Victory for students
1989 1989-06Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 5 →
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BY PETER NEW YORK-On May 2, 10,000 students of the City University of New York (CUNY), took to the streets of Manhattan. "Education is our right!" they chanted.
A central demand was no tuition hike. But spokespersons indicated that other demands were equally important: no budget cutbacks, no layoffs, more support services such as childcare, a rollback of non-resident tuition, and a four-year status for Medger Evers College (which serves mainly foreign students).
A few moments before midnight on that same day, New York State Governor Mario Cuomo finally vetoed the rise in tuition fees.
This victory was imposed on the governor after a battle that lasted several months. In early January, the state legislature cut $52 million from the budget for the 12 CUNY senior colleges. This would have caused an estimated 1000 layoffs.
In March, $38 million were "restored," but $10 million were to come from college revenues. This would have translated into a $200-a-year tuition increase. The city itself proposed a $21-million cut in city funding, which would mean an additional $125-a-year tuition increase. CUNY students already pay $1250 a year.
On April 24, students shut down the City College campus in Manhattan. Within a week, the protests had spread to 15 other campuses, culminating in the May 2 demonstration.
Currently, negotiations are taking place on all the other issues, including amnesty. The students know quite well that the "struggle will continue." After all, Cuomo administration officials themselves reportedly were advised not to rule out a tuition increase at a later stage.
During their mobilization the students got the support of faculty members, striking Eastern Airlines workers, and unions like the United Federation of Teachers. Similar actions also took place in the SUNY (State University of New York) system and other campuses around the country.