By Caitlin Ferrell
It’s been five months since President Shirley Strum Kenny declared a hiring freeze on the Stony Brook University campus to prepare for state budget cuts. The freeze ended in November, but the recession has only deepened since, and Stony Brook University continues to see the wounds from lack of cash across its campuses.
During the freeze, construction projects, which were already slow moving, were halted. The Stony Brook Medical Center was also affected. An administration worker, who requested to remain anonymous, said that since the freeze ended, employers have been “a little more resourceful” with new hires, trying to stretch a thin budget. Research and state funds were drastically affected, but have since been re-instated.
However, Campus Dining was unaffected. “Campus Dining Services does not receive state funding,” said Angela Agnello, Director of Marketing & Communications of the Faculty Student Association at SBU. “Its sole funding source is revenues from food purchases on campus, including the student meal plan.” Agnello also said the FSA was unaffected as it is a private not-for-profit auxiliary services corporation. Campus Residences was also unaffected as its funding comes from students’ room and board fees.
Today Stony Brook University’s website has a slew of medical jobs listed as well as jobs in almost every department in Human Resources, Campus Dining and Campus Residences.