To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Armed with signs, petitions and their voices, University at Albany students and faculty come out in full force.

Faced with a $12 million loss in state aid, last week, UAlbany's President George Philip announced plans to stop accepting admissions in five program areas, including classics, French, Italian, Russian and theater. Students like Heather Hart who minored in language can't imagine incoming students having to say "au revoir" to the same opportunities she did.

Hart said, "It's kind of incredible the direction my life has taken since I've taken my first French class. I just got back from living in France for an entire year. I now speak French fluently when I didn't as a freshman."

The curtains closing on the theater program also has people reacting to the drama.

Anton Konev, an Albany Common Council member, said, "It's embarrassing as an alumni of this university, as an elected official, as a Russian American, I'm embarrassed a school that has a great performing arts center will not teach performing arts."

Adding insult to injury, the University plans to eliminate 160 positions by 2012. Cynthia Fox says she's one of the unlucky ones.

Fox said, "It's very upsetting but my job is kind of the smaller part of it. The more important thing is losing French, Italian, Latin, theater all for the students."

And the recent turn of events, even have some poking fun at the UAlbany's motto.

Amy Savage, a UAlbany lecturer, said, "By cutting foreign languages, the world within reach slogan the University has been pushing so much is really empty and hollow."

Students and faculty alike say they will continue to fight until changes are made.