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Lobby Day flyers mislead
Tuition increase figure on poster misleading for would-be lobbiers
Flyers that Student Government posted around campus have many students worried about what may happen to tuition.
Student Government has had flyers up around campus and by its booth all week to promote Lobby Day. The flyers quote Laura King, vice-chancellor of finance for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), saying, "Your tuition is going up 46 percent in the next two years."
"I was outraged when I saw it," said Marie Young, a freshmen majoring in special education, "because I can't afford it (tuition) if it's 46 percent more."
However, that number is just a figure that Laura King gave in response to a specific question during a hearing of the House Higher Education Finance Committee in January. The figure is based on the following scenario: if a $25 million cut to the base appropriation started this fiscal year and was applied for the next two years, if MnSCU's requested increase of $107.6 million is not granted and if those cuts were made up with tuition alone, tuition could increase as much as 45 percent over the next two years.
King said the amount is theoretical and not a direction that is being considered or discussed by MnSCU.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty approved the $25 million cut to MnSCU for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends in July. SCSU's share of the cut is $2,531,620. There will be a new proposal to decide that will be cut for the next biennium, which is the next two years starting in July. However, MnSCU won't know until later this spring if it will receive the $107.6 million it requested.
Student Government is using the flyers to recruit students to go to Lobby Day Wednesday at the state capital.
"It's out of context," said Associate Vice President of Administrative Affairs Diana Burlison said last week. "At this time it's difficult to tell (how much tuition will increase)."
Lobby Day is an opportunity for students to express concerns regarding higher education to state legislators.
Yorgan Marcel, an SCSU student and state chair for Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) attended the House Higher Education Finance Committee meeting where King's figure was noted.
"We're looking at a double digit increase and I don't see why I should tell students any glimmer of hope," he said.
Last year tuition went up 13 percent, according to Burlison.
"We're pulling the alarm, but we need to," Marcel said. "How do we get the students to realize that this is a very serious issue? We have to go by the worst case scenario."
Dave Plounde, a sophomore majoring in environment and technology studies, is planning on attending Lobby Day.
"(The flyers) kind of seem like a scare tactic, but it's for the right cause," Plounde said.
He said that students at the Lobby Day booth in front of the student government office explained the figures on the flyers to him.
Students will leave for Lobby Day Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. They have appointments to speak with nine different legislators; Sondra Eriksen, Jim Knoblach, Doug Stang, Joe Opatz, Dan Severson, Dave Klies, Michelle Fischbach, Mark Olson and Besty Wergin.
Stop by the student government office for more information or call at 255-3751.
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