The CUNY Board of Trustees has voted to increase the tuition once again, this time by $120, putting the extra money towards health and wellness resources. The resources will be put towards facilities such as mental health counseling, women’s healthcare products, and more. Having more resources on campus, a place that’s supposed to be a “home away from home” is going to be a big improvement, but students are demanding to see the changes. “Right now we have STD testing, flu shots, and other routine vaccinations, pain relievers. We’re able to check blood pressure, temperature, and do pregnancy tests,” said Kalua, the Queens College mental health center’s office assistant. “We’re…
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CUNY Service Corps: Helping students grow through paid internships
Figuring out what one wants to pursue career-wise is a difficult decision. The CUNY Service Corps is the perfect opportunity for students to get an idea of their futures. CUNY Service Corps is a two-semester internship and pre-development program that includes working 10-12 hours a week at $15 per hour for a total of 24 weeks (Fall 2020 and Spring 2021). CUNY Service Corps focuses on four categories in terms of how they place students within various organizations and agencies within New York City. Those include organizations that focus on educational empowerment, economic empowerment, organizations that address health issues and disparities of New Yorkers, as well as supporting the environment…
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Coronavirus: the disease affecting the economy and the world
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause disease in animals. The new disease called Covid-19 has appeared in humans, causing flu-symptoms. According to the Telegraph UK, 83,000 people are known to be infected and more than 2,800 deaths have been recorded. In New York, at the time this issue is published there are two confirmed cases of the virus, raising the possibility that the virus is spreading locally. The MTA will disinfect subways every 72 hours according to officials. According to CNN reporter Christina Maxouris, the US death toll stands at nine victims, all from Washington State. There are also 130 known cases across 13 states. Economists are fearing…
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Rikers Island Inmates Accumulate Over $1.2 Million in Fines
On Feb 3, Reuven Blau of The City published an article exposing the accumulation of $1.2 million fines by Rikers Island inmates. These fines, which date back to 2015, act as punishments for failing to listen to direct orders against assaulting other inmates. Those fines are withdrawn from the inmate’s commissary funds which are used by inmates to purchase certain “luxury” items. Items could range from $0.90 for an envelope to $88.40 for an MP3 player. However, in order to avoid any disputes pertaining to unjustified fines, inmates can stand in front of an internal tribunal and defend themselves. According to Bleu, “if a detainee is found guilty, the money…
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Chipotle Charged $1.3 Million in Child Labor Violations
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s official website, part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is “to protect the educational opportunities of minors and prohibit their employment in jobs and under conditions detrimental to their health or well-being.” However, Chipotle’s chain of Mexican grills in the state of Massachusetts failed to comply with that law, resulting in a fine totaling roughly $1.3 million on account of over 13,000 violations across more than 50 state-wide eateries. Massachusetts’s labor laws authorize minors to work no more than 48 hours a week. 14 to 15-year-olds cannot work later than 7 PM. That time is bumped up three hours to 10 PM…
