May 13, 2011
Stephanie West
More than twenty faculty and staff from the City University of New York gave lessons today at a massive teach in on Wall Street, part of a major mobilization in Lower Manhattan organized by a coalition of community, labor, and progressive groups Over 100 “classes” took place at the event, which also featured a march and rally.
Dr. Barbara Bowen, President of the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing more than 22,000 faculty and professional staff at CUNY led a teach in focusing on the affects of the austerity budgets put forward by Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo and passed in Albany.
“Mayor Bloomberg’s decision to cut CUNY is a decision to block students’ movement out of poverty. People come to CUNY because they want to change their lives materially, economically, intellectually; our community colleges help them overcome the huge and growing inequalities that exist in our city. It’s unconscionable that Mayor Bloomberg would aim cuts at the most vulnerable New Yorkers when Wall Street banks are making record profits and City revenues are growing” said Bowen.
Mayor Bloomberg plans another $63.1 million reduction for CUNY including both direct funding reductions and unfunded mandatory cost increases at a time when CUNY is reeling from $107 million in state cuts
