Statement by State Senator Brad Hoylman on Proposed Settlement Between the Committee to Save Cooper Union and Cooper Union

Senator Hoylman: Today’s proposed settlement will give Cooper Union the opportunity to repair its reputation amongst students, faculty, and alumni and help restore Peter Cooper’s original promise of an education “open and free to all.”

NEW YORK - I am proud to have been a supporter of Cooper Union's students and faculty in questioning their school’s financial management and objection to the imposition of tuition. I commend Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for taking our concerns seriously. Today's proposed settlement will give Cooper Union the opportunity to repair its reputation amongst students, faculty, and alumni and help restore Peter Cooper's original promise of an education "open and free to all."

More broadly, Attorney General Schneiderman has put the trustees of all New York's colleges and universities on notice that they need to take their oversight responsibilities seriously. I urge the oversight committee to prioritize returning Cooper Union to the tuition-free model, which is critical in attracting top students to the creative industries that drive our local economy, and I stand ready to assist them in achieving this goal.

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