97 tuitionrate. State aid ition increase. In 1 Baruch lost 18 positions due to budget Pata s sugges d to reduce will no longer take into consider Editorial................ 8 cuts and 17 contracts were not financial a rently, New ation the number of children a renewed. The Department York State's financial aid pro- family has in college and will re or Academic Skills was abolished Letters/Op-Eds....... 9 .-gram, theTuitionAssistance Pro duce the amount of TAP a senior gram (TAP), serves over 72,000 and the restructuring of Baruch receives by $300 rather than by o began, beginning with a new CUNY students. If the state leg the current $200. Business.......••.••.•• 11 islature accepts Pataki's proposal class grid, larger class sizes and over 12,000 students will lose the consolidation of d epart ~ their TAP, according to figures ments. Features................ 15 Pataki: CUNY Is Efforts have begun in the provided by Chancellor W. Ann Baruch community as well as Reynolds's office. Still A Bargain CUNY to organize attention to ~rts......................... ~1 The largest savings will come the plight of CUNY students. from decreasing TAP, by coordi "Every year at this timewe hear "Legislatorsare faced with many nating it with Pell-federal fi this 'the sky is falling' rhetoric big agenda items this year in. ~P()~s.................... ~~ nancialassistance-andcalculat and it never happens," said Albany, like welfare reform, the ing 50% ofa student's Pell award Michael McQuinn,' spokesperson property tax cut, casino gam toward his or her TAP a ward, for Pataki, when asked about the bling, andrentcontrol," said Carl thereby reducing aid individual impact ofthebudget on the state's students will receive. According poorest students. "The fact ofthe Next isssue: Feb.12 to Pataki's statisticsthiscalcula rnatter is that CUNY remains one Continued on page 3 tion .of TAP will save New York .ofthe best bargains in the United Ad Deadline: Feb.·5, o· , ----'--------------------------------..;.- . & 3 • ~ .. (5" . ;1l> " CD .. ~ 2 -- Z CD ~ rn CJ) Reactions toPataki'sThirdAnnualBudget Cut ;: c-• Q) O) z :::s ~ c Q) 0) ~ continued from the front page 0 -< I\) ~ Ban Peress, the Day Session funds earmarked for education are tive Action Committee and New ern concept for us-and the cafete ~. r---• Student Government ChairofAca being misdirected from the S~te York Public Interest Research ria prices are just too high, not to ... C» co 0> demic Affairs, asserts, "I think a lottery and the fact that five dol Group. mention the bookstore." co .,... ~ bunch of politicians up in Albany, lars are returned for every dollar As. for the cuts themselves, According to Prince-Sammy, . 0> C'J .. who all graduated from CUNY or spent on higher education." Georgecomments,"Iamdisgusted "The American standard ofeduca e- co SUNY back when tuition was free, George insists that all protests that the Governor wants to ease tion is not as high as that ofother ::J C decided to put the burden they ran must be peaceful. "Since .most of. the taxburden on NewYork State countries; they're basically mak ....,co uponthe shouldersofstudentsand the legislators who support Pataki residents at the expense of stu ing a business out ofit, but where have them pay for it in triplicate." come from upstate.districts, it is dents. The last time tuition was" I'm from, education is not a busi In addition, Peress pledgesthat he especially importantthat we work raised, people got $20 back on ness, but a right." The native of will attend any student-organized together with students from their tax returns, but our tuition Trinidadgoes onto say, "NewYork lobbying efforts in Albany. State is going to suffer from this, Pearl Chen, DSSG Secretary it's like the State is shooting itself and Baruch's current representa in the foot." -ave in the University StudentSen ate, will work on coordinatingjoint demonstration efforts protesting theproposedcutswithstudentlead The Proposal ers from other CUNY schools. "Our first job is to inform stu dents:' saysDSSG PresidentDavid continued from the front page Kinzelberg, "And we intend to do this by visiting all the auditorium "We have to make legislators classes and talking to students. We ware of what students, not only plan to hang so many flyers that UNY students, are facing this you won't be ableto turn a corner in ear." .. the school without seeing one." He .Plans are being made for a goes on to say, "I personally have etterwritingcampaign informing been talking with student leaders egislators ofthe proposals, aswell day in Albany to meet with legis from the USS and Queens College ators. on organizing a rally so wecan get "This is not an election year 50,000 students out and make nd CUNY students are vulner Pataki change his mind." b'le," says Associate Dean of Stu The Evening Session Student ents, Ron Aaron. "We, students, Government also plans to partake acuIty and administrators have in actions against further budget to work together. Last year was an cuts. KyleGeorge. ESSAPresident, . election year, so legislators were states, "I'mworkingon a letterright SUNY," he says, adding, "1 have increased by $750." receptive to their constituents. now that will be distributed to the already contacted student govern Many CUNY students say . they fail.to.see.why the.y oughz.ro They feel safe this year and we editorial offices of all major news ment Ieaders- from· SUNY· at Al ha~e'to'.~emInd· thai CUNY bany and Stony Brook and we are paymore in tuitiorrforthe measly them papers in New York." In this letter, is a force to be reckoned with.

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