NY Budget Proposal Poses Triple Threat to Students

Two proposals made by Gov. George E. Pataki during Wednesday morning's 2003 Budget Address, coupled with a $1,200 tuition increase, may put thousands of SUNY students in danger of not being able to return to college next year.

Pataki announced his plan to slice $107 million from New York's Tuition Assistance Program, the financial aid program that assists over 300,000 students enrolled in the SUNY system. The cut would reduce TAP funding from $675 million to $568 million.

This would be the first substantial cut made to TAP since the 1999-2000 academic year, when the state's 4.8 percent reduced funding brought TAP funds down to $581 million.

Without the money she receives from TAP, Gillian Mcintyre, a junior computer graphics major, said she could not afford to attend UB.

"TAP pays a lot of my financial aid," Mcintyre said. "Right now, I have work-study, a real job and a 19-credit coarse load. So if I was getting any less money from TAP, I wouldn't even be in school right now."

Pataki announced his plan to cut TAP at the same time he announced a plan to increase SUNY tuition by $1,200, cut SUNY's budget by $485 million (15 percent) and cut the Educational Opportunity Program by 50 percent. Pataki's tuition increase proposal comes just over a week after the SUNY Board of Trustees proposed a $1,400 tuition hike.

In addition to the proposed tuition increase, SUNY Trustee George Pape said SUNY students are getting hit in two ways: "First, it is not just a bad economy for New York State; it is a bad economy for New York State's people," he said. "Second, TAP cuts will drastically affect the neediest of SUNY students. ... and that equals a disaster for both the students of SUNY and New York State."

New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt agreed with Pape. "I think this is a triple hit on students. It reads bad news," he said. "The tuition increase is an outrage and unacceptable. It is an insult to injury to put this on student backs. He is going to re-impose this TAP proposal that we rejected last year, and finally, the money isn't even going back into the SUNY system."

According to Hoyt, since the money collected from tuition will go into a general fund for the state, students will not see the benefits of the increased tuition. Rather than being used to improve SUNY, Hoyt said the money cut from TAP would be put into a general pool of state funding, which could go toward anything.

"Pataki is stealing this money from students to put in the state's general fund," said Hoyt.

For many students, a reduction in TAP funding could result in their not being able to return to UB next year.

"What can I say? This will affect me greatly," said Kathy Marte, a junior fine arts major. "I won't be able to come back to UB next year. My parents can't afford to pay for college, and I don't have a job. This means I will have to take out even more loans and apply for scholarships."

"I rely on TAP, and without it, I will have to find other sources," said David Jimenez, a sophomore aerospace engineering major. "I already use financial grants along with TAP."

According to Mike Davoli, Western New York regional coordinator for the New York Public Interest Research Group, a tuition hike, combined with a reduction in TAP funding, could be disastrous for the SUNY system.

"This will affect three-quarters of all students," Davoli said. "New York State is in a major fiscal crisis, which is the result of poor leadership and planning by Governor Pataki."

Davoli said the state is failing to realize that properly funding the SUNY system would be a good investment for New York State. "Unfortunately, they don't see it that way."

According to Davoli, the students who are receiving higher education in New York are the same people who will later apply for jobs in the state. Good education leads to good jobs that then lead to beneficial results to the state, he said.

Although not directly affected by TAP cuts, Jeff Welcher, a senior communication major, said he is sympathetic toward students who will be.

"Luckily, I am graduating," Welcher said. "However, I still am upset for my fellow students who may suffer from these cuts next year."