February 4, 2010 in City

EWU, WSU students stage walkouts over cuts

Mike Prager mikep@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5454

Eastern Washington University students, faculty and staff rally on the Cheney campus to protest state budget cuts to education Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010.
(Full-size photo) (All photos)

More than 500 students and faculty staged a noon-hour walkout at Eastern Washington University on Thursday to protest cuts in state university spending and increases in tuition.

The protest was mirrored at Washington State University, where about 150 students and staff held a similar demonstration on the Terrell Mall in Pullman.

The demonstrations reflected growing frustration over budget cuts on college campuses.

EWU student Marc Ebel said during the rally that students should not be forced to shoulder “all of the burden” of the state’s budget problems.

He said students are being turned into a de facto rainy-day fund for a cash-starved state government.

Bethany Abbott, a senior at EWU, was busy signing up new voters during the rally in an effort to increase students’ political clout.

She said she fears the cuts will result in fewer teachers, fewer class offerings and ultimately, fewer students.

Higher education benefits the state, with 73 percent of EWU graduates going on to careers in Washington, she said in an interview.

“An investment in our higher education is really an investment in our state as a whole,” she said.

University President Rodolfo Arévalo told the students that he is working to convince lawmakers of the need to support higher education and “every one of you.”

Professor Raphael Guillory, president of the faculty organization, also appeared and told students, “The state needs to be behind your dreams of becoming who you want to be.”

Lawmakers cut $13 million from EWU’s annual budget a year ago, and proposals could strip another $3 million from university operations as well as $8 million to $10 million from student financial aid, officials said.

Tuition and fees at EWU have gone from $3,927 a year in 2005 to $5,445 a year for the current school year.

The legislature is also considering another 14 percent increase in tuition for next year and additional increases in subsequent years, said Kris Byrum of the Associated Students of EWU.

More than 80 percent of EWU students receive financial aid, including work study, which could be cut drastically by lawmakers, Byrum said

“We want them to take our concerns into consideration when they are making policy,” he said.

At WSU in Pullman, Jackson Shultz said the demonstrations were a good way to call public attention to the developing funding crisis in higher education. He said additional walkouts or students strikes are likely on March 4 and April 7.

“Students are looking at our long-term goals and futures,” he said.

31 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

empyrius on February 04 at 9:21 a.m.
If these kids don't want to pay for school then they should join the Army and go kill brown people for oil and empire!

They have never walked a mile in a five year old starving African childs' shoes (the kid died before he/she finished the mile by the way).

Ungrateful little spoiled American kids anyway …

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bdr on February 04 at 9:31 a.m.
I think they should receive a education course educating them a republican vote has consequences,Ill bet over 50% of this crew walking out the door voted FOR the Republican party in 2000-2004.
(Republicans are squarely to blame for this cut and depression)
Wheres Ross Perot and his charts when you need him.

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IHike4Fun on February 04 at 10:25 a.m.
If you think education is expensive try ignorance.

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Lewis on February 04 at 10:26 a.m.
I am happy to see this; the kids are finally going to start standing up. That is what we need more and more people standing up and saying we have had enough!

Republicans? how is this their fault just in case you don’t know the democrats are in office. And granted Bush was no winner, but Obama has basically hitched himself a ride on the Bush train.

People are not spoiled if they can go to college that is what we will need to get out of this mess, sharp minds.

How the heck is that the republican’s fault?

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Albert on February 04 at 10:38 a.m.
Lewis has a very good point - it is really irrelevant as to your political excuses. The facts remain that education, especially post-grad degrees are very expensive. Think about the cost of staffing, maintenance, books, supplies, etc. then come to a “profitable” bottom line for the institution. Before you jump all over me, despite the fact that most institutions are tax supported, they cannot continue to run in the hole without “staffing changes” as a consequence. My entire educational bill, including an earned Ph.D, was an astounding $65k. In 1985. Tthis was an astounding amount of incurred liabilities and required 15 years to pay off. However, I earned “big bucks” at 100k per year, so what really has changed? An earned Ph.D today will cost well over $200k, however as you will note, WSU pays very well at this level. So what has really changed? Education as many of you have pointed out, remains an expensive item, however the alternatives are costly as well. It's your choice, so quit the complaining.

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empyrius on February 04 at 10:52 a.m.
What bugs me most about these kids complaining about money, is just that.

We don't see a massive student revolt against America's illegal wars all over the world, but when it comes to money, boy o boy, the kids will rise up on that account. “We” have taught our children well: har har har har! Not!

