Tell your state
representative:
‘no more cuts’

Now is the time for students, faculty, and staff to speak up and tell the Utah State Legislature that more cuts to higher education are not the answer.
We thank the students who spent Wednesday at the capitol rallying against more cuts.
Students and faculty that could not attend the rally still have the chance to make their voices heard.
Students, faculty and staff must take the next step by writing to their legislators.
We elect house representatives and senators to represent us. They cannot adequately represent us if they do not know how we feel and what we need.
Legislators need to be reminded that Utah colleges and universities have already cut millions of dollars from their budgets. All nine of the colleges and universities in Utah are increasing tuition this next year. SUU’s hike of 23.5 percent is the largest increase.
The Utah State Board of Regents agreed to the tuition hikes with the stipulation that the Legislature not make any deeper cuts to higher education funding. We need to remind legislators of that stipulation.
There are already too many requirements made by the Board of Regents that are not funded by the state.
SUU’s administration has said even if the Legislature cuts more funds from higher education, our tuition will not be raised again. We are glad the administration has made that stand.
Nevertheless, students need to understand that even if the Legislature tries to squeeze more blood from higher education, SUU and its students will suffer.
Programs, jobs and student services, including class options, will disappear.
We urge all Thunderbirds to contact government representatives and explain the importance of funding higher education.
There are two primary ways to contact your legislator — e-mail and snail mail.