About 150 MSU students traveled to the state Capitol last week to discuss higher education funding with nearly 70 legislators as part of ASMSU's push to help lower tuition costs for students.
Officials from ASMSU — MSU's undergraduate student government — organized the event, known as ASMSU Advocacy Week, to educate MSU students about how their tuition dollars are used.
"We wanted to put a face on the issue of higher education particularly to Michigan State," said Julielyn Gibbons, director of legislative affairs for ASMSU's Student Assembly. "When legislators vote for or vote down funding, they have an exact person in mind as to who they are affecting by their decision."
Of the 150 students who attended, Gibbons said only 15-20 were ASMSU members. The event was one of four initiatives proposed by student government officials in January to educate students about higher education funding.
Rep. John Stewart, R-Plymouth, said he was "thankful to see the initiative and participation" but still wants more student constituents to get involved.
"You guys are as apathetic as Hades," Stewart said. "You haven't had issues that have hit your pocketbook or threatened your lifestyle, and finally, now you are. Get with the program. You can't do business sitting on your gluteus maximus.
"I've been a lone voice begging for student support. I want to meet you. I want to see you … The more participation you can get, the better."
But Lt. Gov. John Cherry said he disagrees that apathy is the problem.
"This generation of students is a bit more active and socially conscious than others," Cherry said. "I don't believe they're an apathetic one. This process is one of compromise and trying to find a level of funding that enjoys some sort of consensus. It encourages us to support and advocate, and that's how it impacts me.
"It makes (lawmakers) more responsive to the governor's recommendations when students are proactive and advocating … it hardly ever happens."
Political theory junior Joe Zichi, who spoke with Cherry on March 21, said both students and politicians are at fault for a low student-voter turnout.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 58 percent of people ages 18 to 24 were registered to vote in the 2004 presidential election, and only 47 percent actually voted — the lowest among all age groups in both categories.
"We choose not to care because there hasn't been a huge event in our lifetime that has been so dramatic that we've needed to get involved like our parents had Vietnam," Zichi said. "The politicians don't want to get involved because we aren't taken seriously. It goes both ways."
Apathy isn't necessarily the problem; it's getting proper representation, said Roger Ludy, vice chairperson for internal affairs for ASMSU's Student Assembly.
"The lobbyists are out there for other age blocks, but we don't have people in place to be pushing an agenda that would work best for us," Ludy said. "It has a lot to do with framing the issues that we care about and asking the right questions of voters to get people to vote."
Eric Hinojosa, the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, representative for ASMSU's Academic Assembly, said the lawmakers were "more approachable" than what he thought they would be.
"You always hear, 'Go down and talk to your legislators because they want to hear from their constituents,' but you don't believe it," Hinojosa said. "They really wanted to help us."
The National Center for Education Statistics conducted a study showing about 50 percent of recent college graduates have student loans, with an average loan debt of $10,000. The College Board estimates public schools cost an average of $13,000 per year to attend, while private schools cost $28,000.
Hinojosa said he borrows about $5,000 per semester for tuition and fees and is trying to earn a double major, which is usually a five-year college plan.
"That's an inexpensive mortgage at $50,000," Hinojosa said. "There are a lot of students like me who are graduating with $30,000 to $40,000 in debt, and that's no way to start a life. I'm working two jobs and stacking loans on top of loans."
Cherry said hearing directly from the students helped him to understand their financial difficulties.
"Some students are working," Cherry said. "Some are coming from circumstances that make finances more difficult for them. Some are paying tuition on loans, and I think those are some good reasons why the state needs to be more financially supportive of the universities."
Gibbons said higher education is "supposed to be a public good."
"When the cost of attending college means the difference between somebody from a low- or middle-income family going to school or not going to school, that's when it stops being a public good and starts being a privilege for the rich," Gibbons said.
Kristi Jourdan can be reached at jourdank@msu.edu.
