Show Us the Money

MONTPELIER, Vt.—Over 350 students and faculty from across the Vermont State Colleges stormed the Statehouse Tuesday demanding more state funding for higher education.

The rally came on the heels of a VSC Board of Trustee decision to raise tuition by about 8% over the next two years so the state colleges could continue to operate at current capacity.

Freshmