Date: February 3rd 2010

Dear Colleagues,

Please join me on Friday in supporting our students as they rally for support for higher ed!

See below for details.

Regards,
Steven Garfinkle
President, United Faculty of Western Washington

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: AS President
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 1:09 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: Rally Against Cuts to Higher Ed and Financial Aid

Dear Students of Western,

Governor Gregiore has released a budget proposal for next year that is not promising for the future of higher education in Washington. The proposed cut to Western Washington University is $3.8 million on top of the cuts we received last year. This will affect the quality of our institution and limit our ability as students to receive the education we deserve.

On top of cuts to each institution of higher education, the Governor has proposed suspending the State Work Study Program, which would eliminate 435 student jobs on our campus. Another proposed cut to student financial aid is a $147 million (60%) reduction in the State Need Grant Program. The quality of our educational experience and the accessibility to future students is being compromised.

Join the Associated Students this Friday February 5th between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the PAC Plaza for a rally to express our dissatisfaction with the state's response to the budget crisis. There will be opportunities to write letters, call legislators, and make your voice heard! The legislature needs to hear about the effects of the budget cuts on our institution and on us as students.

If you can't attend, please visit this website that will help you call your own legislator: http://tools.advomatic.com/48/budget2010. (I pinky promise it's not SPAM.)

In these dire times, it is imperative that students be heard. Your participation in this effort is necessary to convince the legislature that the proposed cuts to financial aid and higher education will do irreparable harm to our learning experience and the future of our state.

For more info, please check out our Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=256302027606&ref=ts. Thank you for your time and I hope to see you at the rally this Friday!


Your friend,

Matt Jarrell
Associated Students
President