MORRISVILLE -- Morrisville State College faces a big challenge with the latest round of state budget cuts. The college has already cut about $2 million from its $26 million budget in the past year. Now Governor David Paterson wants Morrisville State to cut out another million.

Morrisville State President Ray Cross says he does not know where he'll be able to chop another million dollars, but he also has another challenge. Cross has been selected to serve on a task force to find ways to comply with Governor Paterson's decision to cut $90 million out of the SUNY system. Cross feels such cuts are short sighted. He drew a comparison to a dilemma faced by farmers. "This is our seed corn. If we continually eat our seed corn, there's nothing to plant or grow. That simple metaphor is for students. This is our future, the future of our state."

In addition to cutting $90 million from the SUNY system, the Governor want to cut $53 million from the City University (CUNY) system, provide $260 less state aid to full time community college students, and cut $120 from every student in the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

Nursing student Ronise Benjamin says that $120 cut will hurt. "We're always struggling to eat, always struggling to buy books, we're always struggling for any little thing on campus."

Morrisville State Financial Aid Director Dacia Banks says taking TAP money only hurts the families of students who can least afford it. "A lot of financial aid parents don't have the income to help them offset the cost."

As the state's deficit continues to hammer away at higher education, many at Morrisville State fear fewer students will be financially able to attend there.  President Cross feels one solution would deny state aid to students at private colleges and universities. He says that would amount to a savings of about $47 million. Cross says that would be enough to restore any cuts to the TAP program for needy students.