But I do feel these kids' pain! Just this morning I got yet another direct loan bills, and I see that over four thousand dollars alone is “capitalized interest”!!! Capitalized interest = evil! Plain and simple.

Evil capitalist pigs! You are going down America!!!!! Yea baby.

Jesus is a coming baby, and St. Trotsky is his harbinger!

(You people really do not think Albert Einstein was a socialist because he was stupid do you?!? http://monthlyreview.org/598einstein.php)

pax vobiscum

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shanusmaximus on February 04 at 11:18 a.m.
@Emperyius

“What bugs me most about these kids complaining about money, is just that.”

Well they need to realize something very important….THERE IS NO MORE MONEY. PERIOD. Oh, you think you are going to cry and whine about budget cuts at school? HA! Think about how you are going to feel when you are standing in a food line by the time these insane “leaders” of ours push the entire country off of the cliff. Earth to idiots, earth to idiots…no more money for you, no more money for me. The only people that get money go by the name Goldman and Sachs. Does anybody realize how bad things are??? These idiots want to raise the debt ceiling another TRILLION dollars for God's sakes!

“Jesus is a coming baby….”

No he isn't. He will never come back because he is dead. Sorry. Besides, you don't need him to come back as long as you live by his philosophy.

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shanusmaximus on February 04 at 11:20 a.m.
“But I do feel these kids' pain! Just this morning I got yet another direct loan bills, and I see that over four thousand dollars alone is “capitalized interest”!!! Capitalized interest = evil! Plain and simple.”

Did you read that loan before YOU signed it???? Did you actually think you were going to get something for free or because they think you are a good guy?? PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Use some…..

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edmitch on February 04 at 11:51 a.m.
The state is increasing tuition by 14%, two years in a row. The tuition increases are a way to increase taxes without saying the state is increasing taxes - the State is substituting higher tuition for tax revenue. Sharp tuition increases are a tax hike that falls on all families with students attending public colleges (including community colleges) in the State, as well as families whose children will attend Washington public colleges in the future.

Is college education important to the State? Consider that in Spokane about 25% of adults have at least a 4 year degree. In Seattle, about 55% have at least a 4 year degree and average salaries run about 75% higher than here.

As you look around at vacant store fronts and office buildings all over Spokane, you might ponder whose economy is stronger and ask “Why?”

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spoketucky on February 04 at 11:56 a.m.
empyrius bleated: “You people really do not think Albert Einstein was a socialist because he was stupid do you?!?”

He was also an atheist who would never use a religious figure to support a position.

I do, however, agree with you about the selective nature of student outrage and what it reveals about our culture.

The use of students as ATM's for higher education began a long time ago (mid, early 90's) in Washington with laws that allowed students to levy higher fees upon themselves (i.e. Tech Fees, etc) through a mock democratic process. This practice allowed the higher ed system to avoid confronting huge systemic budget problems while transferring the costs of higher education to a sector of the population with the least ability to pay. As a student leader at the time of the passage of these laws, I strongly argued against these practices because they allow the state to neglect their legal responsibility to fully fund higher education.

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Kasey on February 04 at 12:07 p.m.
I am a student at EWU and I think it is really offensive to call the student body here spoiled. I have had many friends who had to leave school because they can no longer afford to pay for school with the new tuition increase. I find it really amusing that I find this article right after a class I had in which we talked about the issues our campus is facing. My problem is not so much the budget cut but the way our school is responding to it. I feel like instead of cutting some of their salaries which are really high, they are taking away from the students.

Are any of you students at these campuses? Have you ever been? Or have you been here recently?

I have had classes were the number of students has sky rocketed from about 50 to 200 students per class. I had to spend extra money on a clicker so that my professer knew I was in class. I came to EWU for the small class sizes. I didn't want to be another face in the crowd but now I am. The class sizes are going up but the rooms are not getting any larger. Since the beginning of this year, every quarter I have had at least one class were students had to sit on the floor for lack of seating, or in the hall because there was no space. Imagine trying to learn in that situation. We are trying to do better for ourselves. If you have nothing positive to say don't say anything at all.. I thought all mothers taught that rule of kindness. The school needs money to function and our problem is where the money is currently going. As students we want a say in how it is spent. That is all I really have to say. Call me stupid or childish if you want, call me what ever makes you feel good about yourself. I don't care what you say, but I care about my education. Now, I have to go to the walk out.

