THE
Hudsonian Excelsior Ever Upward: Hud.
Volume 71, Issue 4 Feb.8 - Feb.15 www.thehudsonian.org FREE | Extra Copies, 25 cents
THE
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Cuomo’s 2017 budget
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
THE
Hudsonian PHOTO BY MIKEY BRYANT | HUDSONIAN
By: Julio Rodriguez Creative Editor NEWS Members of the college and local community joined together to look at governor Cuomo’s $152.3 billion agenda for 2017. Held in the Campus Center, the presentation opened with an
Patrick Madden, mayor of Troy, opens up “Excelsior Ever Upward” presentation.
introduction from Patrick Madden, the mayor of Troy. Former mayors were also in attendance. “I like what the governor is doing by bringing the budget out there on the road. It reflects that same philosophy to share that information with the people, and make sure they’re aware of what’s going on. It is their money,
so how are we spending it and where is it going,” said Madden. The mayor introduced those in attendance including Hudson Valley president Andrew Matonak, student trustee Manik Elahi and the event’s presenter Gwen Wright. Wright works for the office of prevention of domestic violence for New York state.
“This year we’re looking at the budget as excelsior. Excelsior meaning ‘ever upward,’ and we indeed believe that we will be heading upward,” said Wright. During the presentation, Wright stressed the idea that the budget proposal has something for everyone; for anyone pursuing a degree from a SUNY institution.
“3.5 million jobs will require a college education in New York state by 2024. It’s not enough to have a high school education. In 2014, the average student loan debt was 29,320 dollars,” said Wright. As a result, Governor Cuomo has proposed to invest $163 million for tuition free college to SUNY and CUNY two and four year colleges for families earning $125,000 or less. “75 percent of families in the capital region would qualify for tuition free public college,” said Wright. If passed, students who live in households earning less than $125,000 can anticipate zero tuition costs at Hudson Valley. Elahi made a statement on behalf of the Hudson Valley student body in support of the Excelsior Scholarship program. “The students at Hudson Valley are proud to support the Excelsior Scholarship program that Governor Cuomo announced, and lauds his efforts to make public higher education more affordable and accessible for all New Yorkers,” said Elahi. “We hope that the New York State senate and assembly act quickly to allocate the funding
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PHOTO BY MIKEY BRYANT | HUDSONIAN
CREATIVE
GRAPHIC BY ISABELLA KOKOSZKO | HUDSONIAN
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