About 50 SUNY Oneonta students, staff and community members attended a panel discussion at noon Wednesday examining the economic, social and cultural interaction between the college and the region.
The talk at Morris Hall at the State University College at Oneonta was sponsored by the United University Professions union for academic and professional employees at the college.
Four people from the community participated in the panel _ Oneonta Mayor John Nader; Milford Central School superintendent and chairman of the Otsego County Chamber board, Peter Livshin; general manager of Hometown Oneonta newspaper, Jim Kevlin; and Oneonta Tigers general manager Andrew Weber.
After a short talk, they answered questions from the audience.
The feedback will be brought to campus leaders to see what more can be done to build bridges between the college and the community, said union event coordinator Gina Keel, an assistant professor for political science at the college.
The college, like other institutions in the SUNY system, is the "lifeblood" of the community, said Nader. This is something legislators need to be made aware of when lobbying for state aid, he said.
However, the state funding formula favors cities such as Oneonta because students are included in the population counts, and their income is considered low, he said.
The city gets about as much from sales tax as property tax, and SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College helps that situation because of spending by students and staff, he said.
Although about 52 percent of real-property assessments are exempt from taxes, the value "dwarfs" any problems, he said.
The college offers a tremendous amount of cultural and social possibilities, Livshin said. Much of his staff has received at least one degree from the college, he said.
Another benefit came from the college's Center for Economic and Community Development, which was hired to work on a strategic plan for the school.
"We wouldn't have been able to do that without the assistance of SUNY Oneonta," he said.
In response to questions, the panel said more could be done to promote student spending in local businesses.
Junior Mike Dessingue said he came to the session because of a political-science requirement but found information that was important to know, including the economic impact of the college.
Retired sociology professor Ed Wesnofske said he was curious about what would be discussed. "Upstate New York has challenges in sustaining itself," but the speakers pointed out important resources the college provides the community, he said.
