FOR THE past five years, it has been impossible to hear the words "Virginia education funding" without hearing the word "cuts." Unfortunately, there seems to be little in the way for additional funding per student in the Virginia state legislature. Because legislators are considering other major spending projects being put into consideration, state funding for education has decreased, particularly in higher education. Students at the University must demonstrate their desire for both more affordable education and a better quality of life for employees by participating and voting for progressive candidates in both the Charlottesville May 2 city council elections and the November congressional elections.
While highway costs and maintaining state surpluses are important goals, legislators must realize that state colleges such as the University suffer with very high tuition and funding setbacks. For instance, the living wage controversy would not be a major issue if there was enough additional state funding to provide an increase in wages. Moreover, reduced state spending and limited federal grant money on higher education has made it more difficult for the University to attract top graduate students, according to the Inside UVA Web site, as well as fund better research projects.
According to a report by the State Higher Education Executive Officers, Virginia funding for higher education in 2005 decreased by 27.1 percent in the past four years, with 2005 spending per student at a low of $4,927 last year compared to $6,757 in 2001. Additionally, Virginia21, a group advocating student action in politics, reports that overall Virginia spending is around $377 million less than what is needed for "base adequate" funding, making Virginia spending less than other states in the country.
The best way that students in the University can improve Virginia higher education spending is by volunteering and voting for more education-friendly candidates in local elections. In the city of Charlottesville, three candidates are running for city council in the May 2 election -- Julian Taliaferro, Rob Schilling and Dave Norris. While all three have advocated working with the University on city issues and increased funding for public education, Norris and Taliaferro seem to demonstrate city goals that better correspond to progressive University students. In an April 10 transcript of a city council debate hosted by the NAACP, Norris and Taliaferro publicly displayed their support for a living wage for the University, signing the living wage resolution on Friday. Additionally, Taliaferro mentioned that the City of Charlottesville would be able to act as a lobby for both the city and the University. Fortunately, all of the candidates accentuated the need for cooperation between the city of Charlottesville and the University's goals. Norris and Taliaferro just took advocating the students' goals one step further.
While the state controls public funding to the University, students can help form a city council that will actively lobby for the University's goals of better funding for higher education and improved compensation for University workers. Unfortunately the city council will not be able to directly impact University funding -- however, a strong and education-friendly city council would be more willing to add their voices to the University when requesting the state legislature for additional funding.
The elections of May 2 may create an active lobby locally, but a candidate that supports higher education in congress can promote the University's goals on a national scale. The Nov. 2 midterm elections will pit current Republican Rep. Virgil Goode against Democratic hopeful Al Weed or Bern Ewert in the 5th district. In a personal interview, Al Weed explained his plans to use federal money to leverage for additional education programs in the state along with state and local funding, thereby increasing funding for colleges such as the University and creating a new four-year university in Southern Virginia.
Additionally, Weed claimed that Goode has been silent on how to raise money for education in Virginia and has cut programs that provide financial aid. To add icing to the cake, Weed also has spoken for the living wage and would be willing to get rid of unnecessary defense spending in order to raise money for statewide education and wages for college employees. Additionally, while Ewert would also be a major improvement over Goode, Weed has been more specific on how he would raise higher education funding.
Students do not need to be arrested to feel that they can be involved in increased spending for higher education for the University and a living wage for employees. Just don't forget there are elections on both May 2 and Nov. 2.
Adam Silverberg's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at asilverberg@cavalierdaily.com.
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