 "Photo: Kim Hahn")
Concerned University of West Georgia students held a rally on Maple Street in front of Front Campus Drive on March 11 at 12:30 p.m. Students loudly voiced opinions about the proposed $300 million in budget cuts that the state legislature has made in order to balance the Georgia’s budget.
Students gathered around David Bachman, a Young Republicans Club member and UWG junior, as he inspired many of the rallying students with a megaphone.
“Police officers, as well as 312 faculty staff and student jobs will be gone,” said Bachman.
[The legislators] need to cut the waste and not our school. We didn’t come to school just for them to cut our majors just before we graduate. Tuition is going to be way too high. We need to contact our state legislators by email, fax and phone and overload their systems to make an impact. We have about 1000 students here now, [but] we need 2000 to 3000 more at the capital. They do not need to cut our education.”
Many students carried emphatically painted signs reading “No Sir,” “Honk if you care,” SACSO Says” or “Students say NO to budget cuts.”
“I don’t agree with a tuition hike,” said UWG senior Jessica Hodge. “I strongly support all of the programs here and the uniqueness of all the majors. We have a great opportunity for education and the professors here really keep it personal.”
Other students had similar views.
“What kind of world do we live in where they want to cut education?” said Andriana Collins, a junior. “The legislature has the opportunity to do what they love with their education. I believe we need to have the same opportunity.”
The budget cuts will cause a financial headache to many UWG students. Many students pay for their education by working.
“This is a double whammy for me,” said freshman Jennifer Morgan. “I pay for school myself because my parents live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t want to end up like them. The congressmen are the only ones benefiting from this. They have money and we don’t. I don’t know what is going on inside their heads.”
Other students are also wondering how they will be financially stable. Majors will potentially be cut at UWG, as well as at the 35 other University System of Georgia schools. So, where will students transfer to if all of the schools are cutting majors?
“Tuition everywhere will be expensive,” said Adnan Skopljak, a junior. “I really can not afford this. My major is being threatened. There has got to be another way around this.”
Although the protest was about major issues concerning USG’s future, many students found ways to have fun at the rally. A few students threw a Frisbee, while others discussed carpool solutions to the march at the Georgia Capital on March 15. Two tents were set up and free t-shirts were offered to those who signed up to carpool.
“It’s great to see this campus energized and united,” said senior Lauren Womack. “I know that some people didn’t think that UWG or other colleges across the state of Georgia could be motivated, mobilized and mature. But, we will show these people that we are not only educated and articulate, but that we will fight for the substantial success of our quality education.”
Freshman Tillay Smart and Ashley Wilson had similar views.
“I love the support of all of the students here,” said Smart.
“I’m glad the students are standing up for what they believe in,” said Wilson.
During the rally, one young man decided that it would be appropriate to demonstrate to the protesters about his feelings on the budget cuts. He ran down Maple Street, nude, clad in only a cowboy hat. This caused mixed feelings among the students. Many laughed at the stunt, while others found it disturbing.
“The naked guy was not good for the protest,” freshman Mackenzie Regier said.
No matter how students decide to protest about these budget cuts, it will draw attention from Georgia’s state legislators.
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