Students from low-income families will no longer have to pay the $65 application fee for CUNY schools. The application fee waiver is part of an initiative launched by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina and aims to eliminate financial barriers to affordable education. “Eliminating the application fee for low-income seniors will have a profound impact for thousands of students and their families,” de Blasio said. Additionally, the application fee waiver allows qualified students to submit an application for up to six CUNY schools. This gives students more options as to where to pursue their studies. “This initiative by the city will open the doors…
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CUNY releases findings of anti-Semitism report
On Sept. 9 CUNY Chancellor James Milliken released a 24-page report concerning allegations of anti-Semitism within the CUNY system. The report looks at specific incidents reported across four CUNY campuses dating back to 2013. According to a letter from Milliken, the report, which was compiled by Paul Shechtman and Barbara Jones of Bracewell LLP, “contains a thorough analysis of the facts as well as observations that will help guide our work going forward.” The letter goes on to explain that “preserving the right to free expression is at the core of every university’s mission, however, the university will respond appropriately to speech that is hateful, discriminatory and anti-Semitic—even if that…
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Charges of anti-Semitism with activist group at CUNY
A year ago, the Zionist Organization of America, a pro-Israel group founded in 1897, received reports of anti-Semitism from Jewish students, Hillel directors and even their own professionals at CUNY. “These Jewish students, they’re afraid to wear yarmulkes [and] Jewish t-shirts,” Morton Klein, national president of ZOA, said. In response, the organization wrote a letter to CUNY demanding they act against Students for Justice in Palestine, the student-led group Klein described as anti-Semitic. CUNY, in response to ZOA and other state lawmakers demanding action, created two task forces—Task Force on Campus Climate and Working Group on Freedom of Expression. The Task Force on Campus Climate is led by Queens College…
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A cold response from Cuomo
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled his Executive Budget early last month, and the news was not good for CUNY. The Democratic governor wanted to shrink the state’s responsibility over CUNY. In essence, it proposed a cut of $485 million and make New York City pay that gap. But Cuomo backed off from the plan after criticism from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, known for his previous conflicts with Cuomo. He said the cuts to CUNY—and Medicaid—were unfair. At a press conference, the mayor said he will challenge the governor over the planned cuts. “There are two items in the budget that are not fair to New York…
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Chancellor meets with Queens College community on CUNY tour
CUNY Chancellor James Milliken visited QC on Aug. 5 to speak with members of the community. Milliken spoke in The Summit Flex Space with people about their background, particularly what QC meant to them and their suggestions for improving Queens and CUNY in general. Three different groups met with Milliken separately to chat with him. He first met with administration, followed by faculty and finally with alumni and students. His visit to QC is a part of a tour to all CUNY colleges before the academic year begins. “He wanted to reach out to as many people across the university as he possibly could from the moment he took the…
