The event, led by Student Government Association, was originally scheduled for Feb. 9 but was rescheduled because of snowfall around the state.
Students faculty and staff who previously had signed up for the trip have been registered automatically for the Feb. 23 rally. Registrations, however, are still being accepted for other people interested in attending.
At the rally, UofL students will join college students from other Kentucky colleges and universities to ask legislators not to make cuts to higher education funding and to fund new capital projects, said SGA President O.J. Oleka.
This is a critical time, Oleka, who also is chair of the Board of Student Body Presidents in Kentucky, previously said. We need to push for funding for higher education. Higher education is an investment for the entire state.
Further budget cuts, he said, would cause progress in higher education to stall. The result would be fewer college-educated citizens and lower-paying jobs around the commonwealth.
Kentucky’s colleges and universities have suffered nine state budget cuts in the past 10 years, and there is a realistic prospect that the institutions will be hit with more state budget cuts during the upcoming budget cycle.
UofL has encouraged lawmakers this session to restore base funding, fund maintenance and operations, fund a new classroom building and keep the Bucks for Brains program alive.
Buses for the rally will leave the circle between the Student Activities Center and the Floyd Street parking garage. Attendees should arrive at that location at noon. Buses will leave at 12:30 p.m. The rally will begin on the capitol steps at 2:30 p.m. and will include addresses from Oleka and Gov. Steve Beshear.
SGA is providing transportation, a boxed lunch and a free T-shirt for attendees. To register, send an e-mail to rallyforhighered@gmail.com and include the following information: name, year in school or faculty/staff post, e-mail address, shirt size, phone number, lunch (turkey, ham or vegetarian), and the senator and representative in your home district.
