Lexcy Alexis
Equitable Higher Education Access for STEM Majors
All STEM majors must defeat the dreaded introductory courses – Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Calculus. When the professor starts a lecture with “You may remember this from High School”, it may be a bit fuzzy but you might remember some of the foundational material learned during that time. Now, imagine instead of having this ‘ah, I remember this’ moment, you’re learning the thing the professor just breezed over for the first time. While you’re trying to grasp what just happened, he’s on a completely different topic that is much more complicated and requires prior knowledge to follow.
This was my entire freshman and sophomore year. Throughout the semesters I had to keep up with both a high school and college curriculum because I didn’t have access to Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Calculus courses in high school. Despite my valedictorian status, I had only taken one AP course, the only one that was offered–Modern Humanities. This course, although completely unrelated to my interests, helped prepare me for the mandatory English courses in college. I knew how to write and format a 12-page paper, as well as pick apart a book for evidence that supports my theories. This is a common theme for students who graduate from my high school and move on to college–they’re prepared to write an essay but not to solve foundational equations. Ensuring all NYC public schools provide these essential STEM courses is important to universal student success in higher education.
As the city is moving towards more equitable public school practices regarding AP classes, through the 2015 announcement of the Equity and Excellence agenda, the question of who benefits from this and the importance of this agenda has arisen. Statistics from the Education Trust-NY found that “for every 100 NY high school students, about 15 White and 20 Asian students took physics, while only around seven Black or Latino students did the same”, and that in schools in wealthier NYC neighborhoods, the chance of a student attending a school with six or more AP classes was 90%, while the chance of a student accessing this in poorer neighborhoods, where students are more likely to be Black or Hispanic, is only 18%. This statistic proves that this issue disproportionately affects Black and Latino communities, and I’ve experienced this firsthand.
Although the Equity and Excellence agenda has increased the amount of AP classes in schools across NYC, there is still room for improvement. It is estimated by the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School that “nearly four in 10 city high schools do not offer Algebra II and both physics and chemistry”, which should be considered an essential component of college readiness but is usually not offered in the curriculum in Black and Latino communities. You can help make a difference through supporting agendas like the Equity and Excellence program, as well as spreading the word about alternatives to AP courses like College Now.
Laiba Amin
Mental Health Is Important
Mental health resources are needed on college campuses to ensure student wellness.
Mental health is an important aspect of our overall well-being, and it is particularly critical for college students who are under a lot of pressure to succeed academically and socially.
Mental health issues are widespread on college campuses across the United States, including New York. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the American College Health Association, “nearly 60% of college students reported feeling overwhelming anxiety in the past year, while more than 40% reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function”. These numbers are alarming and show that there is a real need for mental health resources on college campuses. The relevance of this topic is significant, as many colleges and universities are facing increased demand for mental health services from their students. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that mental health is just as important as physical health, and this has led to more resources being allocated towards mental health services. The debate around mental health resources on college campuses has also gained momentum in Congress, with lawmakers introducing bills to increase funding for mental health programs.
As someone who has personally experienced issues with finding mental health resources on campus, I can speak to the struggles of students who find it hard even to seek help because they feel they will not be supported. This needs to change as this is a right everyone deserves. Mental health is important for our day-to-day lives and in ensuring we lead a successful life. It is extremely important for college students to have access to mental health resources–mental health issues can be debilitating and can impact a student’s ability to learn and succeed in college. Moreover, untreated mental health issues can lead to more severe problems down the road.
Colleges and universities have a responsibility to provide mental health resources to their students. These resources should include counseling services, support groups, and access to psychiatric care. Additionally, colleges should strive to create a culture of openness and acceptance around mental health issues so that students feel comfortable seeking help when needed.
Ultimately, mental health resources are critical for college students in New York and across the country. It is important that we prioritize mental health on college campuses and ensure that students have the resources they need to succeed. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, don’t hesitate to seek help. You are valued and you have a voice. Encourage your peers to find mental health resources and advocate for colleges to increase funding towards such resources!
Ariel Clarke
Hunger and Me – Basic Needs Access
Upon returning to my college campus for the Fall 2022 semester, I thought I had it all figured out and that being back for the first time since the height of the pandemic would be an amazing experience. I had just begun my junior year of college at the University at Buffalo, had an on-campus job, joined two e-boards that aligned with my personal and professional interests and lived in off-campus housing. Everything appeared in my eyes as if things would return back to normal when the COVID-19 pandemic never existed. Despite my plans and hopes of normalcy, I began to experience food insecurity while living paycheck to paycheck in my Buffalo off-campus apartment.
