Letter to the Editor

Aaron Albrecht

Truman State Student

The students of Truman State University (TSU) would like to send a message to the state legislature.

Truman State University is facing a budget crisis. Over the past 25 years the legislature has steadily decreased funding to public education and to higher education in particular. Under the most positive projections, TSU will find itself three million dollars in debt in only five years. It is evident that the legislature does not consider higher education to be important. They have put their money where their mouth is and have put public education on the chopping block.

The students bear the brunt of this burden. Students around the United States and particularly in Kirksville, Missouri are increasingly indebted in pursuit of an education. We understand that higher education is necessary to better the material quality of our lives, and we also believe that higher education affords us the opportunity to develop meaning and purpose in our lives, to become socially aware citizens, and to ponder the questions that allow us to connect to the greater human family.

We would like the legislature to know that the TSU student body is politically organized and taking action.

We are not bucking the administration. We understand the administration is doing what it can to maintain its mission statement and to continue to provide an essential public service to the state of Missouri. We also understand that the administration has a financial noose around its neck because of the actions of the legislature.

The students have chosen to take action.

The TSU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) invites you to attend an open forum discussion on the importance of public liberal arts education which will be led by Dr. David Robinson on Monday, April 27 in BH 156 at 4:30pm. Additionally, SDS invites you to participate in a symbolic campus demonstration and occupation of the Quad on Friday, May 1. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, having an open-mic night, and displaying art in protest of the legislature’s antagonistic position.

These symbolic, political acts intend to send the message to the legislature that:

1. The Truman State University student body is politically organized and ready to take action.

2. The student body understands that the legislature does not consider public education a priority.

3. We believe public education is our right and should be made freely available to all.

4. We demand the legislature put to a vote a progressive system of taxation that includes a tax on those whose income exceeds $1,000,000 (The Millionaire Tax).

The students of Truman State University (TSU) would like to send a message to the state legislature.

Truman State University is facing a budget crisis. Over the past 25 years the legislature has steadily decreased funding to public education and to higher education in particular. Under the most positive projections, TSU will find itself three million dollars in debt in only five years. It is evident that the legislature does not consider higher education to be important. They have put their money where their mouth is and have put public education on the chopping block.

The students bear the brunt of this burden. Students around the United States and particularly in Kirksville, Missouri are increasingly indebted in pursuit of an education. We understand that higher education is necessary to better the material quality of our lives, and we also believe that higher education affords us the opportunity to develop meaning and purpose in our lives, to become socially aware citizens, and to ponder the questions that allow us to connect to the greater human family.

We would like the legislature to know that the TSU student body is politically organized and taking action.

We are not bucking the administration. We understand the administration is doing what it can to maintain its mission statement and to continue to provide an essential public service to the state of Missouri. We also understand that the administration has a financial noose around its neck because of the actions of the legislature.

The students have chosen to take action.

The TSU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) invites you to attend an open forum discussion on the importance of public liberal arts education which will be led by Dr. David Robinson on Monday, April 27 in BH 156 at 4:30pm. Additionally, SDS invites you to participate in a symbolic campus demonstration and occupation of the Quad on Friday, May 1. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, having an open-mic night, and displaying art in protest of the legislature’s antagonistic position.

These symbolic, political acts intend to send the message to the legislature that:

1. The Truman State University student body is politically organized and ready to take action.

2. The student body understands that the legislature does not consider public education a priority.

3. We believe public education is our right and should be made freely available to all.

4. We demand the legislature put to a vote a progressive system of taxation that includes a tax on those whose income exceeds $1,000,000 (The Millionaire Tax).

The students of Truman State University (TSU) would like to send a message to the state legislature. Truman State University is facing a budget crisis. Over the past 25 years the legislature has steadily decreased funding to public education and to higher education in particular. Under the most positive projections, TSU will find itself three million dollars in debt in only five years. It is evident that the legislature does not consider higher education to be important. They have put their money where their mouth is and have put public education on the chopping block.

The students bear the brunt of this burden. Students around the United States and particularly in Kirksville, Missouri are increasingly indebted in pursuit of an education. We understand that higher education is necessary to better the material quality of our lives, and we also believe that higher education affords us the opportunity to develop meaning and purpose in our lives, to become socially aware citizens, and to ponder the questions that allow us to connect to the greater human family.

We would like the legislature to know that the TSU student body is politically organized and taking action.

We are not bucking the administration. We understand the administration is doing what it can to maintain its mission statement and to continue to provide an essential public service to the state of Missouri. We also understand that the administration has a financial noose around its neck because of the actions of the legislature.

The students have chosen to take action.

The TSU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) invites you to attend an open forum discussion on the importance of public liberal arts education which will be led by Dr. David Robinson on Monday, April 27 in BH 156 at 4:30pm. Additionally, SDS invites you to participate in a symbolic campus demonstration and occupation of the Quad on Friday, May 1. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, having an open-mic night, and displaying art in protest of the legislature’s antagonistic position.

These symbolic, political acts intend to send the message to the legislature that:

1. The Truman State University student body is politically organized and ready to take action.

2. The student body understands that the legislature does not consider public education a priority.

3. We believe public education is our right and should be made freely available to all.

4. We demand the legislature put to a vote a progressive system of taxation that includes a tax on those whose income exceeds $1,000,000 (The Millionaire Tax).