College officials and student government delegates often claim that they promote full transparency to the student body in their everyday business practices. Yet, how much of this holds true? For example, CUNY Queens College has several administrative boards that govern its finances, but meetings of these boards occur quietly and behind closed doors. Are they being fully transparent with students and faculty as to how funds are managed at Queens College? The Knight News conducted thorough research to find that Queens College may be in violation of New York City’s Open Meetings Laws. NYC’s Open Meetings Laws mandate that public bodies, i.e. student governments, make their meetings accessible, via advertising…
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Queens College Alum Khaleel Anderson: Making History in the NYC District Assembly
In this day and age, it can be easy for Americans to not to have faith in politics. After all, the last 4 years have only divided America further. However, given 2020 is an election year, many are rushing to the polls to elect candidates in an effort to bridge the divide and heal America before it is too late. A local case of this can be seen in New York City’s District 31, specifically its recent elections for district assemblyman. Khaleel Anderson, a Queens College alum with a BA/MA in Urban Studies, has become the youngest candidate in 20 years to be elected to the NYC District Assembly serving…
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Black Lives Matter: The Movement Sweeping the Nation
New York City is one of the many states protesting “Black Lives Matter” throughout the streets of the five boroughs as well as in front of our very own Queens College. The protests began shortly after George Floyd’s death on May 25, he was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes which led to Floyd’s death. The people of Minneapolis rioted the day of Floyd’s death and it has led the Black Lives Matter movement to spread to the 50 states as well as other countries around the world. According to the Black Lives Matter Foundation, “ [the movement] began as…
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OP-ED: Not a “One Shot Test”
Only seven black students were offered a seat at Stuyvesant High School this year. Bronx Science admitted 13 less black students this year than last. 11 Latino students were admitted to Staten Island Tech out of 300 admitted students. In fact, from the 4,798 students who received an acceptance letter to a specialized high school, only 10.5% are either black or Latino. This lack of diversity in New York City’s hubs of adolescent intelligence is something Mayor De Blasio promised to solve. In his most controversial hour, the mayor proposed to completely get rid of the entrance exam. Compromising with his constituents, he has instead held about 300 seats,…
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OP-ED: Difficulties of mass transit in New York
Taking the bus or the subway can be a stressful event for many New Yorkers. New Yorkers are continually upset with the state of the Mass Transit Authority (MTA) and want improvements to make traveling hassle-free. However, these improvements come with a price. The MTA has been raising fares to help pay off its debt instead of using money to improve the subway system. It is also still using signals and rails from the 1930s that are presently outdated. This makes it difficult to make any timely repairs without service cuts and reroutes for certain trains. As for MTA buses, congestion on roads often lead to buses driving at walking…
