More than 50 groups representing different departments and organizations at Stony Brook University traveled to Albany to voice their concerns to legislators on Albany Day. While many felt their voices were heard, it is yet to be determined how effective the day was.
With a record number of students and faculty present, the university made its best attempt to create awareness of the university and various issues.

“The fact that more than 1,000 students, faculty and staff made the effort to travel to Albany and back in support of their school sends a message to the legislators that Stony Brook is highly valued,” said Michael McClain from the administration department in the hospital.

While some groups advocated for specific issues like nursing shortages, campus safety, and smaller class sizes, many spoke with legislators about the importance of having state support for higher education and Stony Brook becoming a Flagship.

Fred Sganga of Long Island State Veterans Home said he met with members of the Veterans and Aging Committee in the senate and assembly in order to express concern for Governor Spitzer’s proposed cuts to Medicaid, a program that 80 percent of the residents at his veteran’s home are on.

Although groups had the opportunity to speak with legislators, not everyone had the chance to speak to those in power.

Stephen Smith who works for the School of Health Technology and Management and led a group of juniors and seniors said he was “surprised and disappointed” to find that Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick who represents Smithtown, NY wasn’t there to speak with them. “Nobody showed up. It was disappointing because I’m from Smithtown,” he said. “He represents me and my town, and he wasn’t there.”

For the most part, however, legislators seemed to welcome the teams. Despite his disappointment, Smith said that all the legislators were very receptive. "They realize what this day is set aside for,” he said. “They were all very supportive for public higher education."

According to Carolyn Peabody who led a group of students on social welfare, her group wanted to show the legislators their appreciation. She said that the students felt connected with the legislators and that Assemblywoman Barbara Clark “was so encouraging, so supportive in terms of education.”

Terry Leonard from the nursing department said “This year’s Stony Brook Day was truly ‘red hot.’”

She said that she felt their voices were heard as they met with three out of four actual representatives and not their aides. Cesar Trunzo, her local senator, actually listened to complaints about school safety and security, Equal Opportunity and Tuition Assistant Programs, and multiple school fees, she said.

Overall, everyone felt their voices were heard, but whether change will actually be made is yet to be seen. Some team leaders were less optimistic than others.

Peter Flanagan who led a team of health science students from the Emergency and Disaster Management Program said that he was unsure of the effectiveness of their discussion about campus safety. His team met with Senator George Onorato’s aide and he said they talked about the incident that occurred two weeks ago where the SB Alert! was used. “She didn’t have much reaction to it,” he said. Flanagan added that he will have to see if Onorato’s aide actually took any of their comments seriously.

According to David Maynard of the Learning Communities Program, “No politician is really ever going to say ‘let’s spend less on education. Depending on their political party and their political views, the legislators are either likely or not likely to vote to improve SUNY’s budget situation.”

But perhaps the day is more about showing Albany who Stony Brook University is and teaching students how to speak up for what they want. According to Maynard, Stony Brook Day at Albany is an opportunity for students to participate in the political process in Albany, create networks and learn leadership and public speaking skills.

“What’s sometimes most fun about Stony Brook Day [at Albany} is that the undergraduate students on the teams get more confident and more articulate with each successive legislative appointment,” he said. “By the end, it’s like they have experienced a big transformation in advocacy skills.”