Elizabeth Medina

Medina, No to Budget Cuts in Higher Education.

Written March 29, 2010, Elizabeth Medina a BSN student passionately wrote this essay to address the seriousness in cutting back on funds for higher education. Medina addressed her  essay to college students, Georgia citizens and Georgia State Legislators. She emphasized on the gloomy economy and its many effects it was having on its citizens especially college students and their student loans. 
As noted by  Medina Higher education institutions are currently facing $265 million in reduction and the Chancellor was given a project to develop a plan to cut an additional, $300 million.(194) Senator Seth Harp showed concern and some skepticism about the 300 million and the outcome of its effect.

As stated by Medina not only student will be affected by budget cuts but the faculty, staff and surrounded communities and because of this  Georgia State Legislators should not cut back on higher education fund.(194) Medina showed grave concern for herself and her peers when she states that with tuition increase higher education will soon be unaffordable for average middle-class parents. She addressed the fact that college hopefuls have a hard enough time obtaining the SAT’s or ACT’s score for college entrance now they have to worry about  Budget cuts for their education.

Medina showed how students can be affected  by these cut. Courses can be eliminated from certain programs, causing some student to have to pay more or lose their degree. We see that some student also gave some suggestion  on how to save money so they wouldn’t have to deal with the Budget cut. Some suggestion mentioned by one student Ann Pate, talked about ending  grass cutting on campus, closing computer lab and utilizing empty building instead of building new ones (197)

Polls show that a variety of voters was backing the tax increase. It showed an estimate of about  $350 million would be gained which they say will provide more money for higher education. The American Cancer Society and other Heart and Lung association agreed that the tobacco tax increase is one avenue that could help generate an increase in revenue.(198)

This bill they are trying to pass , Budget cut in higher education is not beneficiary for students, parents, faculty,  staff and Georgia citizens. Everyone knows that the economy is bad, and with this bill college students like myself and peers will be  feeling the pinch.  Georgia State Legislator should pay more attention to the students who will be the leaders of tomorrow. They should be given a chance to graduate without wondering how to pay back their student loan, or if they can enter or finish college. There must be other avenues they can look into without touching  higher education .