Students rally for higher education
SGA lobbies lawmakers for more school funding with budget managment
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Opinion
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The Student Government Association traveled to Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday to lobby legislators to take a second look at higher education budget cuts.
Twenty SGA members, including SGA President Eric King, protested with hundreds of other students from eight public Kentucky universities.
With chants of "Don't balance the budget on our backs" and "We are worth it," students made their voices heard in the dome of the the capital building just feet from Gov. Steve Beshear's office.
Beshear did finally grace the student crowd with his presence and for about four minutes made promises to keep higher education as one of his priorities.
When Beshear spoke, he complimented the students at the rally for participating in a democratic form of government.
As students, we want to compliment you as well - Gov. Beshear. You did a great job at being elected to office. Thank you for participating in our democratic form of government.
Now, can you please work some of your negotiating skills, which got you elected, to fix the Kentucky budget crisis?
The Murray State News champions the actions of the SGA and the Board of Student Body Presidents for putting a rally together to try to ignite change in the Kentucky legislature.
Politicians have traditionally ignored the voices of young voters because they usually are not the largest demographic group of voters in an election.
Every year college becomes more expensive, and every year state funding for higher education gets trimmed a little more.
With this protest, students are saying enough is enough.
Politicians may think they are governing an apathetic, complacent, do-what-you're-told youth, but in actuality they have sorely underestimated the impact young, educated students can have on a society.
The Murray State News encourages students to take a stand for higher education funding. Not only is the quality of our education at stake, but also the quality of our lives.
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