The fight continues! For the second time in as many weeks, a UB delegation of students traveled to Albany to lobby on behalf of students. This time, the UB Student Association took the lead in the fight to save SUNY. As always, it is important that legislators hear our voices, and that is why the fight continues!
It is imperative, however, that students as a whole continue to let their elected officials know how they feel about Governor Pataki's devastating budget proposal. On March 31, the New York Public Interest Research Group, SUNY SA and the University Student Senate brought over 300 students from across the state to Albany to lobby legislators. Students let assemblymen and senators know that they will not stand for a tuition hike, cuts to opportunity programs (such as the Equal Opportunity Program, Higher Education Opportunity Program and the Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge Program), cuts to financial aid or any cuts to SUNY or CUNY funding.
This was a very effective action, but more still needs to be done. One thing students can do is to write a letter to any of their local elected officials, Gov. George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno or Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver. To find out who your representatives are you can visit www.nypirg.org and go to the "Who represents me?" section.
Another way to let your voice be heard is to come to the Buffalo main post office at 1200 William St. at 8 p.m. Tuesday April 15. Tuesday is Tax Day and students from Buffalo will be holding a small protest/news conference equating the tuition hike with a tax hike - a tax on those who can least afford it.
For more information on how to be part of the fight be sure to visit www.notuitionhike.org to find out what is going on state wide. You can also stop by the NYPIRG regional office in suite 203 of the Commons or call the NYPIRG office at (716) 568-1039.
