Well this is unfortunate. Somebody has been posting "Colored Only" signs up around the SUNY New Paltz campus. One was found near a drinking fountain in the school's Humanities Building on November 8. Then after college President Donald Christian wrote a memo to the school condemning the note, three more signs appeared in the school's LeFevre Hall later in the week. Ugh. At least people weren't hanging nooses? Eh, nope. Still bad. more ›

Among the many things in Andrew Cuomo's new budget are some hefty cuts into the State and City University of New York funds, which has educators and students from both institutions nervous. At a joint Assembly and Senate fiscal hearing yesterday reps from both spoke out against the cuts (which Cuomo insists can be handled without a tuition hike) and asked the legislature again for the authority to control their own tuitions. more ›

With the state looking to cut $90 million from the SUNY system, the NY Times reports that some "are questioning whether the emphasis on athletics is misguided." SUNY lifted bans on athletic scholarships in 1986 and SUNY Buffalo was the first school to join Division I in 1991, but the success of the program is questioned. And Assemblyman Peter Rivera (D-Bronx) doesn't think state funds should be used towards building "powerhouse" sports programs, "That’s not the purpose of a SUNY school. The purpose of a SUNY school is to provide the best education possible." more ›

Three fraternity members have been charged with criminally negligent homicide after intensive hazing left a 19-year-old SUNY Geneseo student from Queens dead. Arman Partamian was found dead at a banned frat known as "The Pig House" after a three-day drinking binge. The accused Pig House members (ages 20 and 21 respectively) were seen ordering Partamian to drink more as he drunkenly jumped around a bonfire. An RA called 911 and reported, “The Pigs were forcing these individuals to drink entire bottles of alcohol around the fire, and they were, like falling over and vomiting and just, extreme, like hazing." In addition to the hazing accusations, one of the trio is facing charges for tampering after allegedly taking a fraternity jersey off of Partamian's unconscious body before cops arrived. The DA in the case said, "We've learned that many of the off-campus fraternities have been operating illegal drinking venues. They call them 'open parties,'...(They) pay $5 and get a cup and then drink without limitation." more ›

As part of his plans to close the budget gap, Governor David Paterson proposed a $600 tuition hike at City and State University of New York schools. Naturally, students are not taking this well and the Post has some sad quotes. From Queens College student Lilliana Ramnath who works part time at a medical office and is a single mother: "I think I'm going to have to take a year or two off, at the very least. I just won't be able to provide for my son and continue studying." From York College student Lisa Perez, who works at a "bank to support herself and her grandmother": "I really don't know what my options are going to be. But I just don't have an extra $600 sitting around." Food for thought: CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein recently received a $55,000 (+14%) raise and makes $450,000/year. more ›

Today, timed with the NY State Commission on Higher Education's release of a report about higher education, the NY Times reports Governor Paterson will ask "the Legislature to create a low-cost student loan program to make New York more competitive with other states." The report outlines concerns about the SUNY and CUNY schools maintaining quality with insufficient funds--the two systems have more than 600,000 students over 87 campuses. You can read the whole report (PDF) here. more ›