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shanusmaximus on February 04 at 12:34 p.m.
@edmitch

“As you look around at vacant store fronts and office buildings all over Spokane, you might ponder whose economy is stronger and ask “Why?””

Why? Because morons run this town that is why. They never have seemed too keen in attracting or keeping business of any sort here. I mean look what is happening in Oregon right now with the taxing of businesses. We need to take advantage of that, drop some of our goofy local taxes, maybe sweeten the pot a little bit, get some people down there to tell business that we will be more cooperative and GET SOME JOBS IN THIS TOWN!!!

Look, do you really think it was lack of higher education as to why we lost Buck Knives? That we lost Western Peterbilt to Liberty Lake? That we are losing Freedom Truck to Medical Lake? And that is just scratching the surface. Get the Tech businesses here and the higher educated will follow. But as it sits, we are losing businesses that we already had and until the leaders in this town get it together, they will NEVER come back. Hence, your empty buildings….

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empyrius on February 04 at 1:08 p.m.
A college degree should not cost $60,000.00. A colege degree should be universally available free education! Kinda like medical care. But then we would not pay for government nor let them keep secrets from us. Then nation-states would seem definitively anachronistic. And then …: hmmmm. Har har har.

I think spoketucky Einstein was kind of Spinoza-like in religious belief; heck, we will find out when we die :) :).

Kasey. The point I would like you to think about is this; “your” government will not even question spending 1.4 (maybe more) trillion dollars a year on war; and our society puts the question to you simply, go murder people for oil and empire (creative destruction, American exceptionalism, money, God, and all that jazz), or spend your money on a college education and find a way to make money off other people. And if you refuse to do either of those two things get ready for prison.

Not exacly Christ's Golden Rule, but it is the rule of gold.

Godspeed my friend.

Peace

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sixandseven on February 04 at 1:15 p.m.
If I was making $500,000 a year as a school president I wouldnt care either even less as the UW pres makes nearly a million.

Kind of a joke when our Gov is the 80th or so top paid state employee.

State University tuition paid by the students only covers about 1/5 the cost of their education. Compare it to Gonzaga where it costs the student $32,000 a year since its not subsidized by the state.

They should have closed down Eastern a long time ago and merged with SCC and SFCC.

I worked my tail off during college. Two jobs and eighty hours a week during the summer.. and without an Ipod jammed up my ears.

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Mr. Natural on February 04 at 1:18 p.m.
In a way it is a shame that a country that touts itself as the greatest on the planet cannot provide education or say affordable education for those who truly desire to better themselves. That being said I could not afford to go to college so one of the reasons I joined the military was for the GI Bill. When I was discharged and enrolled at Eastern I still needed to work nights to afford the tuition etc. Currently my daughter is working and going to college and using student loans when necessary. So regardless of the cost of tuition where there is a will there is a way, and yet still I wish for her and other students that tuition wasn’t so damned expensive.

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CheapScholar on February 04 at 2:04 p.m.
I think that it is appropriate for these young people to voice their concerns about the state budget woes and the impact it is having on their educational expenses.

The only problem is that Washington is not alone in this struggle. Many states/students across the nation are going through the same pinch.

It is getting harder and harder to make ends meet and still obtain a quality education. I hope these students are successful in getting heard and that others will follow suit.

Doug @ CheapScholar.org

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gotcha on February 04 at 2:23 p.m.
They best get good at gripeing, because they are going to inherit a life of it. Our politicans spending will end up hurting a lot more than their educations. The dept that we have now incured will be costing these kids the rest of their lives. The bill for our politicans actions will be comeing due shortly and it will get worse every year. All I can say is GET USE TO IT and vote these big spenders out of office.

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shanusmaximus on February 04 at 2:27 p.m.
“Rising tuition and enrollments have meant surging college revenues. Real per-student spending rose about 70 percent over the past 20 years. How have the universities used this extra money? Financial data provided to the federal government suggest that remarkably little of the higher spending has gone toward instruction: perhaps 21 cents for each new dollar per student since 1976. Teaching and learning are becoming almost secondary activities at some universities. Research has grown, but so has spending on myriad other things. Administrative staffs, for example, have soared. In 1976, it took the typical university about three “non-faculty professionals” to service each 100 students; today, it takes nearly six. My fairly typical university spends over $10 million a year subsidizing intercollegiate athletics.”

