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RALLYING FOR THE MONEY - Thousands of students from across the state of Alabama meet in Montgomery every year to rally Congress for lower tuition and more education dollars for institutions of higher learning. The event has been and will be well-attended by students from UNA. A large number of students from UNA are traveling to Mongtomery this Thursday, with breakfast and transportation provided by SGA.

Students rally for lower tuition at UNA

By: Jenn Lyles

Posted: 3/4/10

Several students, along with the school band, will represent UNA in Montgomery at the city's largest annual advocacy rally for Higher Education Day on March 4.

Fourteen four-year universities will join UNA on Thursday to fight legislators for teacher salaries, college expenses and lower tuition. The rally will take place on the front steps of the State House.

Sophomore Natalie Robertson, Higher Ed. Day coordinator, says the high cost of tuition deters many high school graduates from furthering their education.

"Many kids apply to colleges and even get in, but when they see how much it costs, they don't go any further with their dreams," Robertson said. "If tuition was significantly lower, more people would pursue college."

UNA may not be as large as other institutions, but being part of a smaller student body has its benefits.

"You have a better chance of getting your voice heard. That's why it's so important to get involved here. You are making a difference for your peers and future students at this college," said Robertson.

Freshman Forum secretary Valerie Vanstone explained how lower tuition could affect class schedules.

"Not all classes are offered every semester, or every year for that matter," Vanstone said. "If the school could afford to pay teachers to teach more classes, then some students wouldn't have to wait a year to get into a particular class."

Students plan to depart from the school at 6 a.m. on Thursday. The Student Government Association (SGA) will provide a free breakfast and transportation to Montgomery for the students who signed up for the event. The first 300 to sign up received a free T-shirt. University bands will play at the rally, there will be a parade and the governor will speak to rally-goers.

SGA asked several to get their voices heard in Montgomery. They had students write a short statement on index cards about their concerns with school funding. SGA will then deliver a bag filled with the letters to legislators.

"It's sort of like what you see in the movie Miracle on 34th Street, when they dumped the pile of letters on they Judge's bench," Vanstone said. "Several schools are planning to do the same, and it's just a way to feel important."

Robertson attended Higher Education Day at Alabama's capital last year.

"The experience is thrilling. It's exciting, it's wild and it's something I'll remember for a very long time," said Robertson.

Robertson says the ultimate goal is to get more state funding for universities.

"We don't get nearly the funding K-12 schools do. Although they're important too, it's hard to make a good living without a college degree," Robertson said. "We need more of an emphasis on college expenses."

Higher Education Day, hosted by Partnership, is a 12-year tradition in Alabama, where more that 2,000 people attend the rally. It began in response to a seven percent budget cut to the Education Trust Fund for Alabama's public universities in 1998, and has grown to Montgomery's largest annual advocacy rally.