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Students gather on the UNLV campus for a rally to protest Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposed budget cuts for higher education.
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 | 10:46 p.m.
Students Rally Against Budget Cuts
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About 2,000 college students and supporters rallied at UNLV's campus protesting a proposed 36 percent budget cut to higher education.
Sun Archives
- Chancellor calls Nevada schools a ‘disaster’ (1-23-2009)
- UNLV fundraising campaign falls short, so deadline extended (12-18-2008)
- Emotional farewells at Regent’s meeting (12-5-2008)
- Rogers to budget cut protestors: Glad you’re here (12-4-2008)
- Fee hikes may become too steep to endure (12-4-2008)
- UNLV fundraisers fighting to the finish (9-1-2008)
- With that pay, no way, many would-be graduate students tell UNLV (5-11-2008)
- Some say setting fees every two years gives universities a blank check (2-16-2008)
A rally protesting a proposed 36 percent budget cut to higher education drew a raucous crowd of roughly 2,000 people to the UNLV campus Thursday and left students like Casey Breymann energized, wielding a new-found sense of hope.
"It's not going to happen," said Breymann, who is studying elementary education at Nevada State College. Cuts would "decide whether or not I go to UNLV for grad school."
She had already drafted part of a letter she planned to send to state legislators -- an action repeatedly encouraged by the host of college officials, students and politicians throughout the evening.
Before the rally got underway, students crammed tents to sign petitions and receive information on how to contact state legislators. Others waved signs of protest like "Impeach Gibbons" as a DJ spun music near the stage. During the event, students bristled with indignation at the mention of the cuts, while they wildly cheered calls demanding action.
"We all know why we're here," Nevada State College student body President Ryan Crowell said. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons "failed education and the state, and we're not going to let the legislature make the same mistake."
UNLV student body President Adam Cronis and others who addressed the gathering said the crowd's size proved that students are now engaged and are no longer apathetic.
"A lot of people told us it couldn't happen," he said. "That we'd let the colleges and UNLV sink into the dust."
Michael Ulrich, a UNLV biology student, delved into how the cuts are already affecting students: larger class sizes, fewer sections and delayed graduations. He asked those in the crowd if they wanted a state that failed to graduate any doctors, nurses or dentists. He specifically called for a revision of the state's tourism-dependent tax structure.
"If we stand together, there's no end to what we can accomplish," Ulrich said. "Today is the beginning of a movement that will change Nevada forever. Join me in the fight for our future."
UNLV President David Ashley, who reminisced about student activism in the 1960s, urged students to make phone calls and write e-mails to elected officials.
"They made history because the issue was bigger than themselves," he said. "We should reject the budget completely."
Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Jim Rogers followed up on that sentiment, urging students to ignore the governor, whom he called "irrelevant." Instead, he insisted students focus on the legislature, which he predicted could overturn the governor's veto of a new budget. He said he believed they would soon have letters of support from all 63 state legislators opposing the governor's budget.
"They're not going to let the system go to hell," he said.
Rogers also ridiculed the governor's suggestion that he look to donors to recoup lost money.
"Donors go with winners," he said. "If the system becomes a loser, there will be no donors."
After pledging his support for higher education, Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen predicted the upcoming legislative session would be one of the most contentious in state history.
"I want you to shout so loud, they'll hear you in Carson City," Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak said. "It's so refreshing to see so many bright, energetic students here."
Nevada State pre-nursing student Irasema Paul said she appreciated the rally and had already sent e-mails and letters to the legislators. She is a former Clark County School District teacher who returned to school and has students enrolled in public schools.
"I think it's important the schools' budgets don't get cut," she said. "What the governor is trying to do is ridiculous."
Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or dave.clark@hbcpub.com.
Dream on. Tuition is going to EXPLODE. I don't know how you guys in Nevada screwed up your state budget, but here in Calif. the state is facing a $50 BILLION deficit over the next 18 months. Now investors don't want to buy Calif. State Bonds because the state might default on them. If you can't afford college, then don't go. College does not guarantee you a job, and you can't declare bankruptcy on student loan debt. Check out studentloanjustice.org.
There is a lot people in La La land here, too.
Are they really expecting the Democrats to raise over a billion in new taxes when unemployement is growing everyday?
Gibbons has already offered $240 million in hiking hotel room taxes.
The 6% pay reduction is worth $435 million.
He saves $159 million in requiring state employees to pay more for insurance coverage.
He saves $239 million in not giving out merit pay increases and longevity bonuses.
Higher education is cut $472 million.
So if people want none of those cuts that equals $1.3 billion in new taxes.
That will drive a lot of businesses under that are just barely making debt payments and meeting daily operational cost.
I do not think the Democrats are that dumb.
They do want to be re-elected to office one day.
It will be interesting to see how Rogers will react to Democrats cutting the Higher Ed budget.
nance;
We know you troll these stories trying to stur up muck. You don't fool anyone. We know that you have illegals working in sweat shops. Time to get rid of your 4th car and airplane.
Good for UNLV students for speaking up. It is easy for others to stay on the sidelines and trash everyone and everything. I'm making sure my legislator knows where I stand and if you don't have any constructive ideas, I don't need to hear from you. Go to EducateNevada.org and you'll find lots of ideas from people who care about education and Nevada.
2009,
comparing your experience at Home Depot to UNLV is not apples to apples. Again I'll repeat, you (read HD) have done less business. Therefore you have to cut back. UNLV's enrollment probably hasn't tanked the way business has. And in any case your statistics are off. Gibbons wants to cut UNLV's budget by over 36%. I hardly think enrollment/attendance is down by over a third.
Certainly some cuts should be in order, even a six percent cut on things, but a 36% is going to set the university back by over a decade. It will also kill enrollment and drive away professors.
We keep hearing the financial advantages of having a college degree. So why is it that college students get a subsidized education paid for by the working stiffs who don't have a college education. Let's not forget about the grants, cheap loans, and other goodies given to the students. If that degree is so important and generates a much greater income for them it's time they started paying for that education instead of protesting a cheap education is their right. Of course they would rather riot than use their party money for their education.
I understand to some who believe that college has no meaning. However, for those who have been in college as long as I have been and have worked so hard and spent so much money trying to graduate, then you can understand why I and others like me are afraid for the future. If Nevada State College and/or UNLV goes then I feel that all colleges should go. It wouldnt be fair for those who are about to graduate to just say oh well you have to start all over. For instance I only have the Fall semester to go and I am done finally, however something happens to my school all that I have done would not have mattered anymore. I dont know what people have such a problem with NSC? The professors are the best and I have learned more from them then any of the ones I have taken from CSN and UNLV. Its not about the name of a college but what you get out of the experience. After all UNLV and CSN professors dont normally remember your name where as NSC professors are great for remembering our names because of the small class size.
its obvious that none of the protesters read the recent article on the UNLV HARRY REID research and technology park. higher education is demanding funding while the above mentioned article clearly states how money is wasted. check out the article and then begin the debate. you'll find the article under EDUCATION in todays sun. higher education is quickly becoming an oxymoron.
LuvGuv Jim Gibbons BUSTED in airport
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stOVCITCl...