Spring Break
Rallying for higher education
President Ed Ray, along with the OSU Choir and Benny Beaver attended OSU Day at the Capitol Tuesday
Rebecca Johnson
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: News
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Throughout the day the atmosphere was kept light and informal in the galleria room. Refreshments were served as legislators mingled around the room speaking with students and OSU officials, stopping at booths to learn more about different OSU departments.
"It is interesting to watch the passion of a student ignite the interest of a legislature. It's great," said OUS Chancellor George Pernsteiner. "Students are probably the most effective advocates for universities that we have."
Benny Beaver posed for photographs with anyone interested, and the OSU Chamber Choir performed right outside the entrance of the galleria.
In a separate room, though, where meetings were held with legislatures, questions and comments from students and staff revealed the true purpose of the day underneath the festive atmosphere.
Oregon universities are faced with the real possibility of severe cuts in funding for the next two years and many are concerned about their jobs and the quality of their education.
"If we continue cutting (funds) at some point I think the Oregon University System is going to suffer seriously and I don't think we're going to be able to compete with other states and I'm very worried about that," said one of the audience members sitting in on a meeting with local legislators.
Legislators sympathized with the concerns, but informed the audience that higher education is another victim of the current economic crisis.
"We are in unprecedented times right now, as you know that the revenue projections are quite bare," said Sen. Frank Morse, R-Albany.
Morse said that to stop the bleeding of funding for higher education, drastic measures would have to be taken.
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