Governor Gives SUNY Students a Raw Deal

History does repeat itself. At least, that's the conclusion one could come to by examining Governor Pataki's recently proposed 2005-2006 Executive Budget, which is full of bad news for SUNY and CUNY students.

It was two years ago this spring that students across New York State mobilized to protest Governor Pataki's plan to raise tuition by $1,400 at SUNY institutions, and dramatically slash funding to TAP, EOP, AIM, HEOP and SEEK. This was also accompanied by a severe cut in the operating budget of SUNY, on the order of 10-12%. Thanks in large part to a student backlash, programs such as TAP received a "stay of execution," while the tuition increase was reduced to $950, which still made the cost of higher education prohibitive for many students across the state.

Governor Pataki, two years later, has again proposed similar measures. Included in his budget proposal is a $500 tuition increase at SUNY schools, and a $250 increase at CUNY institutions. This would be coupled with annual tuition increases averaging around 4% per year, which is above the rate of inflation, and with the exact annual amount determined by the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI).

The Governor is also making a second attempt at destroying programs such as TAP, EOP, HEOP, SEEK and the College Discovery Program, which help thousands of students across the state afford their college education. Pataki is proposing a restructuring of TAP, in which 50% of each students' financial aid reward is withheld until graduation. According to the Governor, this will encourage more students to complete their college education within four years. The Governor, however, conveniently fails to consider or mention the many reasons why a student might need more than four years to graduate. It might be hard for Pataki, who is quite well off, to fathom this, but some students do actually have to work to pay for their college tuition and other needs. In addition, the Governor's budget cuts two years ago led to the reduction in many course offerings at SUNY schools, and the consolidation of many class sections into one, which is why we see lecture classes with 600 students in them today. Less classes, and classes which are harder to get into because of the amount of students registering for them, inevitably leads to students needing to stay an extra semester, or two, or more, to get their degree and move on in their lives.

The Governor also proposes eliminating the financial aid component of EOP, HEOP, SEEK and the College Discovery program, which are all currently surviving at below 1994 budget levels. These programs, which help the economically disadvantage students of New York State receive an education they could otherwise never afford, will basically remain in name only, but without providing much in the way of substance.

At first glance, there seems to be one positive from the Governor's higher education proposal: slight increases in the operating budgets of SUNY and CUNY schools. However, the fine print reveals that these increases will come directly from the money earned by raising tuition. In either case, this small increase will not be nearly enough to allow SUNY schools to offer more academic, research and extracurricular programs or better facilities to their students, or reduce class sizes.

To some, a $500 tuition increase might not sound like a whole lot of money. However, when coupled with the Governor's proposal to withhold 50% of TAP awards, students will have to pay a lot more than $500 out of their pockets to get an education, or will have to take on a second (or third, or fourth) job, making it evermore difficult to finish school in four years, or will have to resort to student loans; money which they never would have needed to borrow if TAP were left alone. Oh, and if you are one of those students that won't be graduating in four years, keep this in mind: TAP awards won't be offered after the students' fourth year of college.

Finally, take into consideration the fact that these proposals do not even cover the rising cost of housing, food, books and transportation. At Stony Brook University, the cost of living on campus increased 5% for this academic year, and the cost of the meal plan most residents are required to be a part of increased by $200 (with that $200 going towards a "facilities fee," not towards more food for hungry students). Commuter students are all too familiar with the increased cost of fuel in recent years as well, and if they happen to commute by rail, well, the Governor and the MTA have proposed raising ticket prices as well. Talk about a double whammy. (In the meantime, the MTA, which claims to be facing a huge budget deficit of its own, is prepared to accept a low-ball offer for its property on the West Side of Manhattan, so that Pataki and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg can fulfill their vision of the Olympic Games being held in NYC.)

A week from today, students from Stony Brook will have the opportunity to travel to Albany, as part of Stony Brook Day in Albany. Students who attend will have the opportunity to speak with Legislators and Legislative aides, one-on-one, about issues such as this that concern us all. This is your opportunity to speak out against the Governor's proposal, and let our representatives up in Albany know that we not only care about higher education, but that such a proposal is the very worst thing that could happen to students, and by extension, the future of New York State.

Governor Pataki, I realize that you are probably too busy attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies or making multi-million dollar deals with corporate donors to read a humble student publication such as this one. But come March 1st, know one thing: we are coming to Albany, and we will be heard!