Ellington

“No more cuts” was the rally chant shouted as a group of UW Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell students gathered on the Capitol steps Friday afternoon to protest further cuts to higher-education funding.

UW student-government members from all three campuses spoke at the rally, motivating participants to share their stories with legislators they met with.

Sen. Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor), a speaker at the rally, was introduced by UW Student Regent Ben Golden as “a great friend of higher education in the UW.”

Kilmer, chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, said he wants to see a better future for his kids and for current higher-education students, too.

“I look at education as the door to opportunity, the door to a brighter future and to a better job,” Kilmer said. “ … We need to continue to have the voice of students at the table. We need your voices … . We need to keep our promises.”

Kilmer received a positive response when he asked students, “Will you join me in fighting to make sure that Washington state upholds its promises to its students?”

For Evan Smith, a freshman in attendance, the issue goes beyond simple dollars and cents.

“The students of UW want transparency,” Smith said. “We aren’t asking for lower tuition, but we want to be involved in the process. We advocate for predictability so no student has to worry about their education in the future.”

Jono Hanks, director of the ASUW Office of Government Relations, called upon students to tell their stories and share their opinions when they met with legislators.

“This is about your future,” Hanks said. “If they don’t fund the UW, if they don’t fund your education, they’re not funding those jobs; they’re not funding that innovation.”

With the theme of sharing personal stories, UW junior Yunhee Choi, a Husky Promise recipient who qualifies for State Work Study, said she won’t be able to finish her bachelor’s degree in social welfare or be able to get her master’s in social work if state funding were cut.

If further cuts are implemented, Choi said, “My life is over.”

Sen. Jim Kastama (D-Puyallup), vice-chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, also spoke at the rally.

“You have been the biggest advocates for higher education in Olympia,” he said. “You showing up here today is part of that, but also coming up during the hearings, testifying … [Those student representatives] have been your voice, and they have done a great job.”

Other student leaders, such as the ASUW Bothell and Tacoma presidents, also spoke.

“Applied knowledge is power, and when we combine it and unite as one, we are the most powerful,” said ASUW Tacoma President Cruz Credle.

During the rally, students signed a petition prepared by the American Federation of Teachers and the Washington Student Association that asks legislators to stop all state-funding cuts to education. Students delivered the petition, with about 8,000 signatures, after the rally to the offices of Gov. Chris Gregoire; Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-Renton), chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee; and Rep. Kelli Linville (D-Bellingham), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Freshman Katie Bass said she felt the rally overall was a success.

“The rally was a fantastic show of solidarity between the numerous groups [students from all three campuses, graduate students and professional staff] that any further cuts would affect,” she said.

Reach contributing writer Sepideh Behzadpour at news@dailyuw.com.