Public Employee Press

Union’s battle for fair budgets
Political Action 2005: Fighting Pataki's budget
DC 37 student battles education cuts

By JANE LaTOUR

Wanda Arroyo’s journey as a single mother struggling to get an education has brought her face to face with many of life’s harsher realities — which have only made her stronger. She has become an activist, boldly speaking out for herself, other college students and the next generation.

For the past 16 years, Ms. Arroyo has been a School Aide at P.S. 155 in East Harlem and a Local 372 member. She is in her third year at the DC 37 Campus of The College of New Rochelle. After high school, Ms. Arroyo enrolled at York College. Then she married, had a daughter and put her education on hold. When her daughter was 13, she returned to school.

“I learned about CNR from reading PEP,” Ms. Arroyo said. “I called and a professor invited me to visit the DC 37 Campus. When I did, I said: ‘This is for me.’ ” She liked the small campus and the flexible schedule. “I could still work and fit school in around my job,” she said.

Ms. Arroyo dreams of becoming a child psychologist and using her education to help children like those she sees at P.S. 155. “I work with a lot of parents who are immigrants,” she said. “They face so many problems.”

Now, with Gov. Pataki’s budget cuts looming over the futures of low-income students like Ms. Arroyo, she has taken up the challenge of advocacy. On Feb. 8, she represented the DC 37 Campus as hundreds of students statewide, organized by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, bused to Albany to battle the cuts.

The governor’s proposed 2005-2006 budget cuts the Tuition Assistance Program by $168 million. Since 1974, TAP has enabled millions of low- and moderate-income students to meet expenses. TAP originally covered over half of the average tuition, but today it covers just one-fourth.

Keeping the dream alive
Despite being nervous, Ms. Arroyo accepted the responsibility of representing her fellow students and future generations. She spoke at a rally before meeting with individual legislators.

“I talked about how important it is for us to get an education, how we are the mirrors for our children and their future,” she said. “They need to know that they can continue their education and reach their highest goals.”

“The legislators listened,” Ms. Arroyo said. “If enough of us speak out, perhaps the people in power will hear.”

“My parents didn’t have an opportunity to go to school,” explained Ms. Arroyo. “The idea that you can get a degree and make your own future is exciting. If the grants get taken away, it puts an end to our dreams.”