Students protest SUNY budget cuts
Megan McGinley
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
"It's a little disturbing, the apathy on campus," said senior Brian Hartle, Student Association's director of academic affairs.
Some passersby dismissed the protest as "stupid," others said that students choosing a state-funded school inherently accept less-funded programming as a trade-off for a relatively inexpensive degree.
During the all-college free hour, marchers walked to Erwin Hall for a 45-minute sit-in. Once inside, Kaasik led a mock eulogy mourning many of the programs that could be eliminated in the wake of budget cuts. A student shredded the syllabi of over 100 courses as Kaasik "lamented" the loss of courses, acceptable student-faculty ratios, professors and manageable office hours.
"Let us have a moment of silence as we bid farewell to 100 courses that were tragically cut short by state legislature," Kaasik said. He then directed students to sit quietly, display their signs and try not to disrupt the daily activities of administrators.
Students attending the sit-in paid compliments to the organization and impact of the event. "I think this was all really well organized," said sophomore Anders Korn. "I also think it's really important that we're focusing on the Bundy Aid because addressing that is something that could help."
"I just think that if SUNY students don't fight this, who's going to?" said junior Jeffrey Nathanson.
Geneseo will absorb approximately $890,000 of the $90 million in cuts if they are enacted. Though substantial, this figure is somewhat less than the $2.6 million that was originally anticipated by the administration.
Some passersby dismissed the protest as "stupid," others said that students choosing a state-funded school inherently accept less-funded programming as a trade-off for a relatively inexpensive degree.
During the all-college free hour, marchers walked to Erwin Hall for a 45-minute sit-in. Once inside, Kaasik led a mock eulogy mourning many of the programs that could be eliminated in the wake of budget cuts. A student shredded the syllabi of over 100 courses as Kaasik "lamented" the loss of courses, acceptable student-faculty ratios, professors and manageable office hours.
"Let us have a moment of silence as we bid farewell to 100 courses that were tragically cut short by state legislature," Kaasik said. He then directed students to sit quietly, display their signs and try not to disrupt the daily activities of administrators.
Students attending the sit-in paid compliments to the organization and impact of the event. "I think this was all really well organized," said sophomore Anders Korn. "I also think it's really important that we're focusing on the Bundy Aid because addressing that is something that could help."
"I just think that if SUNY students don't fight this, who's going to?" said junior Jeffrey Nathanson.
Geneseo will absorb approximately $890,000 of the $90 million in cuts if they are enacted. Though substantial, this figure is somewhat less than the $2.6 million that was originally anticipated by the administration.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Bobby
posted 11/20/09 @ 3:53 PM EST
Honestly I don't think apathy is the right word. I'm annoyed about the budget cuts as much as anyone else I think, but did I participate in this? No. Why? Because I find it to be a misguided and self-righteous act, which frankly is a waste of my time. (Continued…)
Jordan Parker
posted 11/20/09 @ 4:20 PM EST
Does anyone know what the cut is in terms of percent?
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