Frustrated by decades of funding cuts and tuition hikes, hundreds of students from across the state gathered at the Capitol Building Thursday, March 25, to voice their growing discontent with the state's failure to make higher education a priority.  

The rally, dubbed Lansing Blitz, was part of a statewide advocacy effort organized by the Student Association of Michigan, a student-run governing body for Michigan's 15 public

College students from across the state rallied outside of the Capitol Building for higher education funding.

universities. SAM was created in 2007 to advance higher education by empowering students to advocate on their own for the accessibility, affordability and quality of public universities.  

Students took the day off of classes to travel to Lansing, some from hundreds of miles away, to tell their legislators that higher education is a necessity and solutions to the funding crisis are long overdue. 

"As state funding decreases, tuition increases," said Colleen McNeely, historian, senator and legislative affairs chairwoman of CMU's Student Government Association. "When the state has a budget deficit and lawmakers fill the gap by decreasing state appropriations to universities, the universities are forced to balance their budgets on the backs of students and their families by raising tuition." 

Arriving at the Lansing Center early Thursday morning, the enthusiastic students marched two blocks, waving their universities' flags, to the steps of the Capitol Building.  

"The enthusiasm from students is what made the day and created the biggest impact," McNeely said. "We let lawmakers know that we will continue to call, write letters and rally until higher education funding is made a priority." 

Approximately 35 CMU students attended the rally. They met with Rep. Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, to advocate for increased state appropriations for universities. McNeely and Taylor Paige Rushing, SGA senator, told Caul that the rising costs of tuition could have serious, negative effects on CMU's retention and enrollment rates.  

"We want as many people as possible to graduate college and stay in Michigan, increasing our chances of future economic growth," said McNeely. "Without adequate funding, this is becoming increasingly difficult." 

Caul, a former teacher and education administer, expressed sympathy with the students' concerns and said lawmakers are working to find new ways to increase funding.  

After the meeting, the CMU group was recognized by Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, during the Senate session.  

Lansing mayor, Virg Bernero, spoke at the Lansing Blitz Rally.

Students presented to lawmakers recommended strategies and policies - outlined in the Higher Education Roadmap Policy and Declaration of Student Grievances - that would help solve the funding crisis within the context and constraints of the state's budget and economic challenges. 

Both documents were drafted by SAM and signed by students from universities across the state.  

The DSG affirms the commitment of its signatories to abandon apathy and start pressing the state's leaders to listen to their concerns. It is backed by shocking statistics in regards to state spending. Michigan has decreased per-student appropriations by more than any other state in the union since 2003, roughly 22 percent, and spends about $2,000 less per student than the national average. 

By contrast, we spend $4,000 per student enrolled in a public institution of higher education, a figure that pales in comparison to the approximate $42,000 the state spends per prisoner.  

The Roadmap Policy outlines three principles for improving higher education: funding must have a more consistent and reliable delivery, must be at more equitable levels and must be targeted in effective ways.  

"It's not just about funding. We are concerned with investment, which is more than just dollars," said Jordan Twardy, University of Michigan grad student and SAM president. "We want legislators to look at the reasons why higher education is important, so they can use resources wisely and make sure education is accessible to everyone." 

Summaries of policy recommendations include: 

• The state should decide on funding levels for universities and student aid, protect the funds with legislation, and increase them with inflation to meet rising living costs.
• The state should create incentives for universities to pool resources and collaborate to allow each university to identify and specialize in research and academic programs where they show strength and innovation.
• The state should target aid for students who commit to living in Michigan for a minimal period upon graduation, and offer grant opportunities to those universities and colleges that are making strides to improve the economy and quality of life in Michigan.

SAM members plan to spend the next year on a "road map tour," traveling to universities to get as much student input and signatures as possible, in an effort to modify and strengthen the document to present to lawmakers.  

"It's one thing to generate momentum, but now the challenge is to build on that and translate it into public policy," Twardy said. "We want to reach as many people as possible. We'll have to wait and see what lawmakers will do in the short-term, but the ball is in our court. Now, we need to follow-up on our promise that we won't quit until real changes are made." 

CMU students at the rally included senators, SGA representatives and political science students.

GCM photos by Katie Cain.

By Katie Cain

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