The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/14/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Andrew Burton James Sager, education and workforce policy adviser for Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, meets with students on Monday.

r education needs to increase, students from various Oregon colleges and universities made their case in the governor's ceremonial office on Monday.

The campaign included a prescription from students pointing to how much money the state would need to spend in order for students to have enough aid for school.

The theme for the presentation was "we're paying more and getting less." Students wanted to show the government that Oregon's colleges and universities are facing an impending funding crisis and that students are already experiencing the effects of these shortfalls on campus.

James Stager, a senior policy adviser for Gov. Ted Kulongoski, listened to the presentations as school representatives explained the current situation at their schools.

Currently, Oregon is 46th in the nation for funding per student, and students at state universities are worried about that. Students are asking that Kulongoski add $188 million to the budget for Oregon's universities and $101 million to the budget for community colleges.

"The tuition at Portland Community College has doubled in the last two years," said Debra Porta, the school's director of legislative affairs. "Some parents who are students have to ask themselves, 'Do I feed my children or do I pay for my book?'"

The tuition at OSU has gone up by $2394 since 1995. The current tuition is set at $5442.

"We currently have lost 138 full time faculty," said ASOSU President Michael Olson. "Faculty who have stayed said that they are unable to get the resources for the quality of education that we as students deserve."

"Since 1991 the state funding has declined by 41 percent, the largest decrease in the nation, while tuition has increased by 102.6 percent, the fifth largest increase in the nation," OSU's prescription said.

Stager responded to the students by letting them know the governor was doing the best he could.

"The governor has education as his top priority," he said. "He is the primary spokesperson for secondary education. The base funding will increase by 10 percent. We will meet that and exceed that number. I am hoping that all of you will be happy with the numbers that come out in late December."

This election year, in Lane County, more students voted than any other group.

"Students are saying we did our part, now it's time for the community to do theirs," said Courtney Sproule, the communications director of the Oregon Student Association.

The colleges and universities represented Monday included OSU, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon, Portland Community College, Mt. Hood Community College, Lane Community College and Western Oregon University.

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