The city of Buffalo is located in Western New York and depending on where you live and whether you drive, access to affordable food can be either difficult or relatively easy for students. I currently reside in the town of Amherst and fortunately, have supermarkets with healthier options that range in prices, about eight to ten minutes from me by driving. In spite of this eight- to ten-minute drive, I currently do not own a license and would have to take public transportation, which can often be unreliable. I can consider taking an Uber or Lyft which would be expenses taken from my groceries to get to and from my apartment, or consider a walk to these supermarkets, which would take me an hour to get there. All of these factors in addition to having to pay for my other necessities affected my ability always to have affordable healthy food options.
Not being able to have food on a regular basis affected my health, my motivation to excel in my courses and extracurriculars, and remain as present as possible at my job which provided my only source of income. My experience may be individualized to me but it is a common occurrence impacting students at CUNY, SUNY, and private institutions everywhere. I hope with the support of the Hunger Free Campus Act that students in the future like me won’t have to experience food insecurity to the extent that I did or at all.
Sarah Dorme
Being Black in a PWI, Is It Worth It?
My choices for what to do after college were very scarce–I was expected to enroll in an Ivy League school or a university, there was no in-between. The common ground those two options share is the demographic of white students that populate most colleges. A predominately white institution (PWI) is a college or university where 50% of the students and faculty are White. Being a minority in an environment that sets me apart from other students affected many areas of my basic needs. Minorities deserve an education that doesn’t put their education, housing, or mental health at risk simply because of their skin color.
I was exposed to many hardships as a freshman in college. Spending another four years in school wasn’t the issue. It was the fact that I am now growing up in an environment where I’m not going to see many people that look like me. It’s dealing with the fact that I have to settle with being the only black woman in a classroom and tolerate the lack of inclusivity and diversity of Black faculty in my institution. One of the challenges that arise in predominantly white institutions is the division between white and black students. All students attend college simply to get a degree and be prepared to work in the real world, but the tools necessary for each student to graduate aren’t accessible to every student. These institutions should model how important employment and involvement in work and education are to everyone.
However, predominantly white institutions tend to provide misinformation to black students on these matters and fail to assist them on how to be in those positions. There have been many case studies that prove that Black students or faculty carry the burden of implementing diversity in predominantly white institutions. Being stripped of these resources is unfair to black people as a student and overall human being who is trying to pave their way to success. This can be draining and unmotivating to Black students who simply want a fair education as their peers.
I believe that the NYC Assembly owes black students a space where they feel like they can be supported and respected as a person. I support Assembly Bill A04142, which allows CUNY and SUNY campuses to consult a mental health counselor within their campus. Implementing Black staff members allows Black students to confide in someone with similar features and experiences. Allowing students to have access to a mentor and be involved in mentorship gives them equal opportunities for employment and assistance, especially students like me who are going to need that guidance. It’s important to acknowledge that black students can feel lost and misguided in these institutions, and the last thing they need to feel is neglected by people who have the power to help them.
Melody Garcia
Confused and Behind
My school journey was filled with a couple of mishaps and misunderstandings.
When I first tried to apply to high school, I wanted to choose Bard Early College because after two years of college-level work while in high school, I would have been able to graduate early. But I completely bumbled the interview. Somehow, the lights turned off in the hallway we were interviewing after another worker left which left the room me, and the interviewer completely dark.
In a rush of a few seconds that felt like forever, I thought the door was locked as I tried to open it to no avail. So I reached over to the computer to try to turn it on so there would be at least a little bit of light but I couldn’t find the on button. After trying to explain myself hecticly, to my surprise, the interviewer was able to open the door and turn on the lights. I had to go back to my seat and sat there thinking how dumb I was. I never knew if it was the interview or not but I didn’t get in.
Fast forwarding, when I did get into high school, there were so many things that were left in the dark. I didn’t know I needed 60 hours of community service to graduate until it was toward the end of junior year when I rushed to find a summer placement. I also didn’t know there were senior dues. Neither did I know that the CUNY application was free for low-income students, so I just paid. I remember being in my advisor’s office and him telling me that I didn’t need to pay and just leaving so dumbfounded afterward.
My school did have an SAT program at a discounted price. It was $100 for three months of after-school Wednesday classes and to be honest, it was great. However, the thing was this financial barrier. Though my mom could afford it, I don’t know if everyone could do the same. What I saw was one small classroom of students when we had a whole grade of juniors.
