CUNY Students Protest Against Privatization of Campus and Tuition Hike

(Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)

By Melissa Tejada

Since Dec. 2019, students from Hunter, Baruch and Brooklyn colleges have participated in a series of protests led by the Free CUNY movement denouncing the fact that campus administrators have granted campus access to outside industries, increased students' tuition and cut program budgets.

During the Starbucks at Hunter hearing on Jan. 27, 2020, CUNY students shouted: "What do we want? Freedom! When do we want it? Now! If we don't get it? Shut it down!" The demonstrations ended on Feb. 4, 2020, when campus officials outvoted Hunter fine arts students attempting to keep a space for galleries and a possible food pantry.

The protests regarding the addition of Starbucks began on Jan. 13, 2020 with a public hearing at Lehman's Center for the Performing Arts, where Hunter students gathered to condemn the addition of the Starbucks on the Hunter campus and what they characterized as the officials' abuse of power. They were followed by protests on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.

Hailey Lam giving her testimony at the Starbucks Hearing. (Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)

At the Starbucks hearing on Jan. 27, Hunter sociology junior Kana Tateishi directly targeted Hunter's President, Jennifer Raab, who was not present. She called Raab “a coward for hiding this from your own students…The decisions you make behind closed doors have tangible effects on our lives; your shameless apathy is revolting."

According to President Jennifer Raab, at the Jan. 13 meeting on facilities planning, Starbucks will provide a space “to be able to sit on the campus,” and the revenue from Starbucks could be used for renovations on campus as needed.

While it stood vacant from January – May of 2019, students used the Starbucks space as a pop-up community art gallery that attracted local gallery owners and collectors who attended their events in support of the Hunter community.

According to a video posted by CUNYMedia’s YouTube page, proposals for a lease with Starbucks included 1,959-square-feet on the ground floor, as well as 1,000-square-feet at Hunter’s west building on the lower level at 904 Lexington Ave. There is an initial term of 10 years and eight months, with two five-year renewal options.

The video claims the annual rent for the facilities is $411,290 for the first five years, $452,529 for the remaining time in the 10-year 8-month term. First renewal rent would be $497,781; second renewal is 95 percent of fair market value. The rent is included for the 1,959-square-foot space on the ground floor; rent for the west building location on Lexington Avenue has not yet been disclosed.

Students also opposed actions they saw as exclusionary or lacking transparency. Briana Calderón Navarro, Hunter College studio- art senior, complained: "They approve tuition increases during finals week.” Students claim that the dates were chosen strategically to decrease students' input activity while the administration made the decision for the tuition hike.

This tuition increase, which will be in effect for the academic year of 2020-2021 for all campuses, comes to $320 annually, $200 for general tuition and $120 for "health and wellness."

Despite tuition increases, Tateishi described how the campus is falling apart. "Hunter ceilings were leaking just this weekend,” she explained. “Buckets were laid out around the school to catch the leaks, entire library floors were closed off without any plans for repair. There are holes and openings in the ceilings, and open electrical wires are displayed on multiple walls around the school.” Whether or not the revenue will give priority to these renovations has not been decided.

Professor Vani Kannan at the Starbucks Hearing. (Photo Credit: Melissa Tejada)

Navarro also pointed out the lack of transparency from Hunter administrators regarding third-party companies using the CUNY campus with a YouTube video showing Hunter's gym used by Gucci for the 2019 Met Gala Afterparty. Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Emma Stone, Shawn Mendes, Tiffany Haddish, Emma Roberts, Dua Lipa and Trevor Noah were among the celebrity attendees. While students were studying for finals, preparations were being made for the party without informing the students.

A Hunter student on the video said, "I don’t think it’s cool to be hosting celebrities in our gym when we can't host students."

The meeting also addressed problems students encounter on campus when they speak up.

At a tuition hike protest on Dec. 17, 2019, Brooklyn College English and political science double-major senior Hailey Lam said, "They taunted me and handcuffed me.”

Hunter students plan to raise awareness against campus privatization through an online petition on change.org named "NO STARBUCKS AT HUNTER COLLEGE! PETITION FOR COMMUNAL SPACE FOR STUDENTS," it now has more than 900 signatures and remains active.