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New York: The First Tuition Free State in the Nation
by Stefanie Sciolaro
OSWEGO, NY- – On April 8th, Governor Cuomo announced that all public 2 and 4 year universities in the state of New York will offer a tuition free scholarship. The Excelsior Scholarship will allow middle class families, who qualify, to be exempt from paying for college tuition.
In order to qualify, a family’s adjusted gross income must be under $100,000 in 2017. By 2018 that number will go up to $110,000, and by 2019 the amount will increase to $125,000. These incomes will include all student, parent, or spouse incomes within the family.
Students must be enrolled full-time, already have 30 college credits, and continue to complete 30 credits per year, which includes summer sessions, while in college. Transfer students will be eligible if they, or once, they’ve met the 30 credit requirement. If the student loses the scholarship, for now, they will be unable to regain it, though there is an appeal process being put in place.
Once students who are receiving the scholarship graduate, they will be required to stay New York residents for the same amount of time they had received the scholarship in college. Christopher Britts, an education major at SUNY Oswego, is apprehensive of where the state’s getting the money to fund this and what the resident restriction entitles.
“Are my taxes or other college expenses going to go up?… Will they decrease the PELL or TAP grants we get? Because if so and I don’t qualify where does that leave me?… What if I get a job in Cali or Jersey, I have to say no? If so, I’d rather have the loans, then at least I’m free.” says Christopher.
Graduate students are not eligible for the scholarship, nor are students who have already completed an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second.
Families will still be responsible for other expenses such as room and board, meal plans, and books, but the hope is for the Excelsior Scholarship to help relieve some of the burdens that families face in trying to pay for student’s college education. Financial aid will not be effected if a student receives the scholarship.
Christopher is also a team leader for Mentor Scholar, an after school program helping children with homework, and says this scholarship is good for younger children as well.
“Yes the scholarship needs adjustments and clarification but it really does give them a future to look forward to. Many of these kids come from low income families who before now, college was probably never an option…well now it is. As a future educator and current college student thats a beautiful thing to see.” Chris said.
This scholarship will go into effect and be available to students for the Fall 2017 semester. For more on the Excelsior Scholarship visit http://www.ny.gov, for SUNY (State University of New York) information visit https://www.suny.edu, and for CUNY (City University of New York) information visit http://www2.cuny.edu.
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St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Oswego held its third annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade this weekend. The parade started at Alex’s on the Water, continued down Bridge Street and ended at Gibby’s Irish Pub on West Second Street. The parade was put on by the Oswego Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The temperature outside was cold, but the bands were red hot. A highlight of the parade was the Buffalo Bills Drumline, the bagpipes and drum bands. Entry to the parade is free in order to encourage growth of the parade.
Patrick Chalone, coordinator of the parade and a member of the Hibernians, hopes that the Oswego Parade can compete with the Syracuse Parade. He was also glad that local business and the community of oswego enjoyed the parade! He said “Well you know I think after today’s parade, I looked at it and my favorite part of the parade is seeing all of the smiling faces on the streets of Oswego in the crowd. I mean we had a great crowd today it justs makes me feel good knowing that we’ve done…made people happy and have done a good thing”.
Next year’s parade is expected to be even larger than this year and Chalone is hoping that more local businesses will be involved in the parade next year. If you are interested in attending next year’s parade be sure to talk to Patrick Chalone about signing up
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Scales Hall Renovation
Reported by: Ilyssa Weiner
Scales Hall residents will be forced to move out at the end of the semester due to the hall’s renovation. Scales is the last residence hall in the Lakeside Community to be renovated after Waterbury reopened last fall.
Resident Assistant Gabby Green lived in Waterbury before it was renovated. She was initially worried about where she was going to live when Waterbury closed. However, she enjoyed the experience she had with it.
“That’s why I came here, to help people move out of this building and do it all again,” said Green.
The renovations to Scales will include new lounges, a new front desk and an elevator. Scales Hall Director Myles Clendenin is excited for the changes, but also believes the community aspect is what will stand out the most.
“It’s not just about how the building looks in the renovation. It’s about building that community, at the end of the day the students who make the make the community,” said Clendenin
Scales is currently home to about 150 students, consisting of international students only staying for the semester, new students and students who’ve lived in Scales for more than a year.
Senior Anthony Salvador has lived in Scales since his freshman year and will greatly miss the atmosphere of the old hall.
“I will definitely miss the old Scales to the point where I’m going to leave on the last day at ten A.M. when they kick me out,” said Salvador.
Those who are currently living in Scales since the beginning of the semester will priority in picking what dorm they want to stay in during the spring semester.
Scales Hall will reopen Fall 2017.
