More than 800 people are expected to gather on the steps of the capitol in Salem today to show their support for more state funding to be directed toward higher education.
Gov. John Kitzhaber’s proposed budget for the 2001-2003 biennium for the Oregon University System is nearly $100 million less than the amount needed to maintain the current service level. Tuition is also expected to increase over the next few years.
In response to the threat of less funding and increased tuition, the Oregon Student Association has organized a rally in which they hope to bring together students, faculty, parents, business leaders and representatives from all seven schools in the OUS to show their support for more higher education funding.
John Wykoff, legislative director for the Oregon Student Association, said the rally will feature several different speakers commenting on why quality higher education in Oregon is threatened by the budget cuts.
“We’re having the rally to raise the noise level about higher education,” he said.
Wykoff added that speakers will also remark on the strengths of the state’s colleges and universities that demand adequate funding.
The Alumni Association has been active in motivating alumni to join in the rally, said Paul Steiber, the association’s communication director.
He said he expects a few hundred alumni to attend the rally to express their sense of gratitude and appreciation for what a university education has helped them achieve.
“Alumni have great feelings for higher education,” he said.
Tim Black, advocacy director for the Office of Governmental Affairs, said the rally is being held at a key point in the budget process. He said the state’s budget will begin to be discussed in the Ways and Means Subcommittee on March 19, and many funding decisions will be made soon after.
He said it is important then for state legislators to know that higher education has a high level of support in the state.
“We definitely want a big turnout,” he said.