Organize the South

Below is a repost from the Georgia State University Progressive Student Alliance blog. It's short notice, but come out if you can.


MARCH 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM PSA
http://gsuprogressive.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/march-2-announcements/

GSU Progressive Student Alliance members and supporters,

If there's been any question that education is under attack, it should be answered by now with an unfortunate and resounding YES. State lawmakers have actually pondered not just cuts to staff, faculty, and departments on individual campuses, but tuition increases of up to 77% to cover the budget cap. This is because, as they say, "everything is on the table"...and by that, of course, they mean everything but upper administrator salaries, raising funding through tax increases for the super-rich, and closing corporate tax loopholes. To them, "everything" means picking the pockets of students and parents, already bearing the burden of an economic crisis they did not create. Some of our especially enlightened lawmakers have offered expert analysis: "We're becoming a socialist society when we say that you shouldn't raise tuition at all," Sen. Balfour (R-Snellville) said, adding that his son attends college in Georgia and that tuition "is embarrassingly cheap."

Actually Sen. Balfour and friends, I'll just stick with my "socialist" demand that education should remain public, accessible, and affordable. Those who created the crisis and continue to profit from an educated Georgia can make the sacrifices for once, because we've already tightened our belts more than enough in the last several years. As we chanted on 1/12 and 2/9 at GSU, "Education is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!" We can assure you there will be no shortage of opportunities to do this in the coming months and we'll do our best to include updates from across the state.

-Ryan for the PSA

(Folks should also be aware that March 4 this week has been declared the "National Day of Student Action," as students and campus workers have been faced with cuts across the country. Though all of these actions aren't on the same day, we realize we are all in this fight together!)

1. MARCH 3, 12 PM, PUBLIC EDUCATION SUPPORTERS PRESS CONFERENCE AT GEORGIA CAPITOL: The Higher Education Subcommittee of the Georgia House of Representatives is scheduled to meet Wednesday, March 3, from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the Georgia Capitol. Please join Dalton State College Social Work Club and Georgia Students for Public Higher Education in letting the members of the committee know your thoughts about the proposed $285 million in cuts to University System of Georgia funding by joining us at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Please wear black symbolizing the death of Georgia's future. (THE EVENT IS NOT A MARCH: We are encouraging you to consider attending the meeting. Individuals interested in attending the entire 8 AM - 12 PM session, please meet at the front steps of the State Capitol at 7:30 AM. Those interested in attending the last hour of the session, please meet at the front steps at 10:30 AM. Press has been invited to be present at noon.)
2. MARCH 3, 3 PM, GSU PRES. BECKER ADDRESSES STUDENTS, GSU STUDENT CENTER BALLROOM: It's likely that details of painful cuts ahead will be announced at this meeting. We will be here collecting signatures for a giant card to Pres. Becker, asking him to stand with students in demanding creative and just legislative action that doesn't involve wrecking public higher education. (The card says "We <3>
3. MARCH 3, 5 PM, MEETING TO PLAN DEMONSTRATION, GSU LIBRARY NORTH ROOM 419: After the subcommittee meeting, please meet with members of state-wide groups to plan an upcoming demonstration against education cuts. **EVERYONE WELCOME!**
4. MARCH 4, 10 AM - 2 PM, CARD SIGNING AND TABLING IN GSU LIBRARY COURTYARD: Sign our giant card to Pres. Becker and deliver it with us! Talk to us about what you think we need to do to save public higher education!
5. MARCH 6, 11 AM - 1 PM, PUBLIC SECTOR EMERGENCY MEETING: ATU Local 732, the MARTA transit workers union, has called a public meeting to bring together everyone in the public sector to brainstorm and speak out in defense of public education, transit, healthcare, and other services. The meeting will take place in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Auditorium (501 Pulliam Street, on the other side of the downtown connector from the stadium).