Junior Alyssa Bamanti, 20, makes a point about higher education funding while junior Corey Niggins, 20, looks on Tuesday. They and other students announced that they will press Colorado's gubernatorial candidates to have a plan to fund higher education. (CU Independent/Paul Sampson)
Many students and members of CoPIRG said they can’t wait to see this campaign begin.
“We are really excited to launch this campaign,” said Alex Coe, a 19-year-old sophomore biology student and member of CoPIRG.
“What’s your plan?” organizers said they will have students wearing blue T-shirts and signs at a rally in Colorado Springs on Saturday where Tom Tancredo, Dan Maes and John Hickenlooper will be speaking.
Students at the 'What's Your Plan for Higher Education?' event wore bright blue t-shirts with the question they want Colorado's candidates for governor to answer. The students announced plans to follow the candidates to events to question them about higher education funding. (CU Independent/Paul Sampson)
“We are just trying to make the issue present, not providing an answer to what exactly needs to be done,” Coe said.
Many students said that they feel that high tuition costs are unfair to them as citizens.
“Education is a right,” said Cory Wiggins, a 20-year-old junior political science major and member of CoPIRG. “I work two jobs on top of studies. It is very hard to stay unstressed.”
Lisa Ritland, a 23-year-old campus organizer for CoPIRG Student Chapters, said that she has spoken to “a lot of students who have two jobs to pay their tuition. There are a lot of stories like this and that is the reason for the campaign.”
Coe said he agrees with Ritland and that many students are struggling to pay for tuition.
“I know the struggle of paying tuition,” he said. “A public university shouldn’t be like this.”
“What’s your plan?” organizers said they want a governor who will develop a sustainable plan for higher education. They said they want candidates to know that they will not vote for anyone who does not take action to support public education.
Some students said that high tuition costs prevent students from going to school out of state.
“Tuition is ridiculously high for students from out of state,” said Alexis Harrington, a 20-year-old junior communication major. “It forces people to stay in state because they cannot afford to go to school out of state.”
Coe said students who would like to get involved with the “What’s your plan?” campaign can stop by UMC 350 to sign up.
Abby Anderson, a 21-year-old senior sociology major said that it’s an important issue for students.
“This is really affecting students,” Anderson said. “Public education is in a crisis.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kevin Stockton at Kevin.stockton@colorado.edu.
