A proposal to use town funds to keep Southampton open

A group of East End politicians proposed Thursday to use millions of dollars of Southampton Town community preservation funds to give a two-year reprieve to Stony Brook University's Southampton campus - and use that time to turn Southampton into a separate, small, low-cost SUNY campus focused on environmental studies rather than a satellite of Stony Brook.

"I dare Stony Brook to get in the way of this," said Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, whose town under the plan would buy campus development rights in perpetuity from Stony Brook, as the town does from other landowners.

Assemb. Fred Thiele Jr. (I-Sag Harbor), another plan proponent, estimated the money would cover two years of campus expenses. Stony Brook president Dr. Samuel L. Stanley Jr. has estimated the university will save $6.7 million a year by shutting most of the campus.

The politicians' proposal, which drew cheers from more than 100 students at Southampton, was rejected by Stony Brook officials and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.

"The chancellor supports president Stanley's decisions to live within the means available to him, without compromising Stony Brook University's core mission," a SUNY spokesman said Thursday night.

The plan would require approval by the State Legislature. Calling it "extremely viable," Suffolk Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) said, "The legislature would rather see a campus saved than essentially closed." He added that many legislators he knows wouldn't object to turning Southampton into a free-standing campus.

Blair Horner, legislative director of New York Public Interest Research Group, called the proposal "a great idea" and noted it enjoys local bipartisan support. But he added it faces difficulties in the State Legislature. "Given the polarized nature of the place, it's hard to get bipartisan support on what day it is," he said.

Several politicians Thursday derided Zimpher and Stanley as newcomers who moved into the state last year and they said the decision to close the campus was shortsighted.

"The chancellor and the president, when they see our proposal, will have to take some Tums," said state Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), a former chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. "They really don't understand New York - and New Yorkers are willing to fight for things."

In recent interviews, Stanley and Zimpher said Stony Brook had no choice but to close most of the inefficient campus, where educating each student costs 2.5 times as much as it does on the main campus. Zimpher noted SUNY faces a possible $210-million cut this year from the state, and she expects drastic cuts across the 64-campus system.

A Stony Brook spokeswoman said last night the university will keep Southampton as a "vital and vibrant site for teaching and research," but expects to cut $34 million from both campuses in the coming year. About half of Southampton's 500 students have already registered to transfer to the main campus next fall, she said.