My experience at City College can be summed up in a few words. The academics were great and demanding — after City, everything else was easy. Today's CCNY students
face the same kinds of challenges I did; like me, many of them have to work while in school. They face an additional
burden that I did not, however: school was tuition-free in my day, but now it is not. They also face other serious barriers to their education, including the kinds of emergencies that can make the difference between staying in school and having to leave. That is why I supported initiatives from the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation to provide financial assistance for honors students and special emergency funds to help students stay the course. My wife Claire and I have also supported other programs at City.I hope that these initiatives will help many of City'stremendously talented but needy kids excel.