Students lobby for aid tomorrow

As state legislators convene in Salem tomorrow, members of ASPSU and the Oregon Student Association will lobby for an increase in funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant.

 The Oregon Student Association’s (OSA) lobby day message is “students are paying more and getting less,” which reflects Oregon’s higher education budget cuts, increased tuition, overflowing classrooms and dwindling financial aid.

 The OSA, a statewide nonprofit advocacy group for higher education, will propose a $19.7 million increase in funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG), the largest state-funded, need-based financial aid program in Oregon. Additional funding would help maintain the level of aid students receive and make more aid available for those hoping to move on to higher education.

 “We registered over 14,000 students [to vote] across the state, and that shows that these students care that they have a voice. The best way to show that we have a voice is to actually talk to representatives to let them know that tuition, funding and the OOG are extremely important to us,” said Katie Markey, ASPSU interim legislative affairs director.

 ASPSU expects to bring a group of 24 Portland State students to Salem, where they will join another 200 students from public universities across the state. According to Markey, OSA staff members have been at the capitol for the past two weeks, scheduling meetings with Oregon representatives.

Although the schedule has not been finalized, OSA is trying to arrange meetings between students and their own district representatives.

 “Were trying to get representatives from [the students’] districts so that they can talk to them, and say, ‘Look, I’m your constituent and I really care about this, so you should support the OOG,'” Markey said.

 Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Speaker of the House Dave Hunt are also expected to address the students on Friday, Markey said.

ASPSU and eight other schools that participate with OSA are collecting written testimonies from students affected by growing tuition costs and financial aid. According to Markey, ASPSU is compiling the testimonies onto CDs to be distributed to state representatives.

 As Oregon faced an economic crisis last year, large numbers of people decided to pursue higher education, leading to a shortfall in the OOG, explained Ed Hallman, ASPSU vice president.

 “That wasn’t something we could have predicted, but it doesn’t change the mission, the intention, and the reason behind the OOG. I think that’s something we know as students and as activists, and I think that the Legislature knows that they need to adjust it in order to keep Oregon viable,” Hallman said.

 According to Markey, last year’s unexpected demand for the grant resulted in overspending. Consequently, payouts were reduced for students who were already receiving it.

The proposed $19.7 million increase in funding would compensate these students, as well as sustain the grant for the upcoming academic year.

 Aside from lobbying, members of the OSA will present “Golden Clipboard” awards to honor Oregon’s representatives and senators for their student voter registration work. Among the recipients will be Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, House Majority Leader Mary Nolan and Reps. Sara Gelser, Brent Barton and Michael Dembrow.

 For more information about OSA’s lobby day, visit ASPSU’s Web site at aspsu.pdx.edu or stop by their office at Smith Memorial Student Union, room 117.