For the college admissions processes, I had to defer to South Asian Youth Action (SAYA), an after-school program. My mom didn’t know how to guide me because she immigrated here at 18 and didn’t know the process. SAYA were the ones who showed me how to apply for TAP and FAFSA. They brought me on field trips to colleges in Boston and Washington D.C. for the price of, nothing. I also received extra SAT tutoring on Saturdays.
Luckily, they supplemented what I didn’t have access to in high school. I needed someone to guide me specifically to make better-informed decisions I would have liked to have had this help earlier and to implement services like the ones of my after-school program in high schools so it wouldn’t have to be outsourced. After all, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
Yousra Ghassat
Health Care for All
You find yourself unable to receive health care coverage through your parents, your job, or your school. Then, you feel a sudden relief as you read “Keeping America Healthy” on Medicaid.gov. I have Medicaid, and I can say that my relief was brief.
For starters, anyone who needs health insurance should apply for Medicaid–it is crucial to have health care coverage. However, people should be educated on navigating health coverage that doesn’t cover as well as they hope. Due to the system we have today, Medicaid discrimination is real, and those who don’t have it, don’t know it. Certain medical providers do not accept Medicaid because of the poor reimbursement rates. This means when comparing a patient with Medicaid and a patient with a private health care provider, the doctor will accept the private coverage instead of Medicaid because the private insurance provider will pay the doctor more money than Medicaid will.
Medicaid is an entitlement program and therefore, Congress will continue to fund it. However, entitlement programs make up two-thirds of the federal budget, so increasing doctor reimbursement rates seems unlikely. Research done by Tulane University examined patients across all fifty states between 2013 and 2016. The study found that Medicaid patients received 27.6% fewer appointments than privately insured patients.
The gap between reimbursement rates needs to be closed so that providers do not turn away Medicaid patients. The federal government needs to ensure that providers are getting reimbursed efficiently. If this is not addressed, Medicaid patients will continue to face difficulty in accessing quality health care.
Kimberly Hernandez
Abortions = Life-saving Healthcare
No matter what side of the abortion debate you fall on, we can all agree that everyone deserves access to life-saving healthcare. Abortion, in many different ways, is just that. My abortion, at 15 years old, saved my life and my future. In high school, I battled both suicidality and depression. When I found out I was pregnant, I was devastated. It felt like my whole life was falling apart and I did not know how to move forward. I knew that I needed to get an abortion and thankfully, that was an option for me. If forced to go through that pregnancy, I would have tried to kill myself. My abortion was elective and it saved my life, my future, and my mental well-being. My story is one of many and each abortion has a different reason behind it.
Regardless of the reason, abortions are a form of life-saving healthcare as life-saving means something different to each person. Access to this life-saving care, however, is under attack all over the country. 44 states have some sort of ban on abortion with 12 states having a complete ban and 32 states having some sort of ban in place based on how far along a pregnancy is. These bans are going to have a major impact as millions of unplanned pregnancies happen each year with 4 out of 10 unplanned pregnancies usually ending in abortion. Even those who have planned pregnancies need an abortion. It is predicted that one in four women will have an abortion at some point in their lifetime by the age of 45 years old. Many of these people do not have access anymore and the choice of continuing a pregnancy or not is out of their hands.
There are many reasons people may need an abortion and all of those reasons are personal and valid. People deserve the right to choose what happens with their bodies whether that means continuing a pregnancy or having an abortion. Many state governments are trying to strip people of that control and ban them from accessing that life-saving care. Several organizations have teamed up in a movement against these bans called #BanOffOurBodies. Support them by signing their petition or donating to preserve this life-saving form of care.
Anonymous
Health insurance is Hindering Access Opportunities for all
I am a 35-year-old female who receives Medicaid and Medicare as a result of a congenital heart defect. Health insurance is necessary, like food, clean water, shelter, and clothing. Because I fall under the Federal Poverty Level, I can access low-cost or free resources such as health care, education, and transportation. But if I started working, everything would change, which bothered me.
For many years, I pondered why I couldn’t move into a house with stairs or have my own bedroom, why most of the people I knew didn’t work yet always had food in their fridge, dressed nicely, and never complained about being abused by the system. I had no idea what that meant until I realized I couldn’t make more than $1,677 per month to qualify for Medicaid. I’ve been taking heart medicine since I was 11 years old, and there was a point when my insurance didn’t cover it. I recall not taking my medication for a full year when I was 19 because I didn’t have insurance.
