Rally gains momentum, hopes to draw 1,000

September 24, 2007 —

Source: Student Association

Tuition is up, funding is down, and students are angry.

The Student Association of Michigan's rally on the steps of the state capital is Wednesday, and according to SA President Jeremiah Stanghini, the event is already turning heads.

"There is definitely a good chance [SAM] is going to have over 1,000 people there," Stanghini said. "At last count, there was going to be 20 buses of students going."

Those numbers are large enough that Stanghini says there is already talk amongst those in opposition of what they can do in response.

"I've heard someone from U of M's campus is planning a counter-rally," Stanghini said. "Apparently, they think we're doing something wrong here."

The schools planning to toe the steps Wednesday along side SVSU are University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Dearborn, Grand Valley, Wayne State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Oakland. Although the schedule of speakers is not yet set, there will be several student leaders from across Michigan speaking on the issue of state funding for higher education.

"From 2001 to 2007, [Michigan] has gone down the most in terms of appropriations for higher education," said Stanghini. "We just want make sure they understand that high education funding is important to the state of Michigan and its economy, because if the cost of education keeps going up, students are going to start leaving the state for their education, and stay there when seeking employment."

Although this is being called a rally, Stanghini wanted to make sure the cause behind the gathering is clear - to educate students on the financial situation in Michigan and to show the state legislature that Michigan's students are serious about their education, and want the budget crisis rectified.

"Everyone thinks we're going down there to lobby, but all we want to do is educate," he said.

As it stands, Michigan is in the bottom five in terms of dollar amount in state appropriations for public universities. As a result of this cut in state funding, a raise in the overall cost of college has been inevitable. The funding gap between the decreased appropriations and SVSU's current tuition rate stands at about $2,500 - coincidentally, a dollar amount very close to what SVSU undergraduates pay for a semester of classes.

SA is sponsoring a bus for the trip to Lansing and encourages students to sign up for a seat.

"There are seats still available on the bus," said Stanghini. "Of course, we'll be taking some SA representatives, but we're still looking for students to go."

The bus is set to depart at 11:30 a.m from lot G-3, near the Regional Education Center.

Students interested in signing up can do so in the SA Office in Curtiss 118, or by e-mailing Stanghini their contact information at jstanghi@svsu.edu.

Knowing some may not be able to attend, Stanghini still says they can be a part of the rally.

"I sent a Facebook message to everyone that was invited to the rally asking the people who can't go to at least write a letter and get it to the SA Office before we leave so we can take a stack of letters to the legislatures showing them even though people aren't in attendance, they still care."