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St. Cloud State University
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Legislators disappoint
By Carol Seavey
Published:
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Students who went to Lobby Day were disappointed by legislative members' responses.
About 130 students went to the state capitol Wednesday for student Lobby Day to voice their concerns to members of the Minnesota Legislature.
Student Lobby Day is hosted by Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA). MSUSA representatives pled with legislators to treat higher education fairly.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) has already taken a $25 million cut for the remainder of this fiscal year. SCSU's share of that is about $2.5 million. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is supposed to present a new budget plan next Tuesday. The new plan will determine if $25 million will be cut from MnSCU each year of the next biennium, which starts in July.
"There's a breaking point," said SCSU Student Government President Brett Sween. "We're not sure when we're going to hit it, but it's going to be soon."
MSUSA also wants to eliminate Minnesota Higher Education Services Office (HESO). HESO distributes grants, work-study and childcare grants to Minnesota college students.
"HESO has failed its mission to the students of Minnesota," said MSUSA State Chair and SCSU student Yorgun Marcel.
During the 2002-2003 school year, students across the state were left without work-study, many without warning. HESO drained the work-study fund and part of the childcare fund this fall to increase funds for state grants. No state grants were given out after Jan. 10. Because the house and senate never agreed on a budget-cutting plan and Gov. Pawlenty can cut the budget but not add to it, there are no state grants for the second summer session.
Sarah Allen, a sophomore at SCSU, shared her struggle to stay in college. Allen decided to go back to college after being laid off from Fingerhut. She depends on Financial Aid, Pell and State Grants as well as childcare grants to help pay for college. If these programs continue to be cut and are not restored, she and others, may not be able to afford to go to college.
"I will have to drop out," Allen said. "I won't be able to support my family on my own."
Allen wants to get a degree so she can support her family, rather than working in low paying jobs and depending on the state to make ends meet.
Another concern regarding grants is the way HESO distributes them to private and public colleges. The amount of money grants are for is based on percentage of tuition. At a private school a student may get a $500 grant, while at a public school a student may get $100.
"You're limiting the access," said MSUSA's Frank Viggiano, "helping the few rather than the many."
Viggiano said that Minnesota is fourth in the nation for the amount of money given in grants, but 31st in the number of people receiving grants. Many feel that the larger grants given to a few private college students could help a larger number of students at public schools.
Students had the opportunity to meet with seven different legislators including Sondra Erikson (R) 16A, Jim Knoblach (R) 15A, Doug Stang (R) 14B, Joe Opatz (DFL) 15B, Dan Severson (R) 14A, Dave Klies (R) and Michelle Fischbach (R).
Many students were disappointed with what the legislators had to say.
"It's frustrating for students," said Sween, "because we look at them as the folks who make the decisions but they don't have the answers."
Some legislators responded to questions by blaming MnSCU and institutions for spending money carelessly.
"Several representatives have not taken what we said seriously," said Dave Plounde, a sophomore majoring in environment and technology studies. "(They're) saying it's the institutions' fault."
Other students felt that some of the legislators did their best to avoid answering questions about higher education.
"I feel like they're just saying what we want to hear," said Bill Potter, fifth year community counseling major.
Jolene Zehm, a sophomore, was discouraged, but glad she went to Lobby Day.
"It doesn't feel like we're getting anywhere but it's helped me as a student to come here," she said.
"By cutting education I feel that we're taking away jobs and opportunities," said Jeannie Knoedler, a junior mass communications major. "I think that is going to hurt us in the long run."
Students from various colleges in the MnSCU system attended. They marched and rallied in front of the capital in addition to hearing speakers.
"People were pretty fired up," Sween said. "It was exciting to see all those students together."
Sween said that students need to commit to more than one day to make a difference.
"We need to be there tomorrow, writing letters and talking," he said. "(It's) not just a one time deal if we want to put a priority on higher education."
