Although students and university officials are stereotypically inclined to butt heads over various issues pertaining to campus life and academia, there is at least one subject we can all agree on: the importance of state funding. From our perspective in the so-called ivory towers, or from within the campus bubble, increased state funding is objectively good because it reduces tuition costs (or at least lessens the increases) and enables administrators to construct new buildings and facilities, hire top-notch faculty and fund various research and academic initiatives.
Unfortunately, elected officials in Annapolis don’t always agree. As Gov. Martin O’Malley and the state’s two legislative bodies grapple over the state’s budget – and an accompanying $1.1 billion deficit – it is all but certain the University System of Maryland will face cuts once the final budget is approved. While it remains to be seen how sharp funding reductions will be, administrators and students from across the 180,000-plus-student university system are fighting tooth and nail to ensure cuts are kept to a minimum.
But they need your help.
In a somewhat rare move, university President Wallace Loh sent an email two weeks ago imploring the university community to take action. Officials have activated Capwiz, an electronic software package used by groups across the country to build grassroots support and interact with elected officials. The software can be accessed at capwiz.com/usmd/home/ and enables visitors to easily contact their elected officials via email or phone. It also contains advice and instructions for effective communication – including a form letter for those who lack the inclination to craft a personal message.
Elsewhere in the system, student leaders from its 10 institutions have joined together in forming USM Students for Affordability and co-signing an open letter urging state legislators to consider the importance of higher education as they conduct budget negotiations. Put together, the members represent about 180,000 students in the university system, which means there are 180,000 potential beneficiaries of a strong lobbying effort (to say nothing of the thousands of parents financing a child’s education).
While state budget negotiations may not be as temporarily inspiring as the Kony 2012 campaign, or as emotionally defiant as donning a hooded sweatshirt for Trayvon Martin (as several delegates did Monday on the floor of the state House), the tangible effect on students is arguably greater. The House of Delegates is currently considering a bill that would trim nearly $20 million from the USM, which would translate to nearly $8 million of reduced funding for this university, according to Loh’s email. That’s $8 million worth of increased tuition and fees, reduced financial aid and delayed projects. It would also be a step backward because, when it comes to financing higher education, students in this state have been relatively fortunate. Tuition increases thus far have been largely capped at 3 percent per year, and the state hasn’t faced budget deficits as significant as in some other parts of the country.
But if elected officials find they can cut significant portions of higher education funding without voter outcry, they’re sure to do it again. Which is why students and other members of the community should set aside a few minutes to visit the Capwiz website or independently contact their state elected officials. As the folks in Annapolis conduct budget negotiations, they’re being lobbied from all sides – everyone wants to protect their piece of the pie, especially when cuts are looming. But as the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease – and the USM has about 180,000 students capable of raising a fuss. It’s time to make some noise.