Thursday, February 23rd, marked the annual Higher Education Day. Higher Education day is a major event in front of the Alabama State House organized by the Higher Education Partnership with attendees including those of every public and four-year college and university in the state. The Higher Education Partnership is founded by Auburn alumnus Gordon Stone.
The purpose and reasoning behind Higher Education Day stems from the amount of state money allocated to higher education. Essentially, over the past couple years, state funding has decreased significantly leading to an increase in tuition and fees. Higher Education Day serves as an avenue for students to advocate to their legislature as it takes place while the State House of Representatives and Senate are in session. This measure is taken so state legislators realize their budgetary actions directly affect students and students are aware of it.
“Prior to the 1990’s, the Education Trust Fund appropriations was split 1/3 to higher education and 2/3 to K-12 education” Assistant Vice President of External Affairs for SGA Meredith Smith said. “However, higher education funding has been significantly cut which has had a dramatic impact on universities.”
To do our part, “every year Auburn SGA participates in Higher Education Day…to remind Alabama’s legislators and political leaders the need to increase budget appropriations for higher education” Smith said.
“One of the goals of the External Affairs team is to encourage students to become educated in important political issues and engage with all levels of government” Smith said. “I along with our Director of Governmental Relations, Calvin Wilborn, have been planning this event over the past several months.”
“Higher education day has been proven to be one of the best investments that the government can make” Director of Governmental relations for the SGA Calvin Wilborn said. “In fact, for every dollar that Auburn receives in funding, it contributes seven dollars directly to the state’s economy” Willborn said.
“I am here for higher education because I know the importance of it in lowering tuition rates contribute to students having an affordable college” Willborn said.
Upon arrival, participating students join in a short ‘parade’ which will lead to the State House. There, different schools’ bands will play and multiple speakers, including legislators and state leaders, will deliver speeches. Speakers at this year’s event included Alabama Governor Robert Bentley who put off a trip to Washington D.C. to attend this year’s event. The general message speakers conveyed encouraged students to take action through lobbying for higher education. It was stressed to speak with parents, family, friends and legislators to spread the word and ensure higher education received its portion of funding.
“Auburn is here because we value the coalition of all schools across the state gathering together for something we all believe in, it’s a unifying day as we stand for something that we all believe in as students” SGA President Jacqueline Keck.
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