NEWS RELEASE

For release December 2, 2003  

COLLEGE STUDENTS TO GOVERNOR PATAKI: FREEZE TUITION; NO FINANCIAL AID OR FUNDING CUTS

URGE GOVERNOR TO REJECT SUNY'S PLAN TO INCREASE TUITION

Dozens of college students today lobbied the Pataki Administration and the staff of legislative leaders to oppose public college tuition hikes and cuts to higher education and financial aid programs. Representatives from the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) and the State University of New York Student Assembly (SA) traveled to Albany on the same day as the SUNY Board of Trustees was expected to pass a proposal to increase tuition for the second year in a row. They urged the Governor and state leaders to reject this proposal and reinvest in higher education.

"This proposal is a slap in the face to students and their families who are still trying to balance their budgets after last year's whopping increase," said Joel Kelsey, chairperson of NYPIRG's board of directors and a student at SUNY New Paltz. "We're here to urge the Governor to reject SUNY's proposal and hold the line on tuition."

"The state and SUNY Board of Trustees need to make affordable public education a top priority this year and in future years to come," said Stephanie Gross, SA President, SUNY Trustee, and a student at SUNY Oneonta. "We need to ask the state for help in funding SUNY instead of digging deeper into the pockets of students and their families."

Yesterday, the CUNY Board of Trustees voted to for an additional $108 million in state support and no tuition increase.

"I am relieved that I attend CUNY, but I am very worried that the Governor will support SUNY's proposal and also ask all public college students for another tuition increase," said Spandana Nallapati a sophomore at Queens College. "The legislature and Governor must hold higher education harmless by freezing tuition and at least maintaining current funding."

For the fifth year in a row, students gathered in Albany to voice their concerns before the release of the Executive Budget.

"Students realize the importance of the Executive Budget," said Miriam Kramer, NYPIRG's higher education coordinator. "Our pre-Executive Budget lobby day is an opportunity for students to show that they are knowledgeable and concerned about higher education; they're not only thinking about it after the deed is done, but before."

In the past, the governor has recommended cuts to higher education in his budget proposal through reductions in the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), planned hikes in public college tuition, and reduced funding for opportunity programs and Bundy Aid. The student groups were hoping to reverse those trends.

Students met with representatives from the Division of Budget, the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), and with key higher education legislative staff and urged the following:

• Freeze tuition;
• Maintain and improve funding for financial aid (TAP and opportunity programs);
• Increase funding for CUNY and SUNY; and
• Protect Direct Institutional Aid (Bundy Aid).

For more information contact Miriam Kramer

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