PSU’s student senate is boldly addressing the state government in response to their significant cut in funds for the University System of New Hampshire. The decrease in state support from $100 million to $52 million is negatively affecting the school’s ability to attract in- and out-of-state students and restricts public universities potential to compete financially with other schools.
Student Body President Lexi Casale and Senate Speaker Ryan Patten met in Concord with other student body leaders from Keene State College, Granite State College, and University of New Hampshire to write the resolution. The resolution is notifying the state government of the senate’s support for USNH’s effort to fully restore the funds and freeze tuition cost for at least two years.
The resolution, named “S.R. 12(f) #1,” reads as follows; “the students of Plymouth State University, University of New Hampshire, Keene State College, and Granite State College believe that without the full restoration of previous funding, New Hampshire Public Higher Education will quickly lose the ability to attract in-state students and provide them with an affordable educational option.”
“We need to attract state residents first and foremost,” Casale said. The senate’s biggest dispute with the cut is the increased difficulty to provide in-state students with an affordable education.
The Senate plans to achieve full restoration of the funds by gaining support of students in the USNH system of schools.
“It is really important that we have a student movement,” Casale said. The senate hopes to engage PSU students in the fight for funds with various projects through Youtube videos and Twitter, which Casale hopes will “make us look more unified.”
The University System of New Hampshire and PSU’s student senate will undoubtedly be heard in the fight for state support and their resistance will only become stronger with help from PSU students.