It voted to oppose the appointment of SUNY Potsdam president John Schwaller—or anyone else—as Canton’s interim president…and to support state Senator Patty Ritchie’s bill to require one president for each SUNY Campus.

In a press release, the organization said the two campuses are philosophically different, and each needs a president that represents its interests. It also protested what it says has been an undemocratic decisionmaking process about SUNY Canton’s presidency.  

In an emailed response, SUNY spokesman Morgan Hook said the university is attempting to carry on an open dialogue between SUNY and the community…but that SUNY Canton spends more on administration than the average campus—and given cuts in state funding, maintaining the status quo wasn’t an option.