ISABELLA INZINNA
Staff Writer
To say that students were upset about program cuts would be an understatement.
While many students were distressed, two decided to take things into their own hands. Benjamin Evans and Alexander Fisher organized a protest in under 24 hours after the address from President Kolison.
Unfortunately, Fisher is off-campus this semester, and was unable to talk.
However, Evans was able to provide some information about the protest. Evans is currently a junior with a double major in animation illustration and writing.
“I felt deep anger and shock,” he said when recalling his emotions after Kolison’s address. He pointed out the lack of evidence and sources along with the decision of the programs being cut.
Evans and Fisher had far different plans for their evening before the address. They were planning to work on a project for Evans about experimental architecture. After the address, Fisher decided he wanted to do something and Evans was ready to help.
Many were curious what inspired the two to take matters into their own hands. Evans said, “I think a lot of people, especially our age, have a lot of pent-up anxiety and frustration about things in the world kind of going downhill and not knowing what to do about it.”
He continued, saying, “There was an element of ‘I know this is a bad thing they’re doing.’ A lot of that inspiration came from the relief of knowing what the right thing to do was.”
To Evans and Fisher, there was only one clear answer: to make sure the administration knew that students were upset and wanted things to change.
There were two main goals for the protest: stopping as many cuts as possible and getting the administration to listen.
“We wanted to get Kathy Hochul’s attention, get on the news, and show that there’s a problem here,” said Evans.
He mentioned that when SUNY Potsdam’s cuts were announced, students didn’t do much to fight back.
When Fredonia’s program cuts were announced, 300 people gathered, a majority of them being students.
Evans said, “I think they were shocked that we were so deeply angry about it.” He recalled, “We had a sense of community at the protest instantly, we were all driven, we were all passionate.”
He also acknowledged that the protest was just the beginning. Many people stayed after the protest ended and presented ideas of what to do next.
In addition to the protest, Students For Fredonia has assisted other students in sending letters to Governor Hochul. During Activities Night, they had a table set up where students could sign letters and label them to be sent to Governor Hochul. Evans said that there were 80 letters sent but that this was just the start.
After the protests, Evans and Fisher didn’t rest as they began researching and gathering information.
Evans says that, according to research, “SUNY officials in news articles say that [cuts are] happening because of low enrollment. But what you really see is our funding got cut and then enrollment started to drop.”
Aside from research, some students, including Evans, attended an open college council meeting. Evans said, “In that meeting I was deeply shocked with how out of touch they are with Fredonia.”
Evans also noted that those who were in agreement with the program cuts seemed unwilling to listen to professors or justify themselves.
Students For Fredonia are now looking towards their next steps. They noted that this issue is bigger than the arts or world language programs being cut. Evans said there will be more protests, but they are unsure of a date at this point.
Further down the line, there will also be a benefit concert in which Students For Fredonia wants to give back to UUP, who are funding the Albany trip.
Evans hopes the sense of community from the protest continues as students fight for themselves and their peers. Evans reminds students, “Follow the Students For Fredonia instagram (@students.for.fredonia), stay tuned and don’t get sad about this, get angry.”