 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
NEWS RELEASE
On Thursday, March 15, 2001 New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, City Council member Joel Rivera, and New York State Assembly member Edward Sullivan joined the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) at a forum on higher education funding hosted by Bronx Community College.
The moderator and audience asked questions relating to community colleges, specifically regarding state and city funding for childcare, opportunity programs, welfare, tuition, and financial aid. Students voiced their concern about the lack of government money allotted to community colleges, and the difficulties they face to access to an affordable, high-quality college education.
"As a community college student and single mother from the Sound View section of the Bronx, I know what it’s like to struggle though college, balancing school, jobs, and a family," said Camille Rivera, Vice-Chair of NYPIRG’s Board of Directors and one of the event’s organizers. "We’ve planned this event to share our concerns about the future of CUNY’s community colleges with our public officials," she added.
Event participants also voiced their concerns about inadequate funding CUNYs community colleges and pledged their support for increased funding at the state and city levels. "The name of the game is access. We’re struggling to make sure that no one is denied opportunity because they don’t have money," said State Assembly member Edward Sullivan.
Joel Rivera, the newest City Council member for District 15 and a college student himself claimed special sensitivity to higher education issues and pledged to "work towards decreasing tuition and increasing financial assistance." Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer similarly wants "to restore access and opportunity to CUNY for all New Yorkers and insure that CUNY has the support it needs from government to carry out its mission."
Keynote speaker State Comptroller H. Carl McCall said,"I am very supportive of community colleges and am excited to be here to address the students and to hear their concerns about the future of higher education in New York State. "
For more information contact Miriam Kramer
top of page | media index | higher education home page | nypirg home
|
|
||||||||||