Reporter Volume 26, No.22 March 30, 1995

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
Reporter Editor
The budget and its ramifications were again the topic of the day at
the March 23 meeting of the UB Council, where UB President William R.
Greiner updated the group on the state budget crisis and council
members reported on their lobbying efforts in Albany.
	The 1995-96 fiscal year continues to look bleak for SUNY, the
president indicated. "I think SUNY is going to take a real rocking in
this budget," Greiner said.
	"We have done as much as we're going to be able to do to
change the budget. Something good may happen (in terms of restoring
some budget funding), but I don't think you're going to see a return
to the SUNY we knew even a couple of weeks ago."
	The March 14 press conference held by the SUNY Board of
Trustees was "a traumatizing experience for the trustees" that "caught
the governor and legislators by surprise," said Greiner, because the
board unanimously recommended such a grim plan to deal with the
proposed SUNY budget cut.
	But as a university president, his response was "Thank God.
Someone had to say this," Greiner said.
	It was significant that the trustees issued their plan "after
six weeks of silence, very public silence," and that their response
was so grim, according to Greiner. "Read into it that there's a lot of
tension and a lot of emotion" over the proposed budget cuts, he said.
	"I think we're going to have a very different SUNY," Greiner
told the UB Council. "We can't operate in the future as we have in the
past....No matter what, next fall we will be functioning in different
ways. No one thinks UB will be a target for closure. No one thinks any
of the four university centers will be targets for closure."
	Two council members also reported on personal experiences
lobbying in Albany.
	"It was an enlightening but discouraging meeting, all in all,"
said council member James Phillips, who traveled to Albany as part of
the UB Alumni Association's Legislative Action Committee.
	Participants in the Feb. 28 trip took part in the lobbying
effort "to plead our case" for "more time, more TAP and more
flexibility in deciding our own fate," Phillips said.
	Describing his interactions with state legislators as
"pleasant and light but discouraging," he noted that "those on our
side said they sympathized with us, but it was fait accompli."
	Council Chair Philip Wels also reported on his advocacy
efforts, which he characterized as "an interesting experience."
	Overall, he said he had the impression that legislators he met
with didn't realize the ramifications the budget cuts would have,
reducing the number of students and faculty in SUNY. Legislators
didn't realize that severe budget cuts could lead to what he called
"cherry picking." "Some of our faculty are going to get plucked" away
to jobs at other institutions, he said.
he council chair said he also tried to leave
	legislators with a message: "It's impossible for us to do what
you want us to do with this type of cut," Wels said.
	In other business, the Council:
	o Viewed a video titled "A World of Possibilities: Celebrating
Diversity," a project that evolved from the work of UB's Task Force on
Intolerance. The video was presented by Robert Palmer, vice president
for Student Affairs, who said it was developed in an effort to
"celebrate diversity rather than try to stamp out hate speech" and
similar problems. The Office of the President, Department of Media
Study and Office of Student Affairs were involved in the video's
inception, Palmer said, and tapes are being used by programs that
include Freshman and Transfer Orientation, housing and Teaching
Effectiveness.
	o Briefly reviewed suggested changes to Student Rules and
Regulations for 1995-96, including a rule that would make it a
violation to tamper with doors. The new regulation is in response to
the problem of building doors being propped open to allow access,
according to Council member Mary Reynolds.
	o Discussed the ramifications the proposed budget cuts would
have on new building projects. According to Greiner, plans for the
second phase of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Complex, which
would house the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science, and
the Student Services Building, are at risk. The president noted that
construction of the new NSM building is "absolutely crucial" and said
he hopes "to crack that one loose this year." He added that
construction of student apartment-style housing also is important to
enhancing student life, but predicted "the only way we're going to be
able to do it is privately."
	o Praised John Naughton, who announced earlier this month that
he intends to step down in July 1996 as dean of the medical school and
vice president for clinical affairs. Noting that Naughton "has done an
extraordinary job under difficult circumstances," "elevated the
standing  of the medical school," and "clearly made an enormous
contribution," Greiner indicated that the university probably would
separate his job into two distinct positions.