After a year of protests and rallies on campus, we students have shown how passionate we are when it comes to protecting Binghamton University’s budget. Now it’s time for our state leaders in Albany to show a bit of the same concern and regard when it comes to fixing the financial problems of this University, and hopefully New York state as well.
At last night’s Assembly meeting President Lois DeFleur introduced the University’s new campaign, which is designed to help BU fight back if Albany takes our budget to the chopping block again this year (see Page 1).
She said that this new campaign — the details of which we’re still waiting to hear — needs the support of the students, faculty and staff at BU. But even with the whole campus backing the movement, whatever it may entail, we’re skeptical it’ll make a difference if we’re not vigil with our activism.
The behavior of our lawmakers this summer was irresponsible and embarrassing. The time wasted in a stalemate in the state Senate, which lasted six long weeks, could have been spent trying to form some beginning solutions for the state’s fiscal problems. Instead, the gridlock only deepened the problems. According to a poll conducted by Marist College, almost 70 percent of voters said the Senate needs “major changes,” while another 10 percent think it’s “broken beyond repair.”
We understand that in these tough economic times some cuts are inevitable, but universities should not be bearing so much of the brunt.
DeFleur was right last night when she said that we are the future of this state, and we need to be steadfast in following what is happening in Albany, especially in regards to higher education. Without our state leaders making some real progress when it comes to getting out of this financial mess, our future at BU isn’t looking too bright — think more of the cuts DeFleur mentioned Monday: fewer new faculty members, decreases in spending and more limited enrollment.
When it comes down to it, if we want to make last year’s cuts the last BU sees for a while, we’re going to have to fight for our University, whether that means standing behind the administration’s campaign or making one of our own. Until the state leaders turn it around, we’re our best resource, and this issue is too important to leave to chance.