College of St. Rose students delivered a petition with 1,000 signatures to administration protesting the cuts of 23 professors. The administration says the cuts will impact only four percent of students. Barry Wygel has the story.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- With the brisk winter air brings a new chapter in the ongoing fight between St. Rose faculty, students, and administration.
"Today is really just to show that we love our faculty and we are standing by our faculty," said Christina Romeo, a junior at St. Rose.
In the wake of the administration's plan to lay off 23 professors and cut 25 programs in order to decrease a budget deficit, the faculty of the school held a no confidence vote in President Carolyn Stefanco. That vote overwhelmingly passed.
"There's more than one way to skin a cat. For example, there could be across the board cuts in pay salary, which faculty, in my mind, would more than agree to, said Scott Brodie, professor of art at the college.
Mustering Friday morning, the small group which they say represents the faculty and more than 1,000 students wanted to deliver their petition and message in person to the College Board of Trustees.
"We have some vague understanding of where the meeting is. Everything is very secretive is," said Romeo.
While the demonstrators eventually tracked down the location of the closed door meeting, media was blocked from entering the building.
"The name private college means just that. Private -- this is a classroom building. There are classes going on, there are other functions going on in the building. We can't have that kind of distraction," said Ben Marvin, with the St. Rose public relations department.
Students we spoke with say this entire project has left them with a feeling of animosity towards the college president and the Board of Trustees, saying that this is no way to run a college.
"It makes me feel like I'm under big brother, like I feel like I have the watchful eye over me, but I can't even talk to that eye," said Romeo.
After the petition was delivered calling for the president to rescind the cuts or resign, the board of trustees sent a release saying they unanimously voted to support President Stefanco and her decisions. They cited the fact that only 4 percent of students are enrolled in the 25 programs that will be cut.
The board chair voiced her support in a statement saying:
"She is determined to meet the changing needs of our students, improve the college’s financial condition, increase enrollment, and expand the academic programs our students are seeking. The Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Stefanco to lead St. Rose into the future. We are exceptionally pleased with her leadership in this challenging time, and she has our full support and confidence."