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Fingers Crossed for
Independent SUNY Campus In Southampton's Future
Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele and State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle have introduced legislation to study the feasibility of establishing and independent SUNY College at Southampton.
Both East End representatives in the New York State Legislature have been strong proponents of higher education at the Southampton campus. When LIU announced it was closing Southampton College, they spearheaded the charge to have the State University acquire the campus as part of Stony Brook University.
Since 2006, the State University spent $78 million in capital improvements at the campus. According to SUNY records, admissions applications increased 54% this past year and SAT scores rose by 100 points. Yet, last April, SUNY announced it planned to close the Southampton campus.
The surprise SUNY decision has been widely criticized by the East End community. It also is not being taken lightly. Several Southampton students have initiated litigation. The move is widely believed by critics to represent a shift in the mission of Stony Brook rather than a budget matter.
In announcing their proposal, Assemblyman Thiele and Senator LaValle stated, “We have demonstrated a long term commitment to a full service college and public higher education at Southampton."
They called the State’s investment in the future of Southampton "prudent" and stressed that it "must not be wasted". The social and economic future of the East End requires that it continue to have a 4 year college for its residents.
Based on experience with both LIU and Stony Brook, however, they feel that operating the college as a satellite to another institution "will never properly serve the needs of the community".
Their legislation should put in motion a process that ultimately will conclude in a positive investment of State funds.
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