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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sharon Brown on CUNY Student Financial Barriers
1:47:32
·
130 sec
Sharon Brown testified about various financial barriers facing CUNY students and proposed several solutions to address these issues. She emphasized the need for free unlimited MetroCards, cell phone data, textbooks, and meals for students to ensure their academic success and retention.
- Advocated for waiving application fees to increase access for qualified applicants who can't afford the fees
- Suggested covering student housing and all fees for enrolled students to prevent them from leaving school
- Recommended allowing students to stay in school regardless of unpaid balances
- Stressed the importance of providing free meals to all students to improve their ability to focus and succeed academically
Sharon Brown
1:47:32
Hello.
1:47:32
My name is Sharon Brown.
1:47:34
Before I begin, remember Israel released the hostages, let Yahweh's people go, defend Israel.
1:47:41
Okay.
1:47:42
CUNY should make the unlimited MetroCard, OmniCard available and also unlimited cell phone data, text, and free textbooks until they can pay before leaving college or it's free or something because some students have a problem with finances, financial aid, and also getting the proper textbooks so they're failing classes because they can't afford the textbooks and that's a part of the reason why they're leaving.
1:48:14
The filing fees of course should be made free and people applying versus people who have money are able to get into the school.
1:48:26
So people who are qualified can't get in because they can't afford the following fee, so the following fee should be waived.
1:48:34
Student housing and all fees should be taken care of for them once they have enrolled.
1:48:42
If they are having problem with their housing that also needs to be covered too so that they don't leave school.
1:48:49
And paying off balances, they should do something for them to make sure that they can stay in school regardless of their balances as it was stated.
1:49:02
And it should be mandated just like in public schools and things like that, that the students in college and university should have meals, every meal.
1:49:15
They need to check with the students to make sure that they're eating properly.
1:49:19
If they are not eating properly whatever food that they have on campus it should be available to them, that should also be something free.
1:49:28
A lot of students are failing because they can't think straight, they're not eating properly.
1:49:33
It's very serious and it's a big issue about students not being able to eat, so that's something that can be taken care of.
1:49:41
Thank you.