Mike Yoder/Journal-World PhotoTOPEKA ? University students from across Kansas took their turn rallying for state funding Thursday at the Capitol.
About 90 students most from Kansas University stood on the Capitol steps for the “Education is a Right” rally.
“I’m disgusted with the way higher ed is treated and funded in this state,” said Michael Johnson, a KU graduate student from Lawrence.
The event was organized by student leaders at each of the six regents universities. They wanted to get legislators’ attention before the lawmakers return May 1 to Topeka to wrap up their session and approve a budget for the coming year.
Higher-education funding is either cut or kept steady in the scenarios under consideration.
“We’re in a crisis right now,” said Kyle Browning, KU’s student body vice president and an event organizer. “Higher education is at a crossroads in this state.”
Browning said he was especially concerned the Legislature could use increases in tuition as an excuse to decrease state funding.
Drew Thomas, a KU junior from Hays, said qualified admission standards enacted by the state kept some students from attending universities.
“It appears the state is again attempting to shut doors to higher education” by increasing tuition, he said. Better state funding would decrease the need for a tuition increase, he said.
Several students held signs such as “Want fries with that? The future of my higher education” and “Make learning a priority.”
The students drew few onlookers besides the media covering the event. The Legislature is on break until its wrap-up session. Justin Mills, KU’s student body president, said the event had been scheduled for Thursday because other campus events including student elections and the NCAA basketball tournament are complete.
Greg Watt, Emporia State University’s student body president, said that although KU students had been more vocal about funding and tuition issues, Emporia State students were concerned, too.
“We’re fired up in Emporia,” he said. “We don’t want our fellow students hindered by the budget situation.”
Adam Klaus, who works for the U.S. Student Assn., came from Washington, D.C., to support the rally. He said universities across the nation were facing similar challenges.
“There is good news,” he said. “As education comes under attack across the nation, students are not staying silent.”
Mike Yoder/Journal-World PhotoTOPEKA ? University students from across Kansas took their turn rallying for state funding Thursday at the Capitol.
About 90 students most from Kansas University stood on the Capitol steps for the “Education is a Right” rally.
“I’m disgusted with the way higher ed is treated and funded in this state,” said Michael Johnson, a KU graduate student from Lawrence.
The event was organized by student leaders at each of the six regents universities. They wanted to get legislators’ attention before the lawmakers return May 1 to Topeka to wrap up their session and approve a budget for the coming year.
Higher-education funding is either cut or kept steady in the scenarios under consideration.
“We’re in a crisis right now,” said Kyle Browning, KU’s student body vice president and an event organizer. “Higher education is at a crossroads in this state.”
Browning said he was especially concerned the Legislature could use increases in tuition as an excuse to decrease state funding.
Drew Thomas, a KU junior from Hays, said qualified admission standards enacted by the state kept some students from attending universities.
“It appears the state is again attempting to shut doors to higher education” by increasing tuition, he said. Better state funding would decrease the need for a tuition increase, he said.
Several students held signs such as “Want fries with that? The future of my higher education” and “Make learning a priority.”
The students drew few onlookers besides the media covering the event. The Legislature is on break until its wrap-up session. Justin Mills, KU’s student body president, said the event had been scheduled for Thursday because other campus events including student elections and the NCAA basketball tournament are complete.
Greg Watt, Emporia State University’s student body president, said that although KU students had been more vocal about funding and tuition issues, Emporia State students were concerned, too.
“We’re fired up in Emporia,” he said. “We don’t want our fellow students hindered by the budget situation.”
Adam Klaus, who works for the U.S. Student Assn., came from Washington, D.C., to support the rally. He said universities across the nation were facing similar challenges.
“There is good news,” he said. “As education comes under attack across the nation, students are not staying silent.”
Mike Yoder/Journal-World PhotoTOPEKA ? University students from across Kansas took their turn rallying for state funding Thursday at the Capitol.
About 90 students most from Kansas University stood on the Capitol steps for the “Education is a Right” rally.
“I’m disgusted with the way higher ed is treated and funded in this state,” said Michael Johnson, a KU graduate student from Lawrence.
The event was organized by student leaders at each of the six regents universities. They wanted to get legislators’ attention before the lawmakers return May 1 to Topeka to wrap up their session and approve a budget for the coming year.
Higher-education funding is either cut or kept steady in the scenarios under consideration.
“We’re in a crisis right now,” said Kyle Browning, KU’s student body vice president and an event organizer. “Higher education is at a crossroads in this state.”
Browning said he was especially concerned the Legislature could use increases in tuition as an excuse to decrease state funding.
Drew Thomas, a KU junior from Hays, said qualified admission standards enacted by the state kept some students from attending universities.
“It appears the state is again attempting to shut doors to higher education” by increasing tuition, he said. Better state funding would decrease the need for a tuition increase, he said.
Several students held signs such as “Want fries with that? The future of my higher education” and “Make learning a priority.”
The students drew few onlookers besides the media covering the event. The Legislature is on break until its wrap-up session. Justin Mills, KU’s student body president, said the event had been scheduled for Thursday because other campus events including student elections and the NCAA basketball tournament are complete.
Greg Watt, Emporia State University’s student body president, said that although KU students had been more vocal about funding and tuition issues, Emporia State students were concerned, too.
“We’re fired up in Emporia,” he said. “We don’t want our fellow students hindered by the budget situation.”
Adam Klaus, who works for the U.S. Student Assn., came from Washington, D.C., to support the rally. He said universities across the nation were facing similar challenges.
“There is good news,” he said. “As education comes under attack across the nation, students are not staying silent.”
Mike Yoder/Journal-World PhotoTOPEKA ? University students from across Kansas took their turn rallying for state funding Thursday at the Capitol.
About 90 students most from Kansas University stood on the Capitol steps for the “Education is a Right” rally.
“I’m disgusted with the way higher ed is treated and funded in this state,” said Michael Johnson, a KU graduate student from Lawrence.
The event was organized by student leaders at each of the six regents universities. They wanted to get legislators’ attention before the lawmakers return May 1 to Topeka to wrap up their session and approve a budget for the coming year.
Higher-education funding is either cut or kept steady in the scenarios under consideration.
“We’re in a crisis right now,” said Kyle Browning, KU’s student body vice president and an event organizer. “Higher education is at a crossroads in this state.”
Browning said he was especially concerned the Legislature could use increases in tuition as an excuse to decrease state funding.
Drew Thomas, a KU junior from Hays, said qualified admission standards enacted by the state kept some students from attending universities.
“It appears the state is again attempting to shut doors to higher education” by increasing tuition, he said. Better state funding would decrease the need for a tuition increase, he said.
Several students held signs such as “Want fries with that? The future of my higher education” and “Make learning a priority.”
The students drew few onlookers besides the media covering the event. The Legislature is on break until its wrap-up session. Justin Mills, KU’s student body president, said the event had been scheduled for Thursday because other campus events including student elections and the NCAA basketball tournament are complete.
Greg Watt, Emporia State University’s student body president, said that although KU students had been more vocal about funding and tuition issues, Emporia State students were concerned, too.
“We’re fired up in Emporia,” he said. “We don’t want our fellow students hindered by the budget situation.”
Adam Klaus, who works for the U.S. Student Assn., came from Washington, D.C., to support the rally. He said universities across the nation were facing similar challenges.
“There is good news,” he said. “As education comes under attack across the nation, students are not staying silent.”
