CUNY Students Protest Against Privatization of Campus and Tuition Hike
(Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)
By Melissa Tejada
Since Dec. 2019, students from Hunter, Baruch and Brooklyn colleges have participated in a series of protests led by the Free CUNY movement denouncing the fact that campus administrators have granted campus access to outside industries, increased students' tuition and cut program budgets.
During the Starbucks at Hunter hearing on Jan. 27, 2020, CUNY students shouted: "What do we want? Freedom! When do we want it? Now! If we don't get it? Shut it down!" The demonstrations ended on Feb. 4, 2020, when campus officials outvoted Hunter fine arts students attempting to keep a space for galleries and a possible food pantry.
The protests regarding the addition of Starbucks began on Jan. 13, 2020 with a public hearing at Lehman's Center for the Performing Arts, where Hunter students gathered to condemn the addition of the Starbucks on the Hunter campus and what they characterized as the officials' abuse of power. They were followed by protests on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.
Hailey Lam giving her testimony at the Starbucks Hearing. (Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)
At the Starbucks hearing on Jan. 27, Hunter sociology junior Kana Tateishi directly targeted Hunter's President, Jennifer Raab, who was not present. She called Raab “a coward for hiding this from your own students…The decisions you make behind closed doors have tangible effects on our lives; your shameless apathy is revolting."
According to President Jennifer Raab, at the Jan. 13 meeting on facilities planning, Starbucks will provide a space “to be able to sit on the campus,” and the revenue from Starbucks could be used for renovations on campus as needed.
While it stood vacant from January – May of 2019, students used the Starbucks space as a pop-up community art gallery that attracted local gallery owners and collectors who attended their events in support of the Hunter community.
According to a video posted by CUNYMedia’s YouTube page, proposals for a lease with Starbucks included 1,959-square-feet on the ground floor, as well as 1,000-square-feet at Hunter’s west building on the lower level at 904 Lexington Ave. There is an initial term of 10 years and eight months, with two five-year renewal options.
The video claims the annual rent for the facilities is $411,290 for the first five years, $452,529 for the remaining time in the 10-year 8-month term. First renewal rent would be $497,781; second renewal is 95 percent of fair market value. The rent is included for the 1,959-square-foot space on the ground floor; rent for the west building location on Lexington Avenue has not yet been disclosed.
Students also opposed actions they saw as exclusionary or lacking transparency. Briana Calderón Navarro, Hunter College studio- art senior, complained: "They approve tuition increases during finals week.” Students claim that the dates were chosen strategically to decrease students' input activity while the administration made the decision for the tuition hike.
This tuition increase, which will be in effect for the academic year of 2020-2021 for all campuses, comes to $320 annually, $200 for general tuition and $120 for "health and wellness."
Despite tuition increases, Tateishi described how the campus is falling apart. "Hunter ceilings were leaking just this weekend,” she explained. “Buckets were laid out around the school to catch the leaks, entire library floors were closed off without any plans for repair. There are holes and openings in the ceilings, and open electrical wires are displayed on multiple walls around the school.” Whether or not the revenue will give priority to these renovations has not been decided.
Professor Vani Kannan at the Starbucks Hearing. (Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)
Navarro also pointed out the lack of transparency from Hunter administrators regarding third-party companies using the CUNY campus with a YouTube video showing Hunter's gym used by Gucci for the 2019 Met Gala Afterparty. Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Emma Stone, Shawn Mendes, Tiffany Haddish, Emma Roberts, Dua Lipa and Trevor Noah were among the celebrity attendees. While students were studying for finals, preparations were being made for the party without informing the students.
A Hunter student on the video said, "I don’t think it’s cool to be hosting celebrities in our gym when we can't host students."
The meeting also addressed problems students encounter on campus when they speak up.
At a tuition hike protest on Dec. 17, 2019, Brooklyn College English and political science double-major senior Hailey Lam said, "They taunted me and handcuffed me.”
Hunter students plan to raise awareness against campus privatization through an online petition on change.org named "NO STARBUCKS AT HUNTER COLLEGE! PETITION FOR COMMUNAL SPACE FOR STUDENTS," it now has more than 900 signatures and remains active.
Lehmanites Condemn Racist Responses to Coronavirus Fears
(Photo Credit: Pixabay)
By Sally Barrilla
“Personally, I haven’t encountered any prejudice, but I have heard of some cases going around in New York City, like a taxi driver wouldn’t let an Asian lady in,” said Jayke Lim, an Asian-American Lehman computer science sophomore. “I understand the fear, but it’s not right to deny services to Asians thinking that they might have the virus.”
Increased fear of the coronavirus has sparked a number of xenophobic attacks. The New York Post reported that on Feb. 4, 2020, an Asian woman claimed she was attacked while wearing a protective mask in a subway station in Chinatown by a stranger who hit her on the head, pushed her into a wall and shouted insults.
Other Lehman students agreed that such behavior is unacceptable.
“I was in a CVS pharmacy when I overheard some people saying Chinese people are disgusting because they eat rare or strange foods. It's scary, but it doesn't have to make people hate an entire race,” said Lehman junior and English major, Marissa Morales.
“There’s no need for people attacking innocent people over the coronavirus,” said Jonathan Cruz, a Lehman biochemistry major.
(Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Bronx is home to less than 5 percent of New York City’s Chinese-American residents, according to the Asian American Federation. Queens houses 40 percent, Brooklyn-37 percent, and Manhattan-19.
Since its outbreak in December last year, most of those infected by the virus are in mainland China. As of Feb. 23, 2,470 people have died; 2,444 in China and 78,993 have been infected, according to CNN.
Currently, the United States has a total of 35 confirmed cases, according to National Public Radio, with seven people undergoing testing for it in New York. USA Today reported that the Center for Disease Control says the virus is “likely” to spread to the U.S. In the meantime, fears have spread much faster than the virus itself.
“I think when people hear the words ‘virus’ and ‘death toll’ they get freaked out,” said Jasmine Barber, an undeclared freshman at Lehman. “It is alarming that a lot of people are getting infected and killed within less than a month. Everyone’s best bet is to stay healthy and continuously wash their hands.”
“People have a tendency to freak out about things,” said Lehman English Professor Crystal Curry. “More people die of the flu, but perhaps it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”
Lehman’s Director of Public Safety, Fausto Ramirez, said via email: “CUNY asks its faculty and staff to be prepared to accommodate, to the reasonable extent possible, students and employees who are affected by this outbreak. If a student feels anxious or is worried about friends and family because of the news about coronavirus, CUNY encourages them to contact Counseling and Health Services or campus Student Services.”
“There’s no need for people attacking innocent people over the coronavirus.”
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio also warned residents to take precautions, including to immediately go to the nearest emergency room if flu-like symptoms arise and wash hands frequently.
Lim said he does not feel threatened on campus, and praised its inclusivity. “Lehman has always been supportive of all races, medical, personal, and other issues,” he said. “I’ve had friends and relatives ask me to send flu masks because there’s actually a huge shortage of flu masks in Asia right now. The fear in Asian countries is a lot higher than it is here, though.”
Lehman Library’s Design Fast-Forwards From 1980 to 2020
Lehman student receiving help at updated reference desk. (Photo Credit: Jaquira Truesdale)
By Deanna Garcia
With redesigned floors, a modernized circulation, question mark-shaped reference desks, contemporary study-group rooms, accent-furnished seating areas and everywhere outlets, the first floor of Lehman’s Leonard Lief Library officially left the ’80s after a year of rigorous renovations.
The library’s old design consisted of computers for printing and tons of towering bookshelves with the same look it had since 1980; now the study environment across the rooms has been reinforced with new equipment such as monitors for students to prepare for presentations. Changes also include a revamp of the two teaching labs in the library’s basement, Concourse Level.
“We’re very much interested in working with students in order to train them on how to navigate information,” said chief librarian Kenneth Schlesinger.
One of the new study-group rooms. (Photo Credit: Deanna Garcia)
Approximately 300 students participated in a survey conducted by the library’s Public Service Group in 2018, to help improve the premise’s environment; all inputs were used in the construction’s planning.
“Students were looking for a variety of study configurations, and I think we addressed that in a more proactive way by having the individual terminals and seats, but also having the group settings,” said Schlesinger. “We built this space for students and had them in mind primarily; we wanted to respond to their needs and support their success and research.”
The library partnered up with H2M Architects and Engineers, a professional consulting and design firm, to make this renovation possible.
“A design process and concept was needed in order to create a more vibrant environment for students which was proposed by the library staff in multiple meetings. We wanted to brighten up the space a little bit,” H2M project architect Erik Heuler told the Meridian.
Students in the gallery area taking a break from studying with snacks. (Photo Credit: Jaquira Truesdale)
This entailed replacing tall dull-looking bookshelves with shorter stands to allow more sunlight into the room, and brown-gray furniture with bright-colored models for a more lively and welcoming appearance.
The new 3-foot-tall reference desk, shaped like an iconic question mark, is now located towards the front of the library instead of the back like before. Schlesinger called the old model a “4-foot barrier” between students and service.
“We wanted to be friendly, accessible and where students would feel comfortable approaching and to make sure the encounter is equally matched,” he said about the reference desk.
“The renovation makes me excited to study in such an aesthetic area.”
Lehmanites now have plenty of space and can even enjoy individual chair pods for a more private and focused study experience. Some students, excited for the library’s new structure, expressed a higher motivation to study.
“I am a very visual person and my environment can dictate a lot for me. The renovation makes me excited to study in such an aesthetic area,” said Jenifer Calix Marin, a senior nursing major, who spends about 26 hours or more weekly at the library.
“Rather than trying to hunt for an open outlet in the library, like I used to, and trying to snack discreetly, I now enjoy having more tables and outlets in an area where I can snack simultaneously. [It] allows me to work for longer periods of time,” said biology graduate, Lamisha Shia.
Another area where groups can gather around and look at presentations on the monitors. (Photo Credit: Deanna Garcia)
New looks and comforts aside, the renovation came at some cost to student focus. Schlesinger said that students did complain about the noise as well during finals week.
“Unfortunately, it was unavoidable just in terms of the construction calendar,” he said. “We tried to schedule it early in the day for it to be less disruptive for students to work.”
This is not the end for updating the other floors of the library.
“What we’re really hoping is that we can show people the first floor and what we’ve done with it to use it as leverage to get renovation for the second and third floor so that the library is new and state-of-the-art,” said Schlesinger.
Lehman’s library will have an official grand opening on March 19.