"USU on verge of financial crisis" was the headline that hit Utah State University last Wednesday. With our economic crisis full fledge we are seeing more cuts and more affects around the nation, it is starting to hit home. Our university greatly and also our community. The legislature and the governor are currently in a battle to see how much of a budget cut higher education should get. With the legislative session coming soon the students need to get together and let the legislature know how these budget cuts will affect them personally.
Government relations are a big part of any major corporation, which is why USU has its own representative that deals with federal and state relations, has a student organization called the Government Relations Council (GRC) and offers a lobbying internship in spring semester. Every spring these three organizations get together, with the president of the school, to decide what to lobby in the upcoming legislative session. Then they rally their forces, with as many students as possible, to let the legislature know that USU is important and have students that care. Last year this group was able to get text free text books which helped all students in lowering their cost to further their education. This year USU's major concern is obviously budget cuts and how much it is going to affect faculty and students. We are looking at a potential of 600 jobs lost, bigger class sizes, departments combining and higher tuition costs.
With GRC and the lobbying groups combined, they currently could have about 40 people on capital hill at the end of January to represent USU, with about 14,000 students currently enrolled in the school, 40 people aren't going to tell other people that the students care. These organizations have done the work, setting up what to talk about, giving the necessary training, making connections, arranging times and transportation to go to Salt Lake. Students need to get involved, join the fight to help our beloved university. The group goes down about five times during the legislative session, they discuss what is going on that discuss what is going on that day in legislation, what the goal is for the students. Once there USU will make a stand, with well dressed, well mannered, respectable knowledgeable students. Letting the Legislature know that we don't want these budget cuts that will affect our education and the community we live in. Join the group, represent USU in its time of need. It ill give you experience, confidence, a new group of friends and could potentially save the university that you are obtaining your higher education from.
