From: WNED-AM 970 NEWS
August 8, 2008

SUNY System Braces for More Cuts
Mike Desmond

BUFFALO (2008-08-08) New York State's university system, SUNY, is bracing for more financial pain as Albany tries to work its way out of a multi-billion dollar deficit.

The head of United University Professions, the union which represents SUNY faculty and staff, says the system's budget has already been cut $148-million. Phillip Smith expects even more cuts to be ordered soon.

Smith says the impact will be felt beyond the lecture halls.

"Communities such as Buffalo or Syracuse or some of the smaller campuses like Fredonia...those campuses are the heartblood of their communities. If we reduce spending to SUNY, it's going to reduce the out-flow of dollars into the community. Everybody suffers," Smith told WNED.

Smith says there's shell shock in the university community because the cuts are coming on such short notice with classes just a few weeks away.

At the University at Buffalo, President John Simpson has ordered a 45-day "time out" on hiring and spending until the effects of the cuts are more clear.

Henderson says public universities in many other states have also been hit by budget problems because of the downturn in the national economy.

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