By Scott Sieber
Students enrolled in the New York Public Interest Research Group course at Queens College petitioned other members of the student body and recruited lobbyists last week for a March trip to Albany to ask the governor to shelve the plan. They called on the governor to use his 30-day budget amendment period to recall a proposed tuition increase and to provide more aid through the Tuition Assistance Program in his higher education budget.In his 2006-07 budget recommendations, Pataki proposed an annual hike of $300 in CUNY tuition and $500 in SUNY tuition, additional yearly tuition increases and a restructuring of the TAP program that would doll out less money to students earning fewer than 15 credits.Students stood outside the cafeteria Feb. 1 with postage envelopes marked “Return to Sender,” saying the letters were the symbolic student response to Pataki's executive budget.Donald Navarro, 28, a sophomore who works at a restaurant and takes a full class load for his double major in philosophy and political science, said the budget was proposed without the students in mind. A tuition hike, he said, could force him to withdraw from some of his classes, rendering him a part-time student.”I already work full time and go to school full time” he said, “and I'm still scraping by as far as money goes.”Christy Tomepek, an 18-year-old high school student at Townsend Harris is also enrolled in the NYPIRG course as a college credit. She said tuition hikes would pose a hefty burden for beginning college students.”If this passes, I am going to have to pay more than my upperclassman friends,” Tomepek said, who plans on enrolling in Queens College after she graduates. “It is a seriously bad situation, especially if there is money out there that could potentially go toward higher education.”Pataki revealed that the state has access to a $2 billion budget surplus this year, and the students are planning a visit to Albany to lobby local representatives for higher education relief.”Tuition hikes of any kind are harmful to students and should be opposed,” said NYPIRG project coordinator Ross MacWhinney. “The proposed changes to TAP will only burn out hardworking students who are already burning the candle at both ends to pay for school. There's money available this year to invest in higher education and we urge the governor to do that.”Reach reporter Scott Sieber by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
