10/3/2021
Mark Pine
Baruch College CUNY student
RE: Student interaction / Student groups.
Greetings New York City Council Committee on Education,
I love Baruch College and The City University of New York.
I always treat everyone at Baruch College CUNY with the utmost respect at all times. That includes staff, professors, security guards, and students. Treating people respectfully is more important than anything.
I never participate in controversial conversations at Baruch College out of respect for people’s feelings.
I love Baruch College and The City University of New York. It’s the best opportunity ever.
I’ve been living in the street homeless for the past five years. I believe that Baruch College CUNY is going to be my bridge to having an apartment.
I never intentionally partake in risky behavior. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t party. I don’t have a criminal record.
I would like feedback from the New York City Council – Committee on Education regarding an issue I’m having at Baruch College CUNY.
I read that there are thousands of complaints from students against students every year in New York Colleges including New York City.
I read that CUNY is spending millions of dollars per year to defend complaints and lawsuits from CUNY students against CUNY staff and professors.
I politely asked the Baruch College CUNY staff if I could be excused from having to get into small groups and pairs with students.
I don’t mind getting into a big group and keeping quiet and observing.
I’m referencing getting into a small group or pair.
The Baruch College CUNY staff responded and said getting into small groups and pairs with students is mandatory and non-negotiable.
Even though I disagree with the Baruch College CUNY staff on this one issue, I hold them in the highest regard and treat them with the utmost respect at all times.
The Baruch College CUNY staff and professors are as good as it gets. I appreciate the opportunity to be part of the Baruch College family. When I graduate from Baruch College I would like to attend a CUNY graduate school.
For the last three semesters (two at LaGuardia Community College and one at Baruch College) I have been lucky enough to avoid student groups.
I don’t date and I’m not looking to network at Baruch College. I’m a people person and I enjoy meeting people but not under these circumstances.
I would prefer to network outside of college where I don’t have to worry about complaints and getting in trouble at school.
I will also let all students in my groups know that I live in the street and am homeless just in case the student doesn’t want to be in a pair with a street homeless person.
I also notified my professors that it’s OK to notify the class that Mark Pine (me) is street homeless. I want the students in the class to know upfront because I’m confident that a lot of students and their parents wouldn’t want their children in small groups with street homeless people.
It’s common knowledge that homeless people, in general, have a bad reputation.
Please advise if there is anything I can do to respectfully avoid student groups at Baruch College. It’s such a small part of school but has the ability to derail my entire education.
Thank you and have a great day.
Ever upward,
Mark Pine
