A new start of sorts gets underway next week at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Monday marks the beginning of the spring semester.

Needless to say, the last 60 days surrounding the campus have been quite tumultuous. Administrators, led by current President Stephen Kolison, have had to announce plans to reduce 13 majors as the university attempts to look to the future.

Staff members have ridden a range of emotions that include anger and disbelief. While students, who have been away from campus since the Christmas holiday, are witnessing real-world decisions that involve a bit of pain and reality.

Since the reductions were announced in early December, finances at the university are not in better shape. During last month’s College Council meeting, the deficit that hovers around $17 million was part of the discussion.

Those fiscal difficulties did not occur overnight — or without warning. Previous university presidents knew a day of reckoning was coming. It just did not happen on their watch.

Employees and officials can blame New York state for the mess — and they would not be incorrect. SUNY has been underfunded for years while public schools with decreasing numbers of students appear to be a bit overfunded.

That being said, a path to prosperity at the location does not happen if deficits grow larger. At some time, the bleeding has to stop.

Kolison’s plan, backed by his cabinet, is not popular with many. Reductions never are.

But as enrollment continues to decline at this university and a number of others, what other options are there? Raising tuition and seeking more state aid will make a dent, but who wants to rely on Albany, which has failed to answer the bell for years?

Reshaping SUNY Fredonia is a process — and this is still in the early stages. But something to fix the finances had to be done.

As we have already seen, waiting only adds to the pain.