Letter to Students signed Cahn
Item
The Graduate School and University Center
of The City University of New York
Ap P2355 2981.
Dear Students:
In response to your concerns, I want to emphasize that The
Graduate School and University Center remains committed to
pressing the Governor and the Legislature to act against the
recommended tuition increases, financial aid cuts, and sharp
reductions in support for the community and senior colleges.
“Our administration proposes that if the occupation of the
Graduate Center is ended by 11 a.m. April 24, 1991, and
subsequent inspection confirms the integrity of the building and
its contents, then:
(1) As early as convenient on Thursday, April 25, 1991,
an ad hoc committee of faculty members, students, staff, and
administrators will be formed to develop a further plan for
effective action toward improving the budgetary situation, this
plan to be presented to an open forum at the Graduate Center.
This measure would shift the focus of the protest from 4
building occupation to the Source of the crisis. This re-
channeling of energy may constitute an effective alternative for
other campuses, and administrators there will be urged to
explore similar approaches.
(2) The Dean of Students will continue to provide
appropriate resources for constructive activities by Graduate
School students seeking to improve the budgetary situation for
the entire City University of New York.
(3) As early as convenient on Thursday, April 25, 1991,
student representatives will arrange a meeting with the Acting
Provost and the Dean of Students, or their representatives, to
pian a series of discussions with all appropriate parties to
Cons Tuer hirems: 3, 45.55, <6, °o, 2113 14, and 15).of- your April
19 letter.
(4) The administration of The Graduate School and
University Center will not initiate disciplinary proceedings
against any student on the basis of peaceful, nonviolent actions
taken from 7 a:m. Tuesday, April 19; 1991, until 11 a.m.
Wednesday, April 24, 1991, in connection with the seizure and
occupancy of the Graduate Center.
as
Steven M. Cahn
President (Acting)
of The City University of New York
Ap P2355 2981.
Dear Students:
In response to your concerns, I want to emphasize that The
Graduate School and University Center remains committed to
pressing the Governor and the Legislature to act against the
recommended tuition increases, financial aid cuts, and sharp
reductions in support for the community and senior colleges.
“Our administration proposes that if the occupation of the
Graduate Center is ended by 11 a.m. April 24, 1991, and
subsequent inspection confirms the integrity of the building and
its contents, then:
(1) As early as convenient on Thursday, April 25, 1991,
an ad hoc committee of faculty members, students, staff, and
administrators will be formed to develop a further plan for
effective action toward improving the budgetary situation, this
plan to be presented to an open forum at the Graduate Center.
This measure would shift the focus of the protest from 4
building occupation to the Source of the crisis. This re-
channeling of energy may constitute an effective alternative for
other campuses, and administrators there will be urged to
explore similar approaches.
(2) The Dean of Students will continue to provide
appropriate resources for constructive activities by Graduate
School students seeking to improve the budgetary situation for
the entire City University of New York.
(3) As early as convenient on Thursday, April 25, 1991,
student representatives will arrange a meeting with the Acting
Provost and the Dean of Students, or their representatives, to
pian a series of discussions with all appropriate parties to
Cons Tuer hirems: 3, 45.55, <6, °o, 2113 14, and 15).of- your April
19 letter.
(4) The administration of The Graduate School and
University Center will not initiate disciplinary proceedings
against any student on the basis of peaceful, nonviolent actions
taken from 7 a:m. Tuesday, April 19; 1991, until 11 a.m.
Wednesday, April 24, 1991, in connection with the seizure and
occupancy of the Graduate Center.
as
Steven M. Cahn
President (Acting)
Title
Letter to Students signed Cahn
Description
Dated April 23, 1991, and signed by the acting president of the Graduate Center Steven M, Cahn, this letter referenced an April 19th letter sent by the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School] students. The letter stated that the Graduate School and University Center remained committed to pressing the governor and the city and state legislatures to act against cutting CUNY’s budget, imposing tuition increases, and decreasing student financial aid and further proposed that if the occupation of the Graduate Center ended the following day, the administration would be willing to convene an ad hoc committee comprised of aculty members, students, staff and administrators and that the administration of the Graduate School would not initiate disciplinary proceedings against any students on the basis of “peaceful, nonviolent actions. . .in connection with the seizure and occupancy of the Graduate Center.”
The 1991 CUNY strikes were part of the larger story of austerity measures imposed on New York City and the community efforts to resist those measures. On April 16th, students mainly from the Graduate Center Anthropology PhD program occupied the Graduate Center in solidarity with a broader undergraduate mobilization across CUNY against the threat of steep tuition hikes, massive budget cuts, and faculty layoffs. What began as a one-day strike turned into a ten-day take-over in which students and faculty practiced forms of participatory democracy, discussed the root causes of the austerity problems being faced, and debated actions for change. Students often drew on CUNY’s history as the premier urban, public institution of higher education in the United States to argue that education was a right and that the proposed measures threatened working-class New Yorkers' ability to receive an education.
Contributor
McCaffrey, Katherine
Creator
Cahn, Steven
Date
April 23, 1991
Language
English
Relation
11832
Rights
Copyrighted
Source
McCaffrey, Katherine
Cahn, Steven. Letter. “Letter to Students Signed Cahn”. 11832, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 12, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/1711