Univ. at Albany students sue over funding bias

ARLINGTON, Va. - Students in Albany, N.Y. filed a lawsuit against the State University of New York system, claiming that SUNY allows liberal student groups advantages that are unavailable to conservatives.

Last March, SUNY-Albany's student government refused to allow a conservative organization, the Collegian Action Leadership League of New York (CALL-NY), to appeal for University funding through a student referendum.

The referendum method lets each student decide whether or not to contribute to an organization. The Albany chapter of the liberal New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) currently receives over $100,000 each year in student funding through the same procedure.

"Apparently, the Student Association thinks the liberal agenda is more important," said Eric Amidon, president of CALL-NY.

"I just want the SUNY system to treat both sides equally," said Amidon.

CALL-NY is assisted by the Campus Leadership Program, a division of the Leadership Institute that helps students start and maintain independent conservative campus groups.

"PIRG organizations get money directly from student fees across the country," said Parker Hamilton, director of the Campus Leadership Program. "Now SUNY is saying no to a conservative organization that wants equal treatment."