CUNY STUDENTS RALLY AT CITY HALL
URGE COUNCIL, MAYOR TO REINVEST IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Dozens of community college and senior college students from the City University of New York (CUNY) took to the steps of City Hall today with Speaker Peter Vallone and Higher Education Committee Chair Helen Marshall. Students, armed with signs and slogans, urged the City Council and Mayor to reinvest in higher education.

"We are here to urge the City Council to do right by CUNY students," said Camille Rivera, Vice-Chair of NYPIRG’s Board of Directors and Queensborough Community College student. "Given the projected budget surplus, not continuing to restore funding is simply wrong," she said.

"Graduates of CUNY contribute significantly to the New York City economy," said Miriam Kramer, NYPIRG’s Higher Education Project Coordinator and an alumnus of CUNY’s Queens College. "It’s only logical that the city reinvest some of these funds‹tax dollars earned by college graduates‹back into the University system," she added.

Prior to the news conference, students met with Council Members. They also delivered information packets to the Mayor’s office, which was unavailable to meet during CUNY Day. The students also attended the Stated Council meeting and received a proclamation, along with CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and representatives from the faculty, establishing CUNY Day at City Hall.

Students stressed the importance of an affordable, accessible, high-quality college education. They advocated for a final city budget that includes (see attached fact sheet for more details):