UUP President Phil Smith holds a sign bearing the union’s advocacy slogan, “SUNY is the $olution,” as he addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 at the Capitol in Albany protesting cuts to the state budget.

“Because of these cuts, and the threat of more cuts in the future, our kids may not have access to an affordable, high-quality college education,” Smith said. “They are going to find the doors to higher education closed.”

Smith drew cheers from UUP members and the crowd consisting of members of other unions and human services groups, decrying the effects of enacted and proposed budget cuts.

He asked those at the rally to tell state leaders that SUNY is the solution to the state’s fiscal crisis.

UUP President Phil Smith, flanked by other union leaders and representatives of non-profit groups expresses his concern over reduced state support for SUNY.

“We must protect access to higher education for students who cannot afford private colleges, and SUNY is the only hope many students have to achieve a college education,” Smith told a news conference in Albany organized by the Better Choice Budget Campaign and One New York: Fighting for Fairness, a coalition representing more than 200 organizations.

“Reducing state support for SUNY disenfranchises New York’s most vulnerable families, Smith added. “It not only limits their children’s opportunity for a productive career, but also limits the state’s opportunity to develop an educated workforce, which would speed our economic recovery.”