Students Staff and Faculty Rally to Increase Mass. Public Higher Education Funding

BOSTON/Boston Common - Over 125 students, faculty, staff and alumni from several Massachusetts public colleges rallied Monday on Boston Common to pressure the state legislature to increase funding for public higher education. The event was oraganized by the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts.

PHENOM leaders pointed out that the Commonwealth is number 46th of the 50 states in per capita funding for public higher education, and that Massachusetts has cut funding for community colleges, state colleges and the UMass system by more than any other state in the last 5 years. They called for the state to "race for the median" and move at least to the middle ranks of state public higher education funding - driving the point home by staging a race where runners representing various states ran uphill with the Massachusetts runner finishing in the middle of the pack.

Danielle Brown, a UMass Lowell student, said, "What PHENOM is trying to do today - something that I hope you've all signed - those little brochures, just put your name and your email address on there - what we are going to do - our goal - is to raise the per capita state budget spending to the national average of 6.5 percent from 3.9, and to lower the cost per student down to the national average; so that students are paying less. You're in less debt when you're out of college. So financial aid is no longer an emergency need to dig yourself out of the depths of debt when you graduate. So you can have a worthwhile education. And now what we're going to do today - obviously rallying - but we're going to support the new Public Higher Education Caucus. And what's super-important today. Today is not the end-all. March 8th does not end this fight. The most important thing we can do today is make sure that we are constantly following up on these legislators, and making sure that they cannot back down on their promises to support this cause and to really push through public higher education reform. So. Massachusetts, let's be average."

Paul Toner of the Mass. Teachers Association followed up, "As vice-president of the Mass. Teachers Association, I represent 107,000 pre-K to higher ed employees. 13,000 folks working in higher ed and community colleges and the UMass system and state colleges. The Mass. Teachers Association is very proud to stand with you in support of your efforts. It's deplorable and it's unbelievable that Massachusetts - which is number 1 in so many other areas is 46th in terms of its commitment to public higher education. I know that for myself and my family, we would have not gotten the education that we needed and desired without the UMass Boston campus. Myself and my brothers all attended UMass Boston for part of our education. And I'm so glad to see so many students here, and I hope that you're successful in signing up many legislators here, delivering the message and sticking together to make us number 1 in this area and number in spending on public higher education."

Following the rally, the group marched around the State House chanting slogans like "Show Us the Money!" and then entered the building for a press conference with members of the new Public Higher Education Caucus of the legislature - spearheaded by Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington), Rep. James Arciero (D-Westfield) and Rep. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport). The caucus is expected to provide a more permanent legislatative presence for public higher education advocates in state government.