News from CUNY…

Medgar Evers student gov’t suspended, then reinstated

CUNY Emergency Legal Defense Project Attorney Ron McGuire reports that on March 2 Medgar Evers College President Edison O. Jackson suspended the student government for the remainder of its term of office. According to McGuire, the suspension was without any notification or hearing, as CUNY Bylaws require whenever a student or student organization is suspended by a college administrator.

President Jackson’s letter announcing his decision accused the student government of “a litany of actions during this academic year that proved detrimental to the institution,” but the only specific charge made was the supposed use of vulgar language by unspecified members during a trip to Albany. However, the letter does not identify the individuals allegedly involved or describe the circumstances.

The students told McGuire they believed that the suspension was a reaction to their attempts to reform the government and make it less dependent on the college administration.

Medgar Evers College President Edison Jackson subsequently rescinded his order on March 11 suspending the Student Government after the members of the government informed him that they would pursue their legal remedies if the suspension were not rescinded.

Hey, Matt, can we borrow $5 ’til payday?
The Baruch Ticker reported on 2/23 that the CUNY Board of Trustees approved a plan to provide an across the board pay raise for presidents of all its colleges effective May 1st. The plan will introduce a tiered pay scale for the first time: presidents currently make about $136,000 regardless of what college they preside over.
Under the new plan, presidents of Research campuses (such as City) can earn up to $201,000. Colleges offering Graduate programs will pay up to $177,500; NYC Technical and Medgar Evers Presidents will earn a maximum of $168,000; and heads of the community colleges will max out at $162,000.

CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein feels that the salary change is necessary to recruit top-notch administrators. Other CUNY execs will receive salary boosts also, including Goldstein. He received a raise in September from $178,523 to $250,000. His check may now grow to a wallet-busting $350,000 per year… Now that’s what we call the miracle economy.

Hmm, that would put me in a new tax bracket
The siren song of more cash was not enough to entice Hunter College President David Caputo, who has resigned.

You go, girl!
CCNY freshman basketball standout Lauren Gargill battled back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament to become the CUNY women’s conference leading scorer, NCAA Division III all-star, and land herself a nice feature article in Newsday.

. . . but not too far!
The aforementioned Newsday article reports that Cargill hoped to go to college outside New York. Some of the Division I and II schools that were interested in her before the injury may be willing to give her a second look. We hope she stays right here … The Messenger wants to see Lauren go to Brackettville, but why not take us with you?

It costs more now. . .
In an interview on CUNY-TV’s (yes, there is such a channel…) MetroView, CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein (CCNY ’63) reminisced about his time at CCNY and Martin Luther King, Jr., who delivered the commencement address to the class of ’63. King was actually the replacement speaker for Medgar Evers, who was killed shortly beforehand. Goldstein pointed out that “when we were at City the tuition was free and even that was too expensive! We were poor kids, and here was this chance to change our lives…” Classmate Bert Mitchell, now the CEO of the country’s largest minority-owned accounting firm, pointed out that “in my case there were no more than six blacks in my [graduating] class.”