I had hospital debt, and bill collectors would contact my house every day, threatening my mother with arrest and garnishment of her wages. Our lives were in danger because a routine ER visit evolved into an emergency procedure that required prior authorization. Silly me thought, “I don’t notice any difference not taking my medication, and my debt won’t increase,” until my heart gave out on me one day. I recall going to GNC and asking the cashier for some vitamins and seeing how costly they were. “In 5 to 10 years for now, this vitamin will help you; you will not see the difference in your body now, but you will ten years from now; it’s just like investing,” she replied. Recalling my experience as a 35-year-old advocate, I want to live a long life. I didn’t realize the real problem with health insurance until the Social Security Administration (SSA) told me that if I wanted to work and earn more than this amount, my insurance would be terminated.
I believe health care should be free and not have an income-based level to evaluate whether or not a person should have free insurance. If more individuals are eligible for free insurance, there will be less homelessness, because the cost of living is expensive, and there will be fewer deaths. In my scenario, if I choose to work, my health insurance coverage will end.
If I have employer-provided insurance, I would need to pay a co-payment, premium, or deductible. HRA will then cancel my food stamps, my rent will rise, and I will have less than $400 left in the bank after expenses. It’s not worth the risk. Health insurance and not working beyond the minimum wage have been acceptable in my household because everyone is technically comfortable. We make more money when we stay at home.
According to the SSA site, the number of recipients in December 2020 was around 8.0 million. 4.6 million were between 18 and 64, 2.3 million were 65 and older, and 1.1 million were under 18. Employer taxes account for 89.6% of total revenue, while benefit claimants account for 98.0%. Fifty-seven percent of SSI recipients have no income other than their SSI payment. 1.3 percent were active in a Title XIX facility where Medicaid covered more than half the cost. As a student who wants to succeed, I believe that people should take this information, and legislators should create a bill requiring free health insurance for all, regardless of income #InsuranceFree.
Jessilyn Morales
The Summer Experience for Housing Insecure Students
For college students, once May ends and finals are over, they get to go back to their homes to be with their families and start summer break, but for some students, there is no home to go back to. This is the reality for many CUNY students. At the end of the school semester, comes the dread of working multiple jobs and finding the next place to sleep.
A 2019 survey from the Hope Center found that 14 percent of CUNY undergraduates experienced homelessness in a given year and during the pandemic these numbers will continue to grow due to the loss of jobs as well as personal circumstances such as fleeing abusive households or because many were homeless before they even started college. How can students get an education when all they can focus on is working to make ends meet and trying to provide for themselves living day by day, never knowing what will come next?
As a college student, I found my housing through dormitories–from late August of the fall semester through late July of the summer semester, I would be staying in an overpriced student apartment, maxing out loans, just to feel like I had a place to stay for a few months. This also includes working two jobs to be able to pay off the remains of my rent and for household essentials. Despite the lengthy stay, there was always a month in between in which everyone was forced to leave and I couldn’t even afford a place to live for that month because my dorms would constantly keep me in debt due to the high rates and added-on late fees. As a CUNY student, I had no one to speak to about these issues but I was lucky enough to have a counselor to talk about the stress I was going through. However, when it came to finding a way to have a more stable housing situation, there was no one available on my CUNY campus who was well-versed in my situation to speak to.
I support NY bills S4247/S4248 and A4209, which would help students who need campus support to assist SUNY and CUNY students experiencing homelessness by designating liaison officers on campuses and creating systems for students experiencing homelessness to access support services and other resources available to the students. SUNY and CUNY students experiencing homelessness could then have the support system they need not to fall behind and find a sense of stability within the higher education system. For those who want to help the cause, amplify your voice by sending an email to your local legislator.
Melvin Rodriguez
The Struggles During The Pandemic At Stony Brook
I remember my campus resembling a ghost town every day as I made my afternoon walks around Stony Brook University with how few people I saw walking, sitting, and going about their college lives. Just a couple of months earlier the campus was blooming with life and excitement as the nice spring weather started making its way into my school. The social life wasn’t the only thing that changed, however. It became worse as you started asking how the students were coping with the situation of the world shutting down. Many expressed concerns with housing and food security even while living on campus. It seemed that in the wake of the pandemic, the school cut back on essential services that many students depended on such as mental health services, guidance counseling, and even the food service, and quality were being cut which made their experience significantly worse.
