Many students at Syracuse University rely on the state of New York for financial aid. The New York Public Interest Research Group wants to ensure that the current level of aid is available to students next year.

Thursday, student representatives from several NYPIRG chapters, including those from SU and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, traveled to Albany to meet with aides from Governor George E. Pataki’s office, said Sean Vormwald, NYPIRG project coordinator at SU and ESF.

The representatives met with Pataki’s aides to urge the governor not to cut financial aid and raise tuition for state colleges in New York, Vormwald said.

“NYPIRG is trying to build a coalition to stop Pataki from lowering financial aid and raising tuition to state schools,” said Lindsay Coe, a senior speech communication major and the SU and ESF representative attending the meeting.

Vormwald said the decision on whether to cut funding directly impacts SU students as well as ESF students because of Bundy aid. The state distributes Bundy aid to private schools through grants and other forms of financial aid, he said.

“There is a big budget deficit and the governor must decide what to cut,” Vormwald said. “Cutting higher education funding would have a devastating result.”

Coe said one possible ramification of an increase in tuition or a decrease in financial aid would be that many students could not afford to attend college, which would result in a less educated work force. NYPIRG is not trying to cut funding to other programs, but rather trying to show that education is too important to be cut in the next budget, she said.

Andrew Rush, spokesman for the New York State Division of the Budget, said the governor is early in his edition of the budget and has not made a decision on higher education yet, but has a strong record of supporting higher education. The state constitution states the governor must have the executive budget ready by Feb. 1, Rush said.

Vormwald said there are plans for more lobbying events before Pataki finishes the budget, including informing students of the possible cuts in aid and a possible raise in tuition, and trying to gain the support of State Assembly representative Joan Christensen (D – Syracuse) through a meeting on Dec. 12. Christensen is a member of the Academic Committee and as a result is a key decisionmaker as far as higher education goes, he said.

Coe said NYPIRG members would bring about 50,000 postcards and 700 specifically from SU and ESF students to the meeting, containing the signatures of college students throughout the state who oppose a rise in the tuition for state universities and colleges and a decrease in the amount of financial aid available, to show Pataki students care about this issue.

“He probably only thinks there are a few protesters but when he sees how many people signed their names, he may think twice,” she said.

Rush said it is important to remember all that Pataki has done for higher education, including a three billion-dollar investment in state universities and colleges. He has also held tuition at these schools for seven years.

“The governor understands the importance of higher education and will keep that in mind,” he said.

Published on December 5, 2002 at 12:00 pm