Fewer student workers hired to staff equipment ‘cage’ in renovated media building

OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Cage, located in Hewitt Hall at SUNY Oswego, has faced cuts to both hours of operation and staffing since reopening early this semester. This limits opportunities for student producers, as many need to use The Cage’s resources, including cameras, lighting, and audio recording equipment, for hands-on assignments. According to SUNY Oswego broadcast engineer Shaun Secaur, the changes in hours happened shortly after Hewitt Hall’s 80-million dollar renovation concluded. 

“We moved over to Hewitt, and I had all of these grand plans of hiring more people,” said Secaur. “Then, [I] had a conversation with our department chair, and we realized that we have a much smaller budget than what we had originally thought.”

The Cage operated 60 hours a week when located in Lanigan Hall last year. Since moving to Hewitt Hall, The Cage is now open 23 hours a week. The changes in hours pose challenges for students who need to rent equipment, but the cuts also make things harder for student workers at The Cage. For many student workers, The Cage is not just a source of income, but a place where they can engage with one another. SUNY Oswego senior Nate Hand said that since the cuts began, it’s harder to feel like he has made an impact on fellow students. He also advised students to plan ahead when it comes to utilizing The Cage’s equipment.

“Try to plan around the hours that The Cage is open,” said Hand, “I’d be proactive rather than reactive.” 

According to Shaun Secaur, The Cage’s staff is working hard to free up more time for students to utilize The Cage and combat the limited hours.