Concerned UW students demand action from lawmakers
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The state's budget crisis has students at University of Washington in a state of shock, and taking action.
Worried students headed to Olympia on Friday, trying to send a message to lawmakers.
There's a reason for student concern. When a budget deficit hits $2.6 billion and growing, nothing is sacred. Nothing is safe.
"We are getting cut more and more and as the session goes on; it is not looking good," said one student speaker.
The students went to Olympia to demand action.
"We are the economic future, the economic drivers of this state. And we deserve to be invested in,' said student lobbyist Sarah Reyneveld.
The protesting students are the type to quietly petition their government, perhaps not the type to dump tea bags in a harbor. So they got some advice from, of all people, a friendly state senator who's still paying off his student loan:
"Don't just ask them to support you, ask them to fight for you," said Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor.
And they are demanding action via petitions with 5,000 signatures demanding lawmakers protect quality education. Even more people signed the petitions on Friday in fear of what the Legislature may do, like cut student aid.
"It would prevent me from going to school," said student Tesfalen Tekle. "It would hurt my education, because I wouldn't be able to afford it."
"I'm getting married next summer after I graduate. I don't know what it is going to be like for my kids. I don't know what it's going to be like for these freshmen. I'm here for them," said Jason Podvorac.
The students tried to hand over the signatures to the Senate budget powerhouse, Margarita Prentice. She wasn't in. An aide took the signatures. The students also visited the House Ways and Means Committee, but chairperson Kelli Linville wasn't in, and there were no aides around, either.
But at least the students had a good chant.
"Knowledge is power! Knowledge is power! Knowledge is power!" the students changed.
The students left, hoping that lawmakers will take a look at the petitions.
Worried students headed to Olympia on Friday, trying to send a message to lawmakers.
There's a reason for student concern. When a budget deficit hits $2.6 billion and growing, nothing is sacred. Nothing is safe.
"We are getting cut more and more and as the session goes on; it is not looking good," said one student speaker.
The students went to Olympia to demand action.
"We are the economic future, the economic drivers of this state. And we deserve to be invested in,' said student lobbyist Sarah Reyneveld.
The protesting students are the type to quietly petition their government, perhaps not the type to dump tea bags in a harbor. So they got some advice from, of all people, a friendly state senator who's still paying off his student loan:
"Don't just ask them to support you, ask them to fight for you," said Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor.
And they are demanding action via petitions with 5,000 signatures demanding lawmakers protect quality education. Even more people signed the petitions on Friday in fear of what the Legislature may do, like cut student aid.
"It would prevent me from going to school," said student Tesfalen Tekle. "It would hurt my education, because I wouldn't be able to afford it."
"I'm getting married next summer after I graduate. I don't know what it is going to be like for my kids. I don't know what it's going to be like for these freshmen. I'm here for them," said Jason Podvorac.
The students tried to hand over the signatures to the Senate budget powerhouse, Margarita Prentice. She wasn't in. An aide took the signatures. The students also visited the House Ways and Means Committee, but chairperson Kelli Linville wasn't in, and there were no aides around, either.
But at least the students had a good chant.
"Knowledge is power! Knowledge is power! Knowledge is power!" the students changed.
The students left, hoping that lawmakers will take a look at the petitions.