NYC UNION of STUDENTS

Our Structure: Nothing About Us, Without Us

COALITION BUILDING AND DEMOCRACY

We are a bottom-up student organization. No decision about us is made without us.

We believe in democratic decision-making and building buy-in amongst community and coalition members. Those who are organizing with us have the right to have their diverse voices heard, and those who make the decisions should be the ones actively participating in the movement.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

The NYC Union of Students (NYCUS) is led by an Organizing Committee (OC) consisting of students from CUNY, NYU, and Columbia, among other NYC-based higher education institutions. The OC creates and steers the strategy of NYCUS, voting on the programs NYCUS organizes, the way the body is structured, and how we orient around the campaigns we run. Any student is allowed and encouraged to join and participate in our democracy.

STEERING COMMITTEE

New Yorkers for Higher Education Funding Justice (NYHEFJ) is a coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to fighting for CUNY and higher education funding justice. We believe that every student has the right to an accessible and excellent education, no matter who they are or where they come from.

The Steering Committee came together around REPAIR—Repeal Egregious Property Accumulation and Invest it Right! REPAIR is a legislative campaign which demands that Columbia and NYU pay their fair share back to New York City. Columbia and NYU are two of the largest private property owners in NYC, and yet they receive more than $300 million each year in real property tax exemptions. REPAIR is sponsored by Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and Senator John Liu. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), and the Public Science Project are also part of the Steering Committee. Steering have worked together since early 2023 to develop the legislation and campaign. This Committee supports the student movement for equitable education in NYC.

STAFF AND ADVISORS

Campaign Director: Erin Lawson

Lead Organizer: Johanna Von Maack

Senior Advisor: Maddy Fox

FUNDING

NYHEFJ is funded by the Ichigo Foundation and private donors. Our fiscal sponsor is the Fund for the City of New York, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.