Automatic government spending cuts could have both immediate and long-term effects on Syracuse University students.

This week, flying home for Spring Break could get more difficult, and in the future, students may lose some opportunities for financial aid or jobs after graduation.

Automatic spending cuts went into effect Friday when President Barack Obama signed an order forcing government agencies to cut $85 billion from their budgets before Oct. 1, according to a March 1 article by The Chicago Tribune.

The cuts could potentially close air traffic control towers, which could cause flight delays and create issues for air travel. But airport delays are not the only way budget cuts could affect students. The inability of Republicans and Democrats in Congress to reach a deal could also have negative consequences for financial aid and the search for jobs after graduation.

Hancock International Airport in Syracuse hasn’t made any decisions about staffing cuts yet, but Aviation Commissioner Christina Callahan said the airport is staying in touch with the national groups in charge of air travel.

“I’m not going to speculate on what type of cuts are going to happen locally, but we’re in constant communication with the national partners, the TSA and the FAA,” Callahan said. “We’re in wait-and-see mode right now.”

The airport sees a spike in travel close to Spring Break, Callahan said, and closing air traffic control towers would lead to possible delays for students leaving Syracuse.

Victor Yang, a freshman elementary and special education major, plans on taking the train back home to Boston for Spring Break. He said the lack of delays is one of the advantages of taking a train instead of flying.

The government sequester has been an ongoing issue, with Congress and Obama unable to work out a large-scale deal.

Kristi Andersen, a professor of political science in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, said there wasn’t a willingness to compromise for a deal. She said she believes Republicans were more focused on maintaining party values.

“For Speaker Boehner, the cost of going against public opinion, which supports a balanced approach of cost-cutting and tax increases, is less than the cost of opposing members of the GOP in Congress, who are firmly against any tax increases,” Andersen said.

Republicans have created an identity around budget cuts, said Jeffrey Stonecash, a professor of political science in Maxwell. They aren’t interested in a deal that involves raising taxes, even if it means preserving government programs, he said.

The $85 billion in budget cuts will affect each state differently, but the areas most directly influenced could be the U.S. Department of Defense and employees of the federal government, who would see fewer workdays and smaller paychecks.

For college students, the effects of sequestration could also be felt in the form of financial aid. The budget cuts will affect certain federal financial aid for students, as well as the federal work-study program, according to a statement by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

“We might see decreases in federal aid, which could make all the difference for someone on the edge of not being able to afford college,” said Colin Crowley, president of SU’s College Democrats and columnist for The Daily Orange.

James Ward, president of the College Republicans, couldn’t be reached for comment.

In addition, Crowley said students will likely feel the brunt of negative economic effects resulting from budget cuts. He said economic downturns usually cause students to find fewer and lower-paying jobs.

Despite all of the potential repercussions of the sequester, Crowley said he doesn’t think students are particularly well-informed about the budget cuts.

“It’s difficult for anyone, students included, to maintain interest when we have a fiscal cliff every two weeks,” Crowley said. “Eventually, people stop caring and I think we’re starting to see that happen.”

Published on March 4, 2013 at 2:25 am

Contact Brett: blsamuel@syr.edu | @Brett_Samuels27