February 23, 1995: Vol26n28: UB officials field questions on budget cuts, urge students to join in 

By STEVE COX
Reporter Staff
Senior Vice President Robert Wagner and Vice President for Student
Affairs Robert Palmer fielded questions, and some heat, from students
angered by proposed budget cuts during a  forum  in the Student Union
Feb. 15.
	Wagner, responding to Law Student Paul Beyer, first questioner
of the day, laid out the administration's top priorities: "First, $290
million is way too much. We can't absorb that big a cut at once. The
number has to come down. Second, reinstatement of EOP, graduate and
part-time TAP. Third, we advocate taking this back to the drawing
table...$290 million means a fundamental change in this system. Such a
change has never been discussed or debated."
	"Do I believe higher education is a right? Absolutely. I
wouldn't be in public higher education if I didn't," responded Palmer
to another questioner. Wagner agreed, explaining "We do have a
different mission than private colleges."
	The two UB veeps spent more than an hour answering student
budgetary concerns. They emphasized the efforts the administration has
been making, adding that their goals were the same as those of
students advocating for SUNY, although their tactics might differ.
Wagner explained that President William Greiner has been "further out
front in this fight than any other university president in the state,
perhaps even more than the chancellor."
	Palmer strongly encouraged the students to take an active,
vocal role in the advocacy process in Albany, but declined to join a
student rally planned for Feb. 27, saying, instead, that he and many
administrators would be participating in SUNY day March 6. "We may
disagree slightly on strategy, but this is where we have chosen to
make a living. I happen to love my job," Palmer said. However, in
response to another question, Palmer promised students that he would
look into the legality of excusing students from classes Feb. 27 to
attend the Albany rally.
	"Does Gov. Pataki know that I carry 18 credit hours, work 40
hours a week, have big loans and am still struggling to do this?"
asked one exasperated undergraduate. Wagner answered that the governor
likely does not. "He is projecting modest enrollment increases in
spite of all this. He just doesn't get it. There will be students,
poor and middle income students, who simply will not be back."
	The Pataki administration has concluded that SUNY tuition is
too low, declared Wagner. "They see us as a high value product that is
underpriced." The dramatic increase in tuition coupled with severe
cuts in service comprise "the worst possible scenario," he added. "If
we become less of a financial bargain, compared with other public
institutions or private ones, then we can't cut services. In fact, we
will need to provide better services to stay competitive."
	Wagner also addressed the issue of cuts required during the
current academic year, explaining that non-academic positions would
not be filled, but that he expects no layoffs or class cancellations.
Also, student assistantships, which had been frozen since Feb. 1,
should soon be made available again to open up opportunities for
student employment.
	Palmer explained to one student who asked about the future of
the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) that, "cutting EOP will
truly challenge the notion of egalitarian education. I think it's
remarkable. It drew me here because this institution was providing
opportunities for those who would not otherwise get an education."
Should  EOP not be reinstated by the legislature, Palmer vowed
nevertheless that "no sophomore, junior or senior should  leave
because those funds are gone. We have an obligation to those students
we must meet."