All eyes will be on Baruch College Monday afternoon when the board of trustees votes on a very contentious issue, tuition hikes; an extra $300 a year for the next five years.
Last Monday when the board tried to hold a public hearing, the overflow crowd was told to go to another room and watch a video link.
When students refused and sat down in protest, they claim their peaceful cries for affordable education were met with batons and brutality.
It was an ugly confrontation.
Students in handcuffs were dragged away.
At least 15 were arrested. Video was taken by students.
In an effort to avoid a repeat of a hostile face off, the president of the college this weekend canceled all Monday afternoon classes at the Newman Vertical Campus; thus clearing students from the area during the vote.
According to the president, "I want to restate again my commitment to the right of free expression on the Baruch College campus."
As these demonstrators told Eyewitness News Sunday night, $300 may not be a lot for many who live in Manhattan but for students trying to pull themselves out of the poverty level via higher education it makes all the difference.
"We just can't afford it," student Denise Romero said.
"Education is a human right. Without education, what are you telling the youth?" student Domingo Estevez said.
In addition to a zero percent tuition hike, students are demanding the current administration be removed, the public security officers there be dismissed and the charges against those arrested last week be dropped.
