More than 300 members of United University Professions and other activists protested Gov. David Paterson calling for a $110 million cut in state aid to the SUNY system.

Protesters carried signs that read “Don’t hold SUNY’s $$$ hostage” and demanded Paterson restore the money, which is part of an overall cut of 3.35 percent to each state agency that Paterson is calling for.

“This is not the taxpayers’ money,” UUP President Phillip Smith said. “This is money that college students and their families have paid to SUNY for tuition, room and board and other fees.”

Without this money, courses would be cut, staff would have to be downsized and class sizes would swell on SUNY’s 29 campuses across the state, he said.

“The SUNY system is going to be dismantled,” he said. “The entire New York economy is going to suffer.”

Alan Lubin, the executive director of New York State United Teachers, said “the division of budget is sticking a knife into the throat of SUNY” with these cuts.

SUNY, which is anticipating its largest freshman class ever next year, already sustained a $38 million cut in this year’s budget, protesters said.