Town Hall Discusses Pandemic Struggles, Students Say Solutions Are Going Nowhere
Words and Photos by Andrew James
Graphic by Aspasia Celia Tsampas
A City College of New York (CCNY) Town Hall was held on Thursday, October 29th with President Vincent Boudreau over Zoom. The Town Hall was held to address pandemic struggles on campus and answer student’s questions and concerns. Boudreau stated, “I understand how difficult it is for everyone and how many of you are making heroic efforts, not to normalize the situation… but to continue what was always done at City College”
Featuring President Vincent Boudreau, Celia Lloyd, and Ken Ihrer pinned in Zoom Town Hall.
Here are a few of the main concerns featured:
Resources
The president asserted that laptops, tablets, and Wi-Fi hotspots were being provided to students who could not attain them. He also lamented about the students who lost their homes due to the pandemic. He talked to Provost regarding plans for opening the school, in a limited capacity, for Wi-Fi access.
Timeline for school re-opening still unclear
For the time being, school leaders are focusing on repairs to the HVAC system in the NAC building, now delayed because of the pandemic. The campus currently allows in-person attendance of certain sciences students as their courses are hands-on, and the research department is in the early phases of reopening. The president stressed the importance of opening the labs, explaining that, “the immediacy of research leads you to the next thing.” The opening plans include those who need assistance in academics and people “who need to use tech are considered.”
Boudreau emphasized that, “There’s a difference between wanting to be on campus and needing to be on campus... there's a heightened risk for custodians, other staff, for faculty students, public safety officers.”
Recruitment efforts to reopen for Spring 2021 have been met with issues including the school’s diminishing budget. 25% of staff are on campus, however, Boudreau intends on catering to everyone and reopening in stages.
While the president admires the athletic department and supports their efforts, he made it clear, “You don’t come to City College to play soccer or basketball, you come to City College for a City College education.”
Opening of the daycare center
The facility, which was supposed to be constructed near the biology center, and who’s progress has been in limbo for the last 3 years, is supposed to open once the college re-opens fully.
Extending “credit/no credit” options
The president explained why the C/NC option was first implemented, “This happened since students and staff were not prepared and we don’t want students hurt by the abrupt changes.” He justified the elimination of the C/NC option, saying, “The thing is, everyone knows what they're getting into [this semester], and they should be prepared.”
However, in the Zoom chat, many students expressed that they still do not feel acquainted with online learning and believe that the “credit/no credit” option should remain available. “Professors aren’t understanding that circumstances haven’t changed for students,” typed Afuja Islam. Another student wrote, “We are still having issues with professors who conduct classes as if we have magically all survived the impacts of the pandemic and all is well… and not all professors are great at online teaching.” Yet another brought up concerns that most students have duties to their homes, families, and jobs while balancing school work and that the C/NC option is more compatible with the unpredictability of people’s individual situations.
Tuition costs
Students have complained about the amount of tuition they are paying for resources that they are not using since most classes are virtual. Boudreau responded, “Student activity fees cover services for those affected by the pandemic, hundreds of dollars lower than most schools.” He said that the money covered student needs and funded activities ranging from student life to services for students affected by the pandemic.
According to Boudreau, City College’s enrollment dropped 4% due to the pandemic.
Adjuncts and finances
Boudreau talked about the budget for much of the town hall. He acknowledged that CCNY was in a “financial crisis,” with adjunct salaries taking up 80% of the budget. Over the summer, CUNY let go of approximately 2,800 employees from the system to cut costs.
Student Luz Cespedes expressing his concerns in the Zoom Town Hall chat.
The president had no direct solution for City College. He stated that he is reviewing the budget and would like to “share the burden” by making cuts to anything unnecessary to the school in order to preserve the adjuncts’ jobs. In recent years, the adjuncts have been regularized as staff.
Boudreau initially opened the town hall by saying, “We want to serve our students and execute our mission as much as possible…”
Luz Cespedes, committee member of the Young Democratic Socialists of America at CCNY, and one of the most vocal participants in the chat felt that the system was skewed and her comments suggested that CCNY is not sincere in its goal of equal accessible education. Cespedes wrote, “You keep talking about the budgets and the decisions that have to be made without keeping in mind the best interest of your students… We do not need your FAITH, we need leadership and an advocate.”
Boudreau hopes to have another town hall before the end of the fall 2020 semester.