“Awash with funds, university personnel have taken good care of themselves too. Over the 1980s and 1990s, real average faculty compensation (including fringe benefits) probably rose about 45 percent, and near-mid-six-digit salaries are commonplace for top administrators and superstar faculty. A large proportion of tuition increases has gone not for qualitative learning improvements, but to making life better for the permanent paid members of the academy—lower teaching loads, more travel, higher salaries, etc. University presidents beg legislatures and big donors for more funds “to improve student access and academic quality,” but use most of the money for fancy facilities, athletics subsidies, administrative-staff increases, and other things peripheral to the main mission of the institutions.”

“How can universities get away with it? Unlike the private for-profit sector, which faces strict financial discipline imposed by competition and markets, the not-for-profit modern American university is largely (although not completely) shielded from these forces. How is IBM doing? You can get real-time changing assessments of its fortunes by following its stock price, and at least quarterly estimates of its profits in press releases and stockholder reports. But how did Stanford do last year? Who knows? There is no bottom line in higher education.”

“Not only is there little financial discipline, but political or institutional accountability is lacking as well. Unlike most governmental agencies, state universities typically are largely operationally independent of their funding source, with relatively little legislative or executive oversight to ensure accountability.”

“I have actually observed a negative correlation between state-government spending on universities and economic growth, controlling for other factors. Universities literally lower the incomes of non-participating citizens. And in the case of the second argument, there is only the very weakest of positive correlations between government spending on universities and the proportion of students either attending or graduating from college. (Another scandal: Over 30 percent of entering four-year-university students do not graduate within six years.) The recent reduction, in some states, in government support for universities is thus sensible public policy.”

I LIKE THIS…….

“One worthwhile approach is Colorado's: Allocate more money directly to students, rather than to institutions. Give scholarships (vouchers) to students who are poor, to increase their access to education—but limit the funding to those with decent academic performance (in other words, stop subsidizing party-loving mediocre students). As for the rest, let them pay their own way: They are the ones who benefit, so they should pay the bill.”

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi…

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Lewis on February 04 at 3:16 p.m.
The entire government is corrupt how can we even think the State university system isn't corrupt too?

They can make laws allowing them to increase our taxes while they talk out f the left side of their face. but reality is we are broke. the middle class is gone, the poor have lost their health insurance, the rich have stopped or will stop giving as much to charity.

A judge in Washington has ruled the state is not full filling it obligation to educate through public schools.

The whole damn system is broken, because it got turned from being pure,morale, and free into all about……….money.

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bdr on February 04 at 4:06 p.m.
I dont feel education is worth 500 grand. period.
If your a educated doctor your tending to sick elderly on medicare that's basically bankrupt now……and your youth have no jobs….now or in their future due to nafta to pay you, your education fails due to non payment of others.

I invested over 10 grand in education over 2 years for information employers never used…(it was dated schooling at best) now its useless.

Ive never been asked to use algebra EVER…….in my entire 35 year working history.

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westside on February 04 at 6:51 p.m.
Like all universities..the upper bunch gets paid very well, hundreds of thousands and raises every year.That is why tuition keeps going up… janitors at universities making 40,000 a year..so what do profs get? 60k? lol

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wsucoug2011 on February 04 at 11:28 p.m.
I have to say as a student currently at wsu, and previously at ewu the tuition hikes are going to be a problem for many students. The ideas that we keep hearing about here are that they are trying to get rid of the work study program, reduce loans available, and reduce grants and scholarships. If this is the case for next year it will be impossible for me, and probably many others to continue our education. With bachelor degrees being the norm nowadays I am not sure what this will mean for many students, that will probably be out of school with loans from an unfinished degree and no job. We should not have to take on the state's issues just to avoid other taxes. As students we can't afford to take on the state's problems alone.

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aeguy on February 06 at 10:21 p.m.
for those of you absent-minded individuals who would like to blame the state and federal government for everything that goes on in the area and country, please leave my country promptly. Trust me we would do better without you. Those who think education should be universal as with health care are those who were fed from a silver spoon there whole life. I have had to literally fight a war for my health care and education. 27 months total in Iraq, so how about earning things in life versus expecting handouts. Your adults now and its time to earn like one.

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Sugar Shane on February 08 at 9:03 a.m.
aeguy, your retarded, and could use an education. The war is illegal, so you are a war criminal (not a hero), and its what has bankrupted the country and made the tuition hikes possible. Im sorry but people that think universal health care and higher education should be covered are the poor ones that cant afford it, not rich kids. Take off those Red White and Blue glasses for a minute and see how other countries make it work and it costs less. There is no reason we should spend 70 mil a day fighting “Bush's war” while we say no health care and higher costs for education. Soldiers aren't paid to think, and your comment sheds light on why.

