Governor Andrew Cuomo recently unveiled his budget proposal for the next year, and it contained some surprising news for SUNY students. After years of tuition increases, many of which were protested by UB students, Cuomo announced that he would not increase tuition for state schools.
While many students were excited about this, the Student Assembly, which said that it wished to see tuition increase at a fixed rate each year so students can plan ahead, met it with disapproval.
One of the main concerns was the 10 percent cut to the SUNY budget, which would likely lead to several key programs losing funding, and many disappearing.
This was an issue of major concern, since several academic departments are already struggling, and cutting millions of dollars from the SUNY budget would only drive them further into extinction.
Many people believe that the best way to keep these programs from suffering this fate would be to increase tuition so that the budget cuts won't be necessary, and SUNY won't have to make such drastic cuts.
While The Spectrum understands the desire to eliminate budget cuts, and is certainly sympathetic toward the plight of endangered programs, we do not entirely agree with this logic.
For one thing, the money from last year's tuition increase did not all actually go to UB. It went to Albany, and then a percentage of it was given back to schools. Considering the state that the economy is in, it is unlikely that a large tuition increase would give that much money to SUNY schools. The state as a whole is in poor condition, and as a result, there are other areas that would receive the funding.
Because of the poor state of the economy, and lack of employment across the board, it is likely that other programs would receive higher priority than SUNY.
Budget cuts are necessary. The problem isn't that they are being made, but where they are being made. Instead of dismantling academic programs and leaving several departments in shambles, there are other more cost-effective ways of shortening the budgets.
For example, some buildings on campus leave lights on all summer long. If no one's using the buildings, why spend that much on electricity? Simply turning off the lights would probably trim the budget, however substantially, and help the environment.
Additionally, consider the high salaries and benefits that some people at UB receive. Many high-ranking officials receive salaries well into six-figure territory. Making cuts in this area would certainly soften the budget cuts.
With the economy the way it is, budget cuts are necessary and understandable. However, The Spectrum doesn't see why the academic departments should have to pay so much of the price. Cutting from other areas could save money, and keep important programs running.
