

Promoting his proposal to offer free tuition at New York State’s public colleges and universities, Governor Andrew Cuomo has said “college is a mandatory step if you really want to be a success,” and that “a college education is a necessity to compete in today’s economy.”
Attendees heard from a panel of experts in Albany on March 13 at 10am as they discussed these and other aspects of the governor’s proposal.
The event was moderated by Karen DeWitt, Capitol Bureau Chief, NYS Public Radio. Panelists included:
- Beth Akers, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute, and coauthor of Game of Loans: The Rhetoric and Reality of Student Debt
- Jim Malatras, president, Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government
- Mary Beth Labate, President, The Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities in New York
- Marc Cohen, President, Student Assembly of the State University of New York
- E.J. McMahon, Research Director, Empire Center
E.J. McMahon’s remarks: [slides]
Beth Akers’ remarks: [slides]
Marc Cohen’s remarks:
Mary Beth Labate’s remarks: [slides]
Jim Malatras’ remarks: [slides]
Panel discussion and audience questions:
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