Students at SUNY Stony Brook University are taking a stance against the recent budget cuts that will cause many severe changes in the institution.
SBU students have been signing a petition against the “drastic cuts to the academic programs and student housing at Stony Brook University-Southampton campus,” the petition Web site said.
The university will see a $20 million loss in the budget, which will reduce operations at its external locations and facilities, which includes closing one of its Manhattan spaces and suspending the residential program and new undergraduate admissions at SBU Southampton, according to a Stony Brook University press release.
In addition, SBU will be affected by job losses to these areas of campus, although the extent of the losses has not yet been determined.
The administration said it was trying to keep the students’ and university’s best interests in mind when deciding what needed to be cut.
“Six million dollars annually will be saved by making Southampton a non-residential location, and another $1 million in savings will be realized by closing one of its Manhattan spaces,” said SBU President Dr. Samuel Stanley, Jr. in a press release.
Beginning fall 2010, Southampton College, the university’s marine and environmental, writing, arts and media program, and the housing communities in the area, will be closed to new students.
According to the SBU Web site, all students currently enrolled to live in the housing communities in Southampton will be transferred to the West College campus.
Many majors once offered at Southampton will be offered at West campus, except coastal environmental studies and environmental humanities.
Southampton College will not be offering an undergraduate program to prospective students admitted for the upcoming fall semester.
“Prospective students who have been admitted to Stony Brook Southampton are being offered admission to West campus in Stony Brook,” according to the SBU Web site. “Should you choose to go elsewhere, you may request or receive a full refund of the application fee.”
Students and faculty interested in signing the petition or donating in support of the petition are encouraged to visit petitionspot.com/petitions/savesbs.