John A. Strong is Professor Emeritus at Long Island University. He is the author of numerous books, including The Unkechaug Indians of Eastern Long Island: A History.

"This is an exceptionally well-written narrative history of the Southampton branch of Long Island University." — Long Island History Journal"John A. Strong has written a brilliant book … there's nothing like an in-depth book by a good historian." — The Southampton Press"Running on Empty is that rare scholarly beast—the story of an institution that perished. This innovative study is an antidote to the numerous success stories that fill the history of higher education. Failures are usually academic orphans, as records disappear and participants scatter. Strong has overcome those obstacles to tell the story of a doomed college by using the archives of Long Island University's other campuses and conducting numerous oral histories. This is an impressive and instructive feat." — W. Bruce Leslie, coeditor of SUNY at Sixty: The Promise of the State University of New York"An important narrative and analysis of the history of a small private, independent college, which failed to survive even though it was a branch of a large university. It is rare for a closed college to receive such thorough consideration. This book is based on extensive research in institutional archives enriched by numerous oral histories, as well as personal experiences and contacts. As a longtime faculty member, Strong is able to provide an insider's viewpoint of this very special college." — Natalie A. Naylor, Professor Emerita, Hofstra University

• List of FiguresPreface1. Long Island University: Beginnings, Bankruptcy, and Bad Decisions2. Southampton: A Magical Place3. Getting Started, 1963–1973 4. LIU in Crisis: The Administration of R. Gordon Hoxie, 1964–19685. Drift and Uncertainty, 1968–19726. Great Potential amid Continuing Deficits: The Marmion Administration, 1972–19787. High Hopes and Hard Realities: Donald Wilson and the Merger, 1979–19858. A Decade to Build: The Bishop Steinberg Era Begins9. A Decade of Treading Water, 1993–200210. Inventing a New College, 2002–200311. The Final Days, 2003–200412. The Long Goodbye, 2004–200513. EpilogueNotesReferencesIndex