jimbo

If you turn down the fellowship, CUNY might be able to give it to someone on a waiting list, or a current student who's not funded (many of their students are unfunded). Or, the higher-up administration might have a policy that the department is only allowed to offer so many fellowships, and if anyone turns it down, it goes back into the big pool in the sky (the coffers of the higher-up admins). It depends on the Grad School policies. Ask the department. Where else have you applied?