The Oregon Student Association and the Oregon Students of Color Coalition will join forces for a rally at the state capitol in Salem today as part of the 2005 OSA Lobby Day.
The two lobbyist organizations will be joined by Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, and Rep. Billy Dalto,
R-Salem, to support their legislative agenda for the state legislative session currently in progress.
According to press releases, priorities of the two groups include fully funding the Oregon Opportunity Grant, freezing tuition at OUS universities, expanding low-cost childcare for students and passing a tuition equity bill to help extend resident tuition prices to graduates of Oregon high schools.
The rally will begin at noon on the front steps of the capitol and will be followed by meetings with legislators to discuss issues affecting students.
The OSA is a lobbyist group consisting of representatives from all OUS universities and the state’s community colleges. The OSCC is an affiliate of OSA.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski included a 111.1-percent increase in the Opportunity Grant and a $14 million overall increase in higher education spending in his budget for the 2005-07 biennium. OUS universities are estimating a
5 to 7 percent annual increase in tuition costs for students if the
governor’s proposal is passed.

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