PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh State students don't think they should be taxed for pursuing an education.

On Thursday, some of them gathered outside Angell College Center to protest the $620 tuition increase — and the possibility that 90 percent could be earmarked to help New York state offset its deficit.

Some students were also upset about a $100 million fund balance the State University of New York Research Foundation has, which they think should be used to lower the tuition increase.

TUITION HIKE
Faced with budget cuts, SUNY's Board of Trustees opted to increase tuition $620 by next fall.

The New York State Legislature has the authority to decide how that money is spent and will reportedly keep 90 percent for the general fund as the nation struggles through a recession.

"It is simple math," said Oliver Barie, a Plattsburgh State student and president of the college Republican group, Plattsburgh State Reds, which, along with the university's student Democrats, organized Thursday's protest.

"You take the $100 million surplus, distribute it equally among the estimated 400,000 students SUNY wide, and the result would be an estimated $500 credit per student.

"Suddenly, our $620 increase is a $120 increase.

"Not only is this a tax, but it is an unnecessary one at that."

CHANTS
Barie, other Plattsburgh State students and at least three faculty members walked in a circle outside Angell Center Thursday chanting, "Save SUNY now" and "1,2,3,4; we won't pay any more."

Protesters held signs including such slogans as "Stop SUNYcide," and "Killing SUNY is looney."

Flyers handed out at the protest included information on more than $148 million slashed in 2008 that will "hurt local economies," "stall SUNY's economic recovery" and "prevent SUNY from providing a quality education."

RESEARCH FUNDS
"The Research Foundation has a $100 million fund balance and has refused to disclose the purpose for it," Barie said. "Why should they be allowed a free ride when the rest of us are being forced to sacrifice? This slush fund would wipe out the so-called need for this tuition increase."

Nothing could be further from the truth, said Megan Galbraith, SUNY director of communications.

She explained that the Research Foundation administers federal grants, and the money must be used for research at SUNY campuses.

USE OF TUITION
Others decried state use of the tuition increase.

"Raising our tuition is bad enough, but 90 percent of this will go to the New York state general fund and not to SUNY," said Andrew Desmarais, president of the Plattsburgh State Young Democrats and Progressives. "This is nothing more than a poorly disguised tax hike. We are being penalized for trying to get an education."

Plattsburgh State Librarian Patricia Bentley agreed.

"All talk about a rational tuition increase has no truth to it if it is used to offset the state deficit," she said.

"We all know there is an economic crisis and meltdown. There is no reason to pay off that meltdown on the backs of students."

Daniel Kiniry, a Plattsburgh State senior who joined the protest, held a sign that read, "Tuition is Not a Tax."

"Even though I am leaving, I don't want people to pay more," he said. "I think it is unfair and unjust."

Contacted by the Press-Republican, State Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) said she'll push for the money to go to the SUNY system, not the state's general fund.

"I think it is a bad precedent to start raising tuition at SUNY universities and take the money and put it in the general fund and not use it for higher education."

PUT IT IN WRITING
During Thursday's protest, passing students signed a petition opposing the tuition increase and its use.

Barie and Desmarais are starting a letter-writing campaign, as well.

"We find this unacceptable, and we are not going to stop until we find some answers," Barie said.

"They are leveling a tax on college students, and that should never be done," Desmarais said.

"They should not tax education."

E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com