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aeguy on February 08 at 1:30 p.m.
Sugar it is sad to hear that you label me a war criminal. I proudly put on my uniform every day to protect our country and way of life. On september 11th, 2001 our way of life was attacked by a group who still runs rampant in the middle east. To believe that “OUR COUNTRY” is fighting somebody else fight is pure ignorance. If we are not fighting the terrorist in the middle east, then sure enough we would be fighting them on our home front. The fact is we are not any other country, we are the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the LAND OF THE FREE because of THE BRAVE!!! People like you give me the motivation to fight everyday, the people who attack this countries “SONS and DAUGHTERS”. It is people like you “Sugar” who I fight to give you the right to label me as a war criminal, it is people like you that I raised my right hand to stand up to fight for this countries rights where you would stand back and judge from the rear. If you can't stand behind me and my “Brothers and Sisters” then by all means stand infront of us. Untill then continue to bash us for our heroism and courage, two values you know nor ever will know anything about.

P.S. Your welcome.

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Sugar Shane on February 09 at 8:39 a.m.
Yeah aeguy, I dont mind bashing you, Im a veteran, and served long before you did. You must not know your history very well, the 9/11 bombing was carried out by Saudi's, not Iraqi's. If your war is so justified, explain the 100k or so civilian deaths. People like you are good for one thing, cannon fodder. Dont forget the country you love considers you to be an expendable resource, along with everyone else in the country. Have fun fighting a war for oil, because if you've disillusioned yourself so much that you think you are fighting for freedom, your sadly mistaken.

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suzieQ on February 09 at 11:19 a.m.
no, sugar shane, you are the one who is sadly mistaken. it is most certainly a war for freedom. for us and the innocent civilian iraqi and saudi people. the terrorists who attacked our country on 9/11 were attacking our way of life as americans. they hate it and us. death to the infadel and all that. thanks to heros like aeguy our way of life is protected here in the U.S.A. if we didnt do anything to protect ourselves as a country everytime we came under attack we would already be under nazi german rule….or japanese….or now middle eastern. i dont know about you but i like how things are here in the usa. i dont want to be under a gonverment and religious rule as they are in iraq and saudi. where if you question your ruler or government (ie: the late sadam hussien) you could be prisoned tortured and killed or as a woman if your raped you can be stoned in the streets for not being a virgin. the sad thing is the civilians over there in the middle of all this chaos appreciate our american troops more than we do. the civilains are being bombed daily and dying along with our tropps by crazy suicide bombers. thanks to our troops that is happening over there and not here on our home turf. dont know what it has to do with the article…but i just wanted to thank aeguy and all our brave troops.

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aeguy on February 09 at 1:35 p.m.
Thank you suzie, well said. 9/11 bombers were saudi and part of Al queda. Sugar where is Al quede NOW? I'll give you a hint, it wherevere we are, and since we are in Iraq and Afghanistan they are there too, if we were home guess where Al queda would be? See where I am going. Iraq and Afghanistan harbored terrorist cells. and to say no they didn't “Saddam hated Osama Bin Ladem, ” is ingorant as well. You ever here the saying, “The enemy of my enemy is a friend.” Enough said, and too say you are a veteran and classify yourself on par with me is a joke. You say you served well before me, you are in your 30's according to your profile. You sugar are a veteran of the garrison Army, I on the other hand am a veteran of war. You can't compare yourself to me, GET ON MY LEVEL. Again you are welcome, sir.

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spoketucky on February 10 at 9:49 a.m.
aeguy: Veteran of War or Murdering Pawn for Corporate America.

You say tomatooo, I way tomaaaayto…

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spoketucky on February 10 at 9:53 a.m.
aeguy: Stay in college, dude. Maybe by the end of the first two years you'll be capable of college level composition. Then you might be on a “level” that will matter for the remainder of your productive years.

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aeguy on February 10 at 1:58 p.m.
The thing about the military dear spoketucky, while downrange you get opportunities to network and build strong relationships with those you work with and around, both military and civilian. I have already been offered a job with no college expierence at Ratheon, who build radars for both the military and private sectors. Radars such as those used in airports and in the military to track aircraft. I get out of the army in 2011 and will be 24 years old. As a 24 year old military veteran, my starting salary is $165,475 per/year with 5k stipends every 5 years I stay with the company. So what is this “level” you speak of. If you have any doubts I could glady scan and email you a copy of said contract.

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