By Steve Jacobson

Buffalo State College students, along with students from other SUNY schools, are planning to lead a hike to Albany to protest Governor Pataki’s 2003-2004 Higher Education Budget Proposal.

Buffalo State Students will participate in a marathon hike on February 25. These students will walk 24 miles from BSC where Buffalo State College students end their journey, and Pembroke College students begin theirs.

“If this proposal is passed,” says Mary Carney (a concerned member of NYPIRG) “some students won’t be able to afford to go here.”

According to last years Digest of Education Statistics, New York state education is ranked 15th most expensive in the nation. The students at Buffalo State don’t want to see it increase.

Pataki’s proposal includes the following…

• A $1,200 tuition increase for New York’s Public Colleges
  
• Proposed restructuring of Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), reducing individual TAP grants by 1/3.
  
• An $82 million (12%) cut to CUNY operating budgets.
  
• A $184 million (15%) cut to SUNT operating budgets.
  
• Almost a $29 million (50%) cut to opportunity programs such as EOP, HEOP, SEEK, and College Discovery
  
• Almost a $19 million cut to Direct Institutional Aid (Bundy Aid) for private colleges.

According to Carney, other methods have already been attempted.

“Over 45,000 postcards discussing our views have been sent to Pataki,” says Carney. So far, Pataki has not expressed any views of backing out of his proposal.

Links

www.notuitionhike.org
www.nypirg.org

For More Information:
Miriam Kramer: 518-436-0876
Or go to:
206 Cassety Hall