NJCU students, faculty and staff protest tuition hikes, shrinking state support of higher education budget and cuts in programs and jobs, outside the university's campus in Jersey City on Monday, Nov. 14, 2011. Here, Rosemary Rivera and Franklin Jaime, who work in the human resources department, participate in the protest.

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Group of New Jersey City University faculty, students, staff adopt Occupy Wall Street lingo in protesting state higher education cuts, expensive student loans

Wednesday, November 16, 2011
By Travis Fedschun/The Jersey Journal

Wearing buttons that read ?99%,? roughly 50 faculty teachers, staff members and students of New Jersey City University rallied yesterday outside Hepburn Hall, decrying state cuts to higher education and the high cost of student loans.

Adopting the slogan of the Occupy Wall Street protesters, yesterday?s demonstrators called for reinstatement of the ?millionaires tax,? a move that Gov. Chris Christie?s administration says would drive higher-income earners out of the state.

Raising taxes on the wealthiest 4 percent of state residents would generate $1.3 billion to $1.8 billion a year for state coffers, they said.

Students said state cuts to the Jersey City college have resulted in reduced maintenance, expanding class sizes and rising tuition.

William Candia, 20, a junior majoring in criminal justice and political science, said his yearly tuition has risen $2,000 since he was a freshman.

?An increase of $2,000 in two years is a little unbearable for someone supporting themselves,? said Candia.
A college spokeswoman confirmed that the institution has been forced to tighten its belt.

?There?s a freeze on vacant positions right now, and the university delayed hiring any faculty or staff, which can also affect the ways in which students learn,? said Ellen Wayman-Gordon, assistant vice president for university advancement. ?It?s a serious issue, so we are trying to be very responsible.?

Members of several unions participated in yesterday?s rally, including the American Federation of Teachers Local 1839, Communication Workers of America Local 1031, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 195.

?We?ve seen attacks on this system before, but we were able to have reasonable discussions. Nobody wants to discuss anything now,? said Gloria Boseman, a professor of nursing at the school for more than 25 years.