The following statement was submitted by Marc Cohen, President and Trustee of the Student Assembly of the State University of New York (SUNY SA).
On behalf of the more than 600,000 students attending the largest
comprehensive system of public higher education in the nation, we are
proud to stand in support of Governor Andrew Cuomo's ambitious higher
education agenda for 2017.
College Affordability -Millions
of SUNY students have realized the potential of a college degree and
have gone on to earn more money, live longer, lead healthier lives, and
achieve more fulfilling careers. It is incredibly exciting to hear the
Governor's plans to make the SUNY promise of opportunity one afforded to
all New Yorkers regardless of their zip code or their bank statement.
The Excelsior Scholarship is an important facet of this march toward
greater access, and we hope for its success. While optimistic and
supportive of any form of college affordability, we realize that there
are many important logistics yet to be determined, and we eagerly await
those details. Ensuring that the program is both inclusive and
comprehensive is paramount.
Ridesharing -The
Student Assembly has, does, and will continue to actively support
statewide ridesharing, and we applaud the Governor’s effort to ensure
upstate equity by implementing this program. Students on every campus
are major economic drivers in their surrounding communities but often
face difficulties securing reliable, safe, and affordable
transportation. Companies like Uber and Lyft offer competitive rates and
are often more widely available than standard livery services. They
also provide independent entrepreneurial opportunities for students
seeking to supplement their income while managing a full academic and
extracurricular schedule. We look forward to working with the Governor
and legislature on passing this critical initiative.
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