IUSA rallies in Indy

About 20 students went to the Statehouse in Indianapolis Wednesday to help IUSA rally for more funding for higher education.\nJunior Ben Piper, IU Student Association legislative relations director, said he thought the rally was a success.\n"It went really well," Piper said. "We went to the Statehouse to tell legislators funding for higher education is important."\nThe rally featured four speakers: IU President Myles Brand; trustee Dean Hertzler, also a senior at IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis; Director of Hoosiers for Higher Education Kirk White; and IUSA President Meredith Suffron.\nUniversity spokeswoman Susan Dillman said Brand's focus for the rally was investment in higher education.\n"The state is experiencing a tightening of the budget …," Dillman said. "The economic trends have gone down. We understand that. We also understand that higher education is a priority … Indiana can't afford to not support higher education. Now is not the time to give up. Now is the time to move forward."\nDillman said Brand emphasized the importance of conquering the "brain drain." This is a catchphrase legislators use to describe what happens when the best and brightest students move out of Indiana after graduation.\nPiper said a few people from IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis attended to show their support.\n"All of the other schools knew about the rally and were invited," Piper said. "We've been coordinating with other universities all year."\nAfter chanting and listening to speakers, students were encouraged to visit their legislators for a quick visit or drop a note. Some legislators who were expected to come to the rally didn't, Piper said. But Dillman said this was because it was a busy day for them.\n"Unfortunately the students had a rally on a busy day," Dillman said. "It has been my experience that often times, legislators will make a point of going to an event, especially if someone from their district is involved. But the students made their presence known."\nPiper said there are three options being considered in the budget for higher education funding, and he would be glad to have any of it.\n"IU and the rest of the universities could ultimately use more than what they are offering, but we understand they can't give as much as we want," he said.\nIndiana has a part-time legislature, and every odd year the state's budget is written. The legislature has until April 29 to figure out the final budget. Dillman said there is a glimmer of hope because the session is not finished, and the governor can call a special session if necessary.\n"We know it's tough to make a budget, but that doesn't mean it's good or appropriate to not give funding to higher education," Dillman said. "We know we're not going to get everything we asked for."\nDillman said the House passed a bill without a maintenance budget, which helps maintain buildings and laboratories. There is also no room in the bill for the School of Informatics, which was important to IU, Dillman said.\nWhite said his message was one of involvement.\n"My message was that it was important that (students) feel comfortable at the Statehouse and to personally talk to legislators or to the governor and if the legislators weren't there to talk to, then to leave notes about higher education funding and why it is important to them," White said. "Basically, I was saying they shouldn't miss the opportunity to see and talk to their hometown legislator because it's more effective. Many students left hand-written notes to the governor."\nHoosiers for Higher Education is a grassroots legislature advocacy group that organizes alumni and others involved at IU around the state to help make funding for higher education a priority. White said he was impressed with IUSA and its organization of the event, and he was pleased that his group was invited to join the effort.\n"The student government did a great job … they were right on the mark with what funding means to the state of Indiana and students," White said. He said he hopes legislators got the message.\nWhite was not the only one pleased with the rally.\n"IUSA took it upon themselves to organize the rally and President Brand was happy to speak," Dillman said.\nAll those involved said they thought the rally was a success.\n"I think we did very well yesterday," White said. "Individual advocacy really does make a difference."\nPiper said he remains optimistic.\n"If one student goes and one legislator listens, then we've made a difference," Piper said. "We're not done"