By Dayanara Analuisa
The City University of New York was once a free institution and Free CUNY wants to make that a reality again.
Free CUNY is a collective of students, staff, and faculty from different CUNY’s that gathers almost every week to discuss and organize events to further push their mission.
According to the Free CUNY website, they aim to make tuition free by proposing an amendment that will tax the richest 1% in New York. New York is known to be the home for many billionaires and the tax will continuously pay for CUNY each year.
“Last year New York City and New York State had a combined budget surplus of $1.9 billion. It would cost $812 million to replace tuition at CUNY,” wrote Free CUNY on their website. “The money is there if we as taxpayers choose to spend it that way.”
Their mission is to not only make free education possible but also to give students more resources to make it easier to succeed in CUNY. This includes public transportation coverage, increased funding for college campuses, and financial support for students living under the poverty line.
After the end of World War II, the city focused on public institutions like hospitals, schools, housing and colleges. During this time, CUNY was following a free tuition policy. However, once the international economic crisis began in the fall of 1973, those public institutions were in jeopardy. As the crisis grew worse in early 1976, the board of higher education had to impose tuition to students.
The increase in tuition has proven to be more difficult paying for college. The New York Times stated that tuition has increased by $300 per year for the past five years. Over the summer, the Board of Trustees raised tuition by $200 for the fall 2019 semester
“What a free CUNY means to me is no tuition and more democracy within CUNY,” said Chris Mejia, a member of FREE CUNY. “Most of CUNY students are working-class students of color who need access to education to improve their socio-economic conditions. Every time there is a tuition hike in CUNY it becomes less accessible.”
Free CUNY hosts events to keep the community up to date on their work; they are hosting “The Arts & Action Party” which will be held on October 25.