Jacque Lenz | The AppalachianBOG member and 2001-02 Chair Benjamin
S. Ruffin speaks in Raleigh Tuesday as students from all 16 UNC
system schools look on. ASG organized the Students’ Day at
the Capitol rally primarily in support of a tuition freeze for
2003-2004 proposed by the UNC system BOG.
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About 500 students
from across the state gathered at the capital Tuesday to rally and
lobby legislators in support of a tuition freeze and other student
issues.
The Association of Student Governments (ASG) organized
the Students’ Day at the Capitol rally primarily in support
of a tuition freeze for 2003-2004 proposed by the University of
North Carolina system Board of Governors (BOG).
The central event was a rally on the front lawn
of the state Capitol. |
“We
have been raising tuition the last few years, for very important
causes, but it’s time to stop and let your families and the
economy catch up with us,” said University of North Carolina
system President Molly C. Broad at the rally. “It may be that
the state is facing a fiscal challenge, but this is the only time
you’re going to have to be a student. You deserve the same
support from the university and citizens that every other generation
of students has enjoyed.”
Twenty students from Appalachian State University, the vast majority
of them student government senators or cabinet members, attended
the event.
Lunch and bus rides for transportation from various universities
were paid for out of ASG’s budget.
“Since I was a freshman, tuition has been increasing exponentially,
and it’s been harder and harder to go to school,” said
Rachel A. Johnson, director of academic affairs. “Now it makes
me feel very good that the [BOG] recognized tuition was getting
out of hand. Right now with the economy the way it is, so many people
are struggling, and for them to pay more with even more stress is
just wrong.”
Johnson has previously been involved in tuition issues and was one
of the only senators to attend the protest against raising tuition
last spring at the BOG meeting.
For some students, however, this was the first time they had come
face to face with these issues.
“I’m really interested in getting involved with SGA and
this seemed like the best way to get involved,” Courtney L.
Taylor, a freshman from Charlotte who was the only non-SGA member
from Appalachian at the event, said Tuesday. “I’ve just
been introduced to a lot of these topics today.”
Republican state Senator Virginia Foxx, who represents Watauga County,
said she opposes the tuition freeze. Foxx was one of the main legislators
lobbied by the students from Appalachian.
“Personally, my position is that higher education in NC is
quite a bargain. I would have no problem with raising tuition and
setting aside some substantial part of that for need-based financial
aid,” Foxx said Tuesday. “I haven’t seen the latest
figures on the average income for families of students at Appalachian,
but it’s rather high. So I’d see no problem with raising
tuition a little bit.”
The students had mixed feelings about how receptive Senator Foxx
was to their suggestions and comments.
“Foxx seemed like she couldn’t possibly care less about
Appalachian State if she tried,” Ian A. Mance, senator from
off-campus said Tuesday.
“I thought she had a very disrespectful, condescending attitude
towards students who traveled all the way to Raleigh to speak to
her. I don’t feel like she looked at us as equals.”
“At first, I didn’t feel like we were getting through
to [Foxx] very much, simply because we had such opposing viewpoints,”
Johnson said. “But during lunch, we got more in depth, and
I feel that while we still may not agree, she understands our viewpoint
a lot more now than if we hadn’t talked to her.”
“At least our legislators saw that there are students out there
who want to keep tuition down,” Natasha F. Higgins, senator
from Coffey Residence hall, said Tuesday. “I think a lot of
legislators were interested in seeing us there today, but I don’t
know if it will stay with them tomorrow. That’s the tricky
part, and without us being forceful it won’t happen.”
“We had to overcome the obstacle of getting people to give
up a whole day, unlike schools like [University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill] or [North Carolina State University],” Chad
C. Oakley, director of state and national affairs, said Tuesday.
Oakley was the primary organizer of Appalachian’s delegation
to the rally.
“I feel good about how it went. The people we had here are
quality, people that are informed and educated and care about student
issues,” Oakley said. “I’m glad I got who I got,
it’s a matter of quality over quantity.” |
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