The Oregon Student Association and its affiliate, the Oregon Students of Color Coalition, will hold a rally at the state Capitol today to encourage legislators to support the Tuition Equity Bill.
The bill, which was endorsed by the Senate Education and Workforce Committee and forwarded to the Joint Ways and Means Committee, would grant residential tuition rates to some students who don’t currently receive them because they are not citizens or legal aliens.
“Right now, there are a lot of these students graduating from Oregon high schools,” said OSCC spokeswoman Jael Anker-Lagos. “Many of them are successful students … and they’re being blocked out of higher education because they have to pay out-of-state rates.” If the Tuition Equity Bill passes, it will extend in-state tuition to Oregon high school graduates who attended an Oregon high school for at least three years, including those who have not yet been granted citizenship, according to an OSA press release. Qualifying individuals would have to be accepted to a four-year, OUS institution and continue working toward legal residency.
Legislative number-crunchers said it’s tough to estimate the bill’s cost because they don’t know how many students will take advantage of it.
“These are kids who are currently paying taxes and working and are upstanding citizens … who just don’t have that piece of paper,” said Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, chair of the Senate Education and Workforce Committee. “It’s not their fault that they haven’t been able to obtain their citizenship.”
The bill falls within the theme of OSA’s priorities for this legislative session.
“We are supporting it because it’s providing increased access to education,” OSA spokesman Arlie Adkins said.
Adkins said he’s confident about the bill passing through the Senate.
“It’s a little less clear what’s going to happen when it reaches the House,” Adkins added. “We’re remaining hopeful.”
Walker said she’s not overly optimistic about the bill passing because of state budget issues.
The rally will take place at noon on the front steps of the Capitol. Any students interested in participating should contact the ASUO office at 346-3724. Vans will leave for Salem at 10 a.m. and return at 3 p.m.
— Adam Cherry