Western sophomore Byron Starkey stands next to the capitol building on Feb. 15 in protest of the budget cuts. “In the short term, financial aid will affect students more because the idea is the financial aid will eventually return,

A colorful assortment of signs, all declaring opposition to state budget cuts, all supporting funding for higher education and other social services, waved throughout the crowd.

A single chant rang from the crowd: “No more cuts!”

Western junior Jamin Agosti, a volunteer with Western Votes, said about 80 students from Western attended the rally against budget cuts, as well as students from other four-year universities and community and technical colleges.

In January, students made a trip to Olympia to meet with their legislators and discuss Western’s legislative agenda, but this trip was a bigger event, Agosti said.

“It was less of a sit-down event and more of a getting-the-attention-of-the-legislators event,” Agosti said.

Western junior Morgan Holmgren, AS vice president for Governmental Affairs, said the rally was an important way to make state legislators aware of how students would be affected by cuts to the budget and financial aid.

“We wanted to show there are people in the state of Washington who support new revenue in opposition to increasing budget cuts,” Holmgren said. “There are people who choose increasing taxes, increasing revenue.”

But students got to do more than just show their support. While students were in Olympia, a bill that would allow universities to set tuition themselves passed through the Senate, giving students the opportunity to take action against it.

Students wrote notes to their representatives and met with legislators to ask them to oppose the bill.

Western senior Colin Watrin, AS vice president for Activities, said he was able to meet with State Sen. Kevin Ranker. Ranker represents the 40th district, which encompasses San Juan County, and parts of Whatcom County and Skagit County.

Watrin said Ranker had been undecided about how he would vote on the bill.

“[Ranker] said we had the opportunity to sway him and I think we took advantage of it,” Watrin said.

The entire Western group had the opportunity to have a short question and answer session with State Rep. Kelli Linville from the 42nd district, which includes Whatcom County. Students asked questions about her position on financial aid cuts and funding for higher education.

“I support higher education, it’s our future,” Linville said.

Western sophomore Sean Jobes said the possibility of increased tuition with decreased financial aid is not something students should stand for.

“Higher education should be a right, a privilege not just exclusively to those who can afford it,” Jobes said.  

The legislative period ends Thursday, March 11, 2010. All decisions about budget and financial aid cuts must be made by this date.

Share this article:
                                   

Be first to comment on this article

Only registered users can post comments.
Please login or register.