However, this was exclusive to Stony Brook University. It was reported that 5.8 out of 10 students experienced basic needs insecurity during the pandemic. This statistic shows the extent of the effects that the pandemic had on students because we can estimate that a little over half of the student population experienced issues with either housing, food, or homelessness. Schools were not ready for the massive change in society and lacked the plans to adapt to the situation and the students were the ones who felt this change the worst. I personally experienced the lack of food services on campus with reduced hours, menus, and even the removal or changes to certain dishes in attempts to save money. I noticed that the quality of taste and nutritional foods that were at our disposal was decreasing as the school year progressed which made it significantly harder to rely on the dining halls for nutritional foods. But, it remained my only source of food because I had to save the little money I had in case of an emergency.
To help with situations like this in the future, schools should be expected to have a plan in order to help those students who rely on on-campus housing for a place to live and get their education. It should be a piece of legislation that should be passed in order to secure the rights of those students who depend on schools to receive their basic needs while attaining their education. This is especially true if the students pay thousands of dollars to obtain an education at a college or university. They should have the security and well-being of students in mind, especially during a pandemic or other global issues.
Amy Thomas
How long should I wait?
When I told my parents about my toothache and the need to see a dentist, they informed me that I would have to wait for 5 months because our insurance plan only covers us once every 6 months. When my brother complained about aches in his head and stomach and wanted to see my primary care doctor, my parents told him to wait a day and see if the pain persisted, as they would have to pay out-of-pocket copay fees for sick visits. When my grandmother, who has no medical insurance, fell down the stairs, they advised her to wait and see a health care professional because they could not afford to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to get it fixed, hoping that the pain would go away with time.
The answer is always ‘wait’ because accessing and affording quality healthcare is expensive.
Sadly, my story is not uncommon. Health care is a fundamental human right, yet many individuals and families in the United States face significant challenges in accessing and affording quality health care.
Numerous studies have found that having health insurance is strongly related to better health outcomes. Individuals with health insurance are more likely to seek preventive care, receive prompt medical treatment, and effectively manage chronic conditions. This leads to early disease detection and treatment, improved chronic disease management, and overall improved health and well-being. Individuals who do not have health insurance, on the other hand, are more likely to delay or skip important medical care due to financial concerns, resulting in untreated illnesses, higher hospitalizations, and even premature death. Health insurance, in addition to providing better health results, also provides financial security. Medical bills are unpredictable and can quickly add up, putting severe financial strain on individuals and families. Health insurance helps to limit these risks by covering a wide range of medical services, drugs, and preventive care, decreasing patients’ financial burden and protecting them from crippling medical debt.
We cannot afford to wait as a society. We must remove barriers to health insurance and enhance access to it. This can include eliminating the cost of health insurance premiums, deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket expenses, guaranteeing that employers provide health insurance and that all employees are eligible for health care, and addressing coverage gaps caused by eligibility restrictions. Investing in affordable health insurance is not only an issue of human rights; it also results in healthier individuals, and communities, and a more robust, fair health care system. It’s time to take action and ensure that everyone has access to quality health insurance, without having to wait or face financial barriers.
Victor Vasquez
For-Profit Health
I’m a first-generation student attending Lehman College. Many of my family members have health conditions where health insurance is vital for their survival. In the United States, there are constant debates about the health care system. The private sector has taken hold of health care in the United States. Corporations have abused the American people, overcharging them for life-saving treatment, medication, and medical supplies. While this happens, American people fight about our deficit.
The United States owes around 31 trillion dollars. Funnily enough, the vast majority of the debt is to itself. The American government has decided to take a hands-off approach to health care. While the health care system crumbles at the hands of the private sector, the government insists that we increase our dependence on these corporations. Health insurance is essential for our survival. We must not negotiate our survival with corporate interest. My family, like many others, struggled through 2020. Health insurance was a vital resource for our family. The process of getting health insurance was bureaucratic. Even though we had health insurance, we still had to pay a lot of money.
I believe that the American people must fight for a health care system that isn’t for-profit but that prioritizes human health. I firmly believe that adopting a single-payer health care system is an initial step we can take to mitigate the abuse committed by corporations in America. In addition, this would allow the government to negotiate the cost of medicine with pharmaceutical corporations. I urge all New Yorkers to call their local representatives and demand that they support the New York Health Act.– The New York Health Act removes commercial insurance and replaces it with a single-payer system.