UUP Press Releases

CONTACT: Denyce Duncan Lacy or Don Feldstein at (518) 640-6600
Lacy’s cell number is (518) 265-3114

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

UUP: SUNY cuts hit localities hard

Albany, March 20, 2003 -- Members of United University Professions (UUP) will pound the pavement of Main streets in SUNY communities across the state next week (March 23-29), talking to shopkeepers and business owners about the economic impact their campuses have on the local economy.

As they pay their bills and make their everyday purchases, these UUP activists will be handing out "SUNY bucks," a dollar-like reminder that "this transaction is made possible by the women and men of SUNY."

"The cuts proposed in the Executive Budget could mean the loss of almost 4,000 SUNY faculty members," explained UUP President William E. Scheuerman. "Our message is: 'These people are your customers and your neighbors. Their possible unemployment will have a very real impact on your business and your community.'"

The Executive Budget proposes a $183.5 million -- or 15 percent -- cut to SUNY. According to Scheuerman, that's a potential financial hit of 15 percent to local communities that depend on their state university campuses as employers and consumers. He said studies show that every dollar invested in SUNY puts another two dollars into the local economy.

In some upstate cities -- such as Oswego and Oneonta -- the individual SUNY campuses are the largest employers. In another area of the state -- Western New York -- the indirect economic impact of several campuses is nearly $1 billion.

"The losses would be significant, no matter what the size of the campus or the region of the state," Scheuerman said.

The "SUNY bucks" campaign is part of a week of activities UUP's 33 chapters have planned to bring attention to the potential effect of the devastating cuts proposed for the University. UUPers across the state are also staging rallies, letter-writing campaigns and phone calls to lawmakers calling for a better SUNY budget.

"The consequences of these cuts will be felt well beyond the campuses," Scheuerman said. "They will have a communitywide effect and, of course, adversely impact students who are already having a difficult time finding the courses they need to graduate on time. What will happen to the students when 15 percent of their faculty disappears?"

Scheuerman continued: "These cuts make no sense. SUNY is the catalyst New York needs to help our economy rebound. SUNY is an investment in our future and in our financial well-being."

UUP represents more then 34,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York State-operated campuses, and is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).    

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