NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 6, 2004

OVER 400 STUDENT GROUPS IN OPPOSITION TO GOVERNOR’S
2004-2005 HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET PROPOSAL

URGE SUPPORT OF COLLEGES AS SUMMER BREAK BEGINS AND FINAL BUDGET STILL UNDECIDED

Over 400 student groups, today, sent a letter to legislative leaders with a resolution in opposition to Governor George Pataki’s 2004-2005 higher education budget proposal. Student governments, cultural groups, and Greek organizations from some of New York’s top institutions were among the signers of the resolution.

Links to: • The Resolution • Cover letter to elected officials

The student groups sent the resolution as a last minute plea to legislative leaders as their summer breaks begin and the final state budget—and along with it the fate of New York colleges and students—remains undecided.

In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Higher Education Chair Kenneth LaValle, Assembly Higher Education Chair Ron Canestrari, Senate Minority Leader David Paterson, and Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt, the student groups said, “there is resounding dismay for the Governor’s recommendations to restructure and cut the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and reduce funding for opportunity programs and the state’s community colleges. We understand that New York faces challenging budgetary decisions, but the state’s budget should not be balanced on the backs of college students and their familiesäOur public colleges provide needed economic development to New York and should be invested in.”

In his Executive Budget for 2004-2005, the Governor proposed to restructure the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) by withholding one-third of current financial aid awards until after students graduate. Governor Pataki’s budget also includes cuts to opportunity programs (EOP, HEOP, and SEEK), community college funding, and Bundy Aid. These cuts were proposed in a year following massive tuition increases at the State and City Universities of New York.

For more information contact Miriam Kramer