A group of more than 300 Oregon students convened in Salem on Monday to rally in support of budget changes to afford more money to Oregon University System schools, state community colleges and the Oregon Opportunity Grant.
The grant is the state’s largest need-based financial aid; it started in the state legislature in 1971 and works to help Oregon students who don’t have the ability to pay for school.
The approximately hour-long rally was punctuated with Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s speaking to the student crowd, and University attendees said they enjoyed the opportunity to speak with state legislators.
The rally was organized by the Oregon Student Association, a student advocacy group for which the ASUO pays an annual membership.
ASUO President Amelie Rousseau said the students, as a whole, were able to meet with 70 of Oregon’s 90 senators and representatives.
“I met with four or five today, and they were all saying education is the key,” Rousseau said. “It was great, we had really good energy. (There were) at least 100 students from UO.”
University freshman Megan Comer, also at the rally, said the rally went well and that she enjoyed the opportunity to lobby.
“I think it was really successful. I felt really empowered as a student,” Comer said. “Lobbying was really interesting, to see how the government works.”
Lane Community College student Monica Christoffels was there to document the rally for The Torch, LCC’s student newspaper, and said the rally was less eventful than she had expected.
“I didn’t get there until noon. All it was was a two- or three-block march with 300 people, (with) speeches by people on the OSA board,” Christoffels said. “I thought the purpose of the rally was different.”
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