#M1
#M1 took many forms across the state. Here is coverage of NYSR affiliate campus actions from New York City to Buffalo.

CUNY: march
http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/2012022913531827
http://occupycunynews.org/2012/02/25/nysr-petition-calls-on-legislators-to-pledge-support-for-public-education/
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-28/news/31108917_1_cuny-tuition-tuition-increases-child-care#ixzz1nh9lSujd

SUNY Purchase: funeral for public higher education
http://www.thedailyharrison.com/news/suny-purchase-students-protest-tuition-hikes
http://whiteplains.patch.com/articles/suny-purchase-students-mourn-death-of-higher-education#photo-9231361

University at Buffalo: mock student debt telethon
http://www.ubspectrum.com/news/students-raise-over-3-million-in-mock-debt-telethon-1.2804937#.T1WMjdFSQZF

#M5Yesterday’s #M5 action was a massive convergence on the state capitol in Albany, NY. Hundreds of students from SUNY, CUNY, and Albany-area high schools turned out, supported by educators, parents, and concerned community members. 33 people took arrests in a peaceful sit-in outside Governor Cuomo’s office.

The action took place simultaneously with a similar action in Sacramento, CA, as UC and CSU students, faculty, and supporters descended on the California state house. 68 people took arrests in peaceful demonstrations there, making the total number of higher ed arrestees 101.

Early coverage: Public News Service
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25156-1

#M1 – #M5: Rebuild the Dream (NY + CA roundup)
http://rebuildthedream.com/blog/2012/03/05/students-take-a-stand-m1-and-m5-round-up/

National: New York Times
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/protests-over-tuition-increases-jolt-the-capitol/

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/new-york-california-college-students-rally_n_1321586.html

Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP8d1d55b3cc00433cb621db965c025b42.html?KEYWORDS=new+york+students+rising

Local: Fox 23
http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Students-protest-higher-education-tuition-hikes/9uGuJrjWZEy6TUaZIKm6TA.cspx

CBS6Albany
http://cbs6albany.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_16.shtml 

News 10
http://www.news10.com/story/17085243/students-occupiers-arrested-protesting-ny-budget

WCNY
http://video.wcny.org/video/2205775558

WAMC
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/119231/video-speeches-from-the-occupation/ 

Politics on the Hudson
http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2012/03/05/ny-students-rising-protests-sunycuny-funding-tuition/

Capitol Tonight
http://www.capitaltonight.com/2012/03/at-the-capitol-its-starting-to-feel-a-lot-like-march/

Albany Times-Union
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/119107/the-sit-in-begins/
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/119078/occupiers-are-back/
https://twitter.com/#!/TUCapCon/status/176744057719103488
https://twitter.com/#!/TUCapCon/status/176756712034926592

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Photos-Capitol-protest-3383615.php#photo-2583882

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/119231/video-speeches-from-the-occupation/



The Republic (Columbus, IN — Associated Press) http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/8d1d55b3cc00433cb621db965c025b42/NY–Occupy-Albany/

Newsday
http://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/students-occupiers-arrested-protesting-ny-budget-1.3579978 

El Diario
http://www.eldiariony.com/article/20120305/LOCALES/120309781

Smithtown Radio
http://www.smithtownradio.com/2012/03/05/1355/student-protest-movement-spreads-to-new-york/ 

North Country Public Radio
http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19433/20120306/students-rally-for-suny-cuny

Today's action was incredible thanks to the tireless work of our organizers here at Students United for a Free CUNY.  Unsurprisingly, no politicians save for Council Member Charles Barron showed up to sign our pledge to defend and restore funding to public education.  Take a look below for pictures, video, media coverage and copies of the State of the Students Address and the Pledge to Defend and Restore Funding to Public Education Below, along with testimony from the press conference.  See you on March 5th!

State of the Students
Estado de los Estudiantes
Testimony from Nicole
Testimony from Taffy
Pledge to Defend and Restore Funding to Public Education






Media Round-up:
El Diario: Protesta por atropellos en la educación pública
NY1: CUNY Students Cite Tuition Costs in State of the Students Address
NY1 Noticias: "Estado de los Estudiantes" plantea fallas del sistema    universitario público  
World Journal:「免費市大」學生聯盟 抗議漲學費

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STUDENTS TO HOLD “STATE OF THE STUDENTS ADDRESS” ON STEPS OF CITY HALL
                                      A Message to the Public on the State of Public Education, K to CUNY

New York, February 20, 2012 - As a result of Governor Cuomo's State of the State and Mayor Bloomberg's State of the City, many students in New York City feel abandoned by representatives and disillusioned by the lack of prioritization of education on the political agenda.  The State of the Students public address, hosted by Students United for a Free CUNY, plans to change the current dialogue, challenge the rhetoric and shed light on the horrible direction New York City public education is going, from K to CUNY, in order to reverse it. 

In light of the recently imposed CUNY tuition hikes, school closures and further overcrowding, many students feel like their pleas have gone unanswered and their voices have been unheard- or rather, silenced.  “They blame our teachers, our professors and budget deficits for the shortcomings of the New York public education system,” said Samuel Gompers High School student Sony Cabral, whose school is slated to be closed this year, “but it’s time we expose that the real deficits are in their political processes which prioritize the rich over working class students, parents, and teachers.” The continued divestment and privatization of public education has had extreme effects on the accessibility to and quality of education for working-class people.  “Many students in CUNY are burdened with more responsibilities than previous generations.  Overall, these students work either full-time or part-time, often raising families as they work towards their degree. This is not just a student issue, but also a family and community issue.” explained Julian Guerrero, a student at Hunter College.


Students United for a Free CUNY and students of all ages will be holding a “State of the Students Address” at 12pm Monday, February 20th on the Steps of City Hall, to report on the realities of the crumbling public education system.  There will be testimonials from all levels of public education, kindergarten to CUNY, and students will demand New York State and City’s leading politicians, especially members of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus, publicly pledge to vote against any budget containing cuts to public education and push for the full restoration of funding for education. Hopes are that this will lead to the end of divestment from public education, and motivate representatives to effectively work to secure more consistent public funding. “I feel the State of the Students Address will serve a dual purpose,” said Jamie Yancovitz, student at the CUNY Grad Center, “It will allow space for a student rebuttal to the claims the Governor and Mayor have put forth in their respective addresses, and serve to hold accountable those politicians claiming to be on the side of students- while acting against us.”


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