1...2...3...Don't Cut SUNY!

As my body temperature is slowly returning back to normal, I am getting ready to go outside again to try to rally students to contact their legislators and Governor Paterson that SUNY cannot take another hit.

You may be wondering what I am talking about. I planned a rally on campus for students to voice their opposition against the SUNY tuition increase. Although I understand that tuition must increase somehow, I do not see why we must increase tuition next semester by approximately $500. The Student Assembly, comprised of SUNY students all across the state, voiced their opinion on the issue and said that if tuition is to be raised, then we should raise it according to the Higher Education Price Index scale....and if we did that the figure would be around $80. I don't understand why the Governor and the SUNY presidents inflated the figure, but according to HEPI, if we all paid around $80 next semester, the school would be just fine.

Take your pick. Those who work to pay to school- would you rather shell out $80 or $500 extra next semester. Those whose parents have been scrimping and saving just so they can put you through school- what figure do you think they would rather pay? And for those of you on financial aid (myself included), I'm pretty sure you are wondering if you will be receiving the same aid next semester.

It is IMPORTANT to raise your voice. Although it is your choice to participate in government or not, this is something that affects us all, and if you are like the students who said to me that they're not interested in writing to the Governor or Legislature to show their opposition to these absurd increases...I don't have anything to say. If we all participated in showing our opposition against this- we could make a difference.

It's time to go outside again. I'm not stopping until 11:30AM. As much as I would love to stay out all day and bring a voice to my fellow students, unfortunately I have a doctor's appointment after this.