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WNY legislators advancing UB 2020
UB President John B. Simpson thanks Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, left, and Sen. William T. Stachowski, right. Photo: NANCY J. PARISI
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Video: Lawmakers rally behind UB 2020, regional economic growth. | View video
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“The delegation is taking this proposal down the 90 to Albany and telling them to give UB the tools it needs to be the catalyst for Western New York.”
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An enthusiastic crowd of more than 200 UB supporters attended a rally Friday morning in the UB Downtown Gateway, cheering the announcement of legislation that will be introduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly to help the university achieve the objectives of UB 2020.
A contingent of Western New York lawmakers were on hand to lend their unified support of Bill No. 2020, the UB 2020 Flexibility and Economic Growth Act, proposing changes in state law to give UB the financial flexibility needed to achieve its strategic plan.
The bill is sponsored by the Western New York state delegation and will be introduced by its senior members, Assemblyman Robin Schimminger and Senator William T. Stachowski.
“Four months ago, I said for UB 2020 to succeed, New York must change a battery of outdated and unnecessary rules and regulations that hold us and our community back,” said President John B. Simpson, referring to his address to the community on Sept. 23. “The Western New York delegation has shown tremendous leadership by taking on this challenge and they now have a specific legislative solution. The delegation is taking this proposal down the 90 to Albany and telling them to give UB the tools it needs to be the catalyst for Western New York.”
Four areas of state law would be reformed by the bill—tuition increases, capital projects and construction, property, and procurement of goods and services. This would empower UB to pursue growth strategies commonly used by other large research universities nationwide.
Schimminger compared UB’s current situation to “Gulliver’s Travels,” a book he recalled from high school. “The University at Buffalo is, in a way, an academic Gulliver that is tied down by Lilliputian constraints, restrictions and bureaucratic regulations,” he said. “It is the mission of this legislation to unleash the university so that it can be all that it can be and bring good and economic growth to our region.”
Stachowski noted that UB has developed a program that he felt makes it more “sellable” to the legislature. “The points make common sense to common-sense people,” he said. “The most important part about this is that we all support it in the Western New York delegation. Everybody in the community is behind this one solid idea. That’s important. That will help us get this done and we hope to get it done this year.”
Assemblyman Sam Hoyt pointed out that he introduced Assembly legislation for a rational tuition policy two years ago. “I am confident that this year we are going to get that done.”
Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples said she hoped that changes in the law will not only help advance UB 2020, but also will help the community—particularly the “people who live across the street,” referring to the Fruit Belt and other low-income neighborhoods.
Sen. Dale Volker felt that the rally would send shivers in Albany. “They call Buffalo and Western New York Beirut by the Lake because we’ve had a bad tendency here to be divided,” he said, indicating that the community solidarity on this issue would make a big impact on lawmakers.
Also speaking were Assembly members Francine DelMonte, Jane Corwin, Jack Quinn and Mark Schroeder. Student representatives Peter Grollitssch and Robert Pape, as well as outgoing and incoming parent chairs Tim Lafferty and Jeneane Reedy, applauded the reform effort.
Dennis Mullen, upstate chair of the Empire State Development Corp. and the father of a current UB student, hailed the assets state schools like UB provide to compete on a worldwide basis. “As I travel through upstate New York, I look for things that are truly transformational. This leads the list,” he stated. “I commend the Legislature for thinking outside the box—for busting paradigms—to be able to revitalize what we love. I will work on your behalf to support this.”
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