H. Carl McCall gives his advice on having influence in Albany

By Roger Segelken

Visiting campus April 27, New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall listened attentively to briefings -- and complaints about politics as usual -- from Cornell student leaders and from the university's research leaders.

New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, left, talks with students, faculty and administrators in the Biotechnology Building's conference room April 27. Among those joining him during the afternoon session are, from left, Andrew Gelfand '02, Arts; Bruce Lewenstein, associate professor of science communication; and Uzo Asonye '02, ILR, president of the Student Assembly. Robert Barker/University Photography

Then the state's chief fiscal officer had the same advice for both factions: Deal with Albany leaders in the currency they understand. Students unhappy with state support of higher education should exert their political clout and vote, the declared candidate for governor in 2002 said. And scientists who want state support for research initiatives should emphasize to the legislators and governor the economic-development benefits of research, the comptroller recommended later that afternoon.

"One day a year [of student lobbying in Albany] is not enough. Money goes where the pressure comes from," McCall said, scolding college-age registered voters for not voting and explaining why senior citizens "have an inordinate amount of political clout. Your group just doesn't vote," he said, referring to students, and Student Assembly President Uzo Asonye '02, who had described the annual student lobbying effort, nodded in acknowledgement.

To Stephen Tanksley, professor of plant science who had proclaimed frustration with getting partisan leaders of the state Assembly and Senate and Gov. George E. Pataki to unite in support of research initiatives, McCall said: "Focus on the economic benefits [of university-based research]. Economics is the thing that drives it," he said of political decision-making.

Tanksley -- along with Kraig Adler, vice provost for life sciences; Stephen Kresovich, professor of plant breeding; and Carl A. Batt, professor of food science and director of the newly state-funded Alliance for Nanomedical Technologies) -- told the state comptroller of Cornell's next request for state support.

The university is seeking approximately $25 million to launch the proposed NYSTAR Center for Genomic Technologies and Information Sciences. NYSTAR is the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, which last month awarded $2.8 million, over two years, to Cornell for a new Center for Advanced Technology (CAT).

Batt called the NYSTAR allotment "a nice amount of money over a frighteningly short time." Kresovich, who recently came from Georgia to New York state to head Cornell's Institute for Biotechnology and Life Sciences Technology, remarked that the Peach State devotes $100 million a year to economic development-related research. He compared that to the total of $10 million for five different projects funded this year by NYSTAR. Cornell's proposed $80 million life sciences building is part of a $300 million program here for genomics research, economic development and new-business incubators, Kresovich noted. "If we go ahead and NYSTAR doesn't join us, it's going to be a big loss for New York state," he warned.

Earlier, McCall, who was visiting Ithaca for campaign appearances, was introduced by Henrik Dullea, vice president for university relations, and heard from a cross section of student leaders, as well as key administrators. student Katharine Costa told how helpful financial-aid programs, such as Cornell Tradition, were to her and hundreds of others in reducing debt load.

Thomas C. Keane, the university's director of financial aid and student employment, echoed the students' concerns about paying for a college education. Referring to state, federal and university sources of financial aid, Keane added: "Not all partners are pulling their fair share."

McCall noted that New York is 44th in the nation in per-capita commitment to higher education.