Editor,
Across the country Thursday, faculty, staff and students rallied together to protest
increasing tuition rates and decreasing government funding of public education as part of the National Day of Action to Defend Public Education.
The need for such action has never been greater. In a recent survey of 15-year-olds in 30 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development nations, the U.S. ranks 16th in reading, 20th in science and 25th in both mathematics and problem solving.
The effects of this at the college level are obvious.
A comparison of the number of 25-to-34-year-olds with college degrees shows that the U.S. has fallen from first to 12th among 36 developed nations, largely as a result of high dropout rates. The economic crisis has only exacerbated this problem as government funding of education at both the state and federal level has diminished.
Here at UNM, state appropriations have been cut by approximately 15 percent over the last two years, including a 3.2 percent rescission this year that is forcing departments to slash operating costs and backtrack on promises of financial support to graduate student teaching assistants and part-time instructors.
These valuable employees teach a significant portion of the courses at UNM. TAs alone teach 25 percent of introductory level classes. The impact of these cuts on students is clear: higher tuition, fewer classes, larger class sizes and a longer time to graduation (further increasing the financial burden).
In the face of even more drastic budget reductions next year, as state appropriations will likely be cut another 5 percent and one-time federal stimulus funds run out, the time for action is now. Final decisions at the state and university level have yet to be made. You can still make your voice heard. Write to the governor, state legislature and November election candidates asking that education funding be maintained (addresses at Facebook.com/unmGET).
Join the national protest (DefendEducation.org) to denounce education cuts at all levels.
Defend higher education at UNM by supporting graduate assistants and part-time instructors.
Demand that the administration makes education its top priority. At stake are your education and future, but only you can stand up and fight for them.
Euan Mitchell
UNM student
