Stony Brook Council Supports Southampton Decision

The Stony Brook Council on Monday supported Stony Brook University President Samuel Stanley's decision earlier this year to relocate the undergraduate sustainability program and residential services of its Southampton campus to the main Stony Brook Campus.

The council voted 7 to 2 in favor of the decision, with one council member absent from the vote.

The council meeting was eagerly anticipated by many following a state judge's ruling in August that Stanley's closure of the Southampton campus was illegal because it was done without the input of the council, which is required by law to have a hand in major university decisions. Former Southampton students rallied last week to call for the council to reopen the campus.

The council's vote came after a somewhat lengthy session which included a public hearing for students, faculty and local politicians to voice their opinions to the council – a move that is not required but which was allowed. It was then followed by an executive session between the council members and attorneys.

It all came down to the numbers. Cuts in state funding coupled with smaller enrollment for Southampton and the lack of donor money all figured into a bleak equation, one some say was doomed from the start and that the model built for Southampton to succeed was near impossible. By the time the university actually owned the Southampton campus it was fall of 2006, which was "too late to recruit any students," said Dan Melucci, who is in charge of strategic planning and analysis for the school. "We got off in a negative start."

Enrollment figures shown by the council indicated a projected 1,600 students by this year. Actual enrollment for 2010 topped off at 477 students.

Philanthropic goals were not reached, either. Fundraising estimates of $1 million per year materialized into only $1 million for the past four years combined, leaving council members to conclude that the Southampton campus was not self-sustaining.

Eric Doepel, interim vice president of advancement, was asked to comment on the fundraising plan. "It takes time to raise money," he said. "It would have taken years."

It was not a meeting without contention. Students spoke emotionally about the all but closing of their campus. Past Southampton undergraduate president John Botos called the actions of the university unlawful and challenged the facts and figures that were presented.

"I question the wisdom of the university," he said.

Others stood by the decision, even some who had previously held a different view. In his statement before the council, undergraduate student and council member Matthew Graham said, "I've heard the facts and I've seen the numbers…financially, Southampton wasn't working."

There was also talk on the future of the now virtually unused campus. The council agreed that Marine Science program should remain, as well as the summer writing and Master of Fine Arts Programs.

The decision was reached after an executive session was held immediately following the public portion of the hearing.

"Tough times call for tough decisions," said Kevin Law, council chairperson. "This was done in the best interest of the entire university."