We often feel helpless as the state Legislature passes more and more laws that set the state – specifically education – on a path to no return. The list is exhaustive: cuts in university funding, legislation targeting birthright citizenship and bills that would legalize carrying a concealed weapon on a college campus.
However, just because none of us hold a seat in the Legislature doesn’t mean we are powerless. If we present a unified front, it will be hard to ignore the students in this state.
Tempe’s Undergraduate Student Government has taken moves to do just that. Though they are notorious for being unproductive, they have given us reason to believe that they may effectively serve as a voice for the student body on the two most pressing issues facing us: tuition and guns.
At the rate the Legislature is going, there is a chance that the we could be typing term papers on typewriters and going to school only four days a week. Now, three-day weekends sound appealing, but when we keep paying more and more for our education, we better get out of it every penny we put in.
This year’s student leaders are taking steps to show they realize this. They have organized a movement called “Arizona State University Against Cuts to Education,” or ASU ACE for short. This initiative involves both students and local businesses. It is a campaign that reaches beyond tabling outside the Memorial Union.
By getting more voices on the students’ side, we will be much more than a large number of people griping about the tuition increases that occur every year. With an organized effort, we could actually have the power to influence the policies that come out of the Legislature.
USG has also set the gears in motion to take a stance against the bills in the Legislature that would allow students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus. The University Affairs Committee has introduced a bill to allow USG to take a formal stance against these gun laws.
While student government is often ineffective, it is important that USG stands firmly against these resolutions. If student leaders pass the measure, it will send the message to state legislators that students are firmly against the idea of firearms on campus. For those who think this is a mere charade in student politics, we must look at the numbers.
Arizona Students’ Association chair Elma Delic told The State Press that between the three state universities, there are around 130,000 students. Not only is that a lot of people, but that is also a lot of votes. Should students speak out against the legislation that has bought this state a one-way ticket to the point of no return, our state legislators might be sent packing after the next election.
It is important for those elected officials to know that their constituents value education more than they do firearms. USG has taken the steps to send this message. Now, the student body must follow through. If we stand 130,000 strong, we may just stop this train before it goes off the track.
