Publisher’s Forum
Gradually… suddenly: The downfall of SSU
By Lawrence Amaturo
Scene: Santiago, Chile, 1926: “H ow did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.
As recently as July 2022, SSU’s CFO announced that Gov. Newsom’s generosity with taxpayer dollars would funnel an additional $211 million in unallocated funding into the CSU system. Looking back, it almost seems comical that another $81 million was earmarked for “Enrollment Growth” and $35 million for the “Graduation Initiative.” And let’s not forget the $1.1 billion (yes, billion) in one-time funding allocated for sustainability, deferred maintenance and energy efficiency projects. Taxpayer dollars in, taxpayer dollars out—now gone, with little to show for it other than a further drop in enrollment, the elimination of all sports teams, and the demise of SSU’s physics graduate program, among other casualties. I’m not one to dwell on problems without offering solutions, but I can’t help but worry that SSU’s gradual, then sudden, “bankruptcy” of spirit has begun an irreversible downward spiral. The impact on student life will be painfully obvious to any prospective students who have options elsewhere. On a Happier Note… Allow me to shift gears and celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary with my bride, Susan Amaturo. As I write this, I’m sitting in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. It’s a balmy, sunny afternoon—almost 27 years to the day since I proposed in front of this very hotel. We’re lucky to be joined by our dear friends Oscar and Cathy, and Patrick and Shawn, soaking in all this city has to offer. A trip like this calls for some reflection… and, of course, some travel recommendations. g
“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually, then suddenly.” This brief yet piercing exchange from Ernest
Hemingway’s first novel, The Sun Also Rises , still resonates today—whether we’re talking about personal finance, technological upheaval, the decline of civilizations, or, in this case, the financial and institutional unraveling of Sonoma State University. SSU’s recent and abrupt announcement to shutter several academic departments, eliminate all intercollegiate athletic programs, and lay off dozens of faculty and staff landed like a thunderclap. The university’s interim president, Emily Contreras, justified these drastic measures as necessary to address a projected $24 million budget deficit for 2025-2026. While well-intended, many saw the move as a knee-jerk reaction to problems that had been quietly metastasizing for over a decade. The numbers tell the story. The 2023-2024 CSU system budget revealed a staggering $227 million increase in spending, along with an additional $28.5 million in one-time investments across specific campuses. SSU itself received $3.4 million to prop up a seemingly benign budget line item called “base funding related to employee benefits.” Meanwhile, enrollment at SSU has been in freefall since 2019. (Yes, before the pandemic.) From a robust student population of over 9,000 in 2018, enrollment has now plummeted below 5,800. “Gradually, then suddenly” indeed. Over the past 30 years, I have been fortunate to hire outstanding SSU graduates—bright, driven, and well-prepared for the workforce. They’ve consistently impressed their colleagues and excelled in their roles. But with such a dramatic collapse in student life and campus activities—key elements in attracting engaged, ambitious students—I fear this “winning streak” for employers like me is coming to an end.
When it comes to SSU’s future, Denzel Washington’s latest stage endeavor, and the creamiest cream cheese in Manhattan, your opinion matters too! Be in touch at LAmaturo@MySonomaMedia.com.
Green Light (Highly Recommended): • Liberty Bagels, 16 E 58th St. Year in, year out, Victor Mejia and Alex Vithoulkas run a deli the way a deli should be run—broad
Yellow Light (Proceed with Caution) • Othello , Lionel Barrymore Theater, W. 47th St. The sheer star power of Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington
Red Light (Hard Pass) • Times Square. The crowds, the homelessness, the cacophony, the omnipresent stench of weed—it just gets worse every year. Stay away.
selection, delicious food, and gracious service. • Ristorante Scalinatella , 201 E 61st St. Put yourself in the hands of the waitstaff and let them dictate your meal. Your wallet will feel it, but long after your Visa bill clears, you’ll still be dreaming about the pastas, salads, seafood, steaks— and that cheesecake. • Terra Blues Bar, 149 Bleecker St. Too loud, too small, and runs too late into the night with world-class blues music. Perfect.
isn’t enough to overcome poor audio, awkward stagecraft, and lazy direction. It pains me to say this—Denzel is one of my favorite actors—but I hope the production makes adjustments as it moves forward.
March 2025
NorthBaybiz 11
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