Tuition protest set for Madison
Sign-up sheets now available in Davies Center to travel to rally
Mark Schaaf
Issue date: 2/17/05 Section: Campus News
While freshman and suburban Milwaukee native Chris Nielson said his family does not have a problem paying his tuition, there are many close to his hometown who don't have the same financial means to access higher education.
"If you go about 20 minutes from my house you will begin to reach people who ... desperately want to send their kids through college," Nielson said. "But when you keep raising tuition like we do and cut financial aid, what we're saying to those families is that we're not going to give you the same chance to move up in life."
Nielson hopes to get at least 50 UW-Eau Claire students signed up to travel to Madison Feb. 24 and protest the rising tuition on the steps of the state capitol along with other students from the UW System.
Starting today, sign-up sheets are up in Davies Center to travel to the rally. With 50 people, Nielson said, the group can rent a bus to make the three-hour trek.
After the noon rally, participants will be lobbying their local legislators, "so that way they understand this issue impacts (students)," Nielson said.
On Feb. 9, two wooden doors were sent to UW-Eau Claire to be signed by students as part of the United Council's "Keep UW Doors Open To All" 23-campus tour.
The doors will be "delivered to state legislators" at the rally Thursday, according to UC's organizing and communications director Brian Tanner, who said meetings have been set up with the campus' local legislators, including Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire.
Tanner said the UC's only role was to finish the necessary paperwork for the rally in order for it to take place.
"If you go about 20 minutes from my house you will begin to reach people who ... desperately want to send their kids through college," Nielson said. "But when you keep raising tuition like we do and cut financial aid, what we're saying to those families is that we're not going to give you the same chance to move up in life."
Nielson hopes to get at least 50 UW-Eau Claire students signed up to travel to Madison Feb. 24 and protest the rising tuition on the steps of the state capitol along with other students from the UW System.
Starting today, sign-up sheets are up in Davies Center to travel to the rally. With 50 people, Nielson said, the group can rent a bus to make the three-hour trek.
After the noon rally, participants will be lobbying their local legislators, "so that way they understand this issue impacts (students)," Nielson said.
On Feb. 9, two wooden doors were sent to UW-Eau Claire to be signed by students as part of the United Council's "Keep UW Doors Open To All" 23-campus tour.
| "This is only the first step. It's not like students have to be loud at once." -Brian Tanner Organizing and Communications Director, United Council |
The doors will be "delivered to state legislators" at the rally Thursday, according to UC's organizing and communications director Brian Tanner, who said meetings have been set up with the campus' local legislators, including Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire.
Tanner said the UC's only role was to finish the necessary paperwork for the rally in order for it to take place.
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