Organize the South

This is direct from the Progressive Student Alliance. Notice the time is 10am and not 11am. Come on out and save public education.

As many of you know, there will be a demonstration against higher education cuts THIS MONDAY, March 15th at 10:00 A.M. at the Georgia Capitol. The Board of Regents and state legislators have noted that the cuts, at their worst, could include up to a 30% hike in tuition, $1,000 in extra student fees, increased furloughs, and up to 4,000 layoffs of campus workers. Campuses large and small across Georgia have mobilized local demonstrations over the past few weeks in reaction to this news and hundreds of these students will be coming together at the State Capitol tomorrow.

We hope you will join us for this historic event to show our strength at the Capitol and demand a just solution to this budget gap that does NOT include tuition hikes, more furloughs, more layoffs, and further cuts to the University System of Georgia. We must also avoid a "divide and conquer" approach that pits students against workers or areas of the public sector against one another (for example, cutting K-12 to fund higher education). We have arranged a number of wonderful and exciting speakers including fellow students, faculty, and state legislators, and after the demonstration we will hold a meeting to discuss the future of this movement, led by Georgia Students for Public Higher Education, and how YOU can get involved on your campus!

For those who would like to march from GSU campus, meet at Hurt Park (on Edgewood) at 9:30 AM.

We look forward to seeing you on March 15th for whatever portion of the demonstration you can make it to! Please come out and make history with us on March 15th at the Georgia Capitol! Local, state-wide, and even national media will be watching--show them we have big numbers and bring everyone you know out!

Georgia Students for Public Higher Education

(the GSU Progressive Student Alliance is a proud member of GSPHE)

Georgia Students for Public Higher Education sent out this update on the rally on March 15. Come out to the Capitol on Monday, 11am.

As many of you know, there will be a demonstration THIS MONDAY, March 15th at 10:00 A.M. at the Georgia Capitol. We hope you will join us for this historic event as students from across the state come together to show our strength at the Capitol and demand a just solution to this budget gap that does NOT include tuition hikes, more furloughs, more layoffs, and further cuts to the University System of Georgia. We have arranged a number of wonderful and exciting speakers including fellow students, faculty, and state legislators, and after the demonstration we will hold a meeting to discuss the future of this movement, Georgia Students for Public Higher Education, and how YOU can get involved on your campus!

For those who would like to participate, some of the SGA presidents from various universities will also be meeting at Hurt Park at 8:30 A.M. before marching over to the Capitol where GSPHE will host the demonstration.

We look forward to seeing you on March 15th for whatever portion of the demonstration you can make it to! Please come out and make history with us on March 15th at the Georgia Capitol!

Georgia Students for Public Higher Education

This is a call to action from Georgia Students for Public Higher Education. There will be a March 15 rally at the Capitol demanding that public education in Georgia be saved.

The economic crisis has hit public education, and it's taking no prisoners. A proposed "compromise plan" for the University System of Georgia includes over an over 30% tuition hike, a $1,000 fee hike (on top of the $100-200 fee hikes already instituted), hundreds of layoffs for campus workers, even more furlough days for faculty, department "consolidations" and closures, a shortened semester schedule, campus closures and drastically reduced admissions rates. The concept of public higher education itself is facing extinction. Many of us have already lost jobs, faced wage cuts, and many have even lost their homes. Working people everywhere have felt the pain of the crisis and it just doesn't seem to have an end. Other public services are also facing extinction. From public transit to housing and healthcare, everything is at stake. Public K-12 education is also under severe attack, with already crowded classrooms that continue to balloon in size, teachers forced to work under incredibly adverse conditions, and students being subjected to mind-numbing standardization in the place of education.

We in Georgia Students for Public Higher Education come to you proposing a real solution--not one that asks you to sell out other students, other programs, campus workers, or faculty. We demand justice. A real recovery from this crisis means stopping the cuts right NOW to get our state moving forward. We didn't cause this crisis and we should not have to pay for it. If that means passing a "sin tax" on cigarettes or taxing the super-rich (who have been assuring investors of rising profitability for months now), so be it. Education could be an engine of job growth and a haven for those eager to gain new footing in difficult times. If these cuts go through, that hope will be lost.

We can only get there by standing together--students, campus workers, faculty, and community members. A state-wide movement is being built to connect all of us in an historic effort to save public higher education. On March 15 at the Georgia state capitol, we'll have an opportunity to show our strength and we urge everyone to join us. If you can't be there, join the "Virtual Day at the Capitol" (check facebook for information on how to do this). You can also join or organize demonstrations on your campuses in support of this movement on March 15--consider organizing a campus walkout, a rally outside your president's office, a letter-writing party for your representatives, or whatever else you feel is appropriate for your campus.

Until March 15, stay plugged in by joining the facebook group "Georgia Students for Higher Public Education" (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=ts&gid=215693188744) for updates. If you'd like to organize with us join our Google group (http://groups.google.com/group/georgiastudents/) to discuss action plans.

See you at the capitol!

MONDAY, MARCH 15 2010.
11 to 3 PM (time subject to change)

If you aren't on facebook, check the GSU Progressive Student Alliance blog for updates.

Brought to you by "USG Students for Quality Education" and "Georgia Students for Public Higher Education."

Yesterday about 40 students from around the state held a press conference in front of the Georgia legislative assembly demanding hands off the education budget. The press conferences was put together in a couple of days and included students from University of West Georgia, Dalton State University, Augusta State University, Georgia State University, and other campuses.

Last week the University System of Georgia Chancellor and some state legislators floated the idea of a 77% tuition increase. This week, however, they are talking about a 35% increase as well as an extra $1000 in fees. In effect, this is a tax on Georgians seeking an education. While students were involved in fighting fee hikes before talk of such draconian measures (check out the GSU PSA January 2 demo), this threat to education has led to an increase in activity. On March 4, in solidarity with California students fighting similar cuts, students across Georgia will have various actions. Augusta State is organizing a walk out while other campuses are holding outreach events.

A rally is planned for Monday, March 15 at 11am at the Capitol. The rally is being called by University System of Georgia Students for a Quality Education and Georgia Students for Public Education. The rally will include speakers and visits to legislators.