By Kate Dempsey
University Student Senate (USS) delegates, made up of representatives from CUNY student governments, attended the 53rd annual New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislators’ (NYSABPRHAL) Caucus in the NY State Capitol of Albany, held from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18.
As the representative governing organization for the over 200,000 students that attend CUNY schools, USS is made up of delegates who are chosen to represent the greater CUNY student body, and advocate on their behalf for equitable change throughout CUNY. Among those represented by delegates were students from Queens College, Hunter College, Baruch College, Bronx Community College, Brooklyn College, CUNY School of Professional Studies, New York City College of Technology, York College, Guttman Community College, LaGuardia Community College, and Queensborough Community College.
Among the main advocacy points during the caucus weekend was free student MetroCards, which USS delegates argue is the first step to help ease student financial strain.
“The number one priority for us right now is free MetroCards, but we have other items on our legislative agenda,” Salimatou Doumbouya, USS Chairwoman and CUNY Student Trustee, told The Vanguard. “Advocating for the New Deal for CUNY, for services with students with disabilities as well.”
Free MetroCards, according to the platform, would be available for all currently enrolled CUNY students regardless of their citizenship status or economic background, and would work through a fund for each student. For many representatives of Undergraduate Student Governments (USG’s) across CUNY that attended the caucus, demanding free MetroCards has also been a part of their home campus advocacy.
“When I was running for president, I ran on the platform of advocating for free student MetroCards. I believe similar to high schools, no student should pay for public transportation on their way to school,” Bashir Juwara, President of Hunter College USG, told The Vanguard. “The city is already too expensive enough. State Capitol is the perfect place to advocate for free student MetroCards with lawmakers and State Comptroller present.”
The caucus included a number of policy workshops and panels that sought to “engage New York State residents of color into a dialogue about issues and policies that have an impact on their daily lives and their communities,” according to their mission statement. Many were led by grassroots organizations fighting for social and racial justice for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and tied discussions to the caucus’s theme of the year: “AI Renaissance, Navigating Our Future.” Workshops also surrounded criminal justice reform, community-led interventions to violence, fighting disparities in healthcare, cannabis justice, reparations, and intergenerational trauma.
“The theme of this is social justice, and the non-profit that’s hosting all of these events is for the community that I want to represent. It was a networking experience, but also I feel like it was an opportunity to learn and experience new things,” Darla Moise, a Brooklyn College USG senator and political science major, told The Vanguard. “I want bigger and better for the next generation.”
Also on the delegation’s itinerary was the annual CUNY Luncheon, where CUNY-wide college leaders present awards and discuss the future of CUNY. In attendance, along with USS, was NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, New York Attorney General Letitia James, CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, presidents from CUNY campuses, CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities, the Malave Leadership Academy, and many more leaders and advocacy groups that work within the CUNY system. Public Advocate Williams shared his own advice and hope for the student leaders in the room.
“Right now, we have more Black and Brown leadership than we’ve ever had in the city and state, and that’s amazing. But Black and Brown people still suffer,” Willaims said. “This system is in place and has kept communities down for a long time […] I want the option of leadership that’s going to change that system in a very significant way, and that’s what I’m hoping the leaders of today and tomorrow get in there to make systemic changes. CUNY produces those kinds of leaders.”
The caucus highlighted that more had to be done in order to achieve racial and social equality. To the advocates, it is through CUNY student organizing that their voices can have a greater reach in order to further their initiatives.
“With student organizations like USS, getting students involved and exposed to both the environment and government officials, it set the first stone on a great road for generations to come,” Krishta Fernandez, President of Bronx Community College Student Government Association and a USS Delegate, told The Vanguard.
Delegates went home with stacks full of business cards–and selfies with legislators–representing the connections they made. To them, it was a sign of success that their ideas were solidified in the minds of many as they work to make change happen.
“I could see the respect for student organizing, which is very important,” Doumbouya said. “Overall, the weekend went very well, and I was very proud to see everybody smiling and everybody just feeling proud […] feeling like they were in control of their own destiny and their own fate in this university.”