The Oregon Student Association will visit Salem this week to thank legislators for steps taken to restore state higher education, as well as to remind them not to abandon the issue during this month’s special session.
OSA students from across the state will be participating in the campaign Feb. 13 and 14, handing out sack lunches to legislators with handwritten messages thanking them for making the budget for higher education a priority last year and telling them not to forget the issue when they meet this month.
Because the session has already started and uncovered some budget shortfalls, higher education might not be a priority, said Jeremy Snyder, Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU) communications director.
ASPSU President Rudy Soto said the campaign is especially important now, because of budget decreases that could limit the scope of any contributions legislators have already pledged to give to higher education, he said.
“It’s very important that the state legislature understands that people are paying attention and that their decisions affect people–the lives of people,” Soto said.
If the legislators cannot provide contributions they have already pledged to make, they are effectively going back on their word, Soto said.
“There’s a lot of fear there’s going to be cuts,” Snyder said.
Due to some remodeling that is taking place at the state legislature, many legislators won’t have offices, meaning students will be catching legislators however they can when they visit this week.
The goal is to make sure students are in the minds of legislators during the four-week session, Snyder said.
“They’re [students] going to be literally running around as they’re coming in and out of session,” Snyder said.
“OSA is really interested in getting students to Salem, just to be visible,” Snyder said. “To let the legislature remember we’re here.”
The sack lunches will also contain candy, such as Smarties and Now and Laters, that Snyder says will help remind legislators about higher education because of their names.
“They’re trying to do everything they can to really make it stick with the legislators,” he said. OSA also held a bake sale for post-secondary education last year.
Anyone who is interested in participating in the campaign can come talk to Soto in the ASPSU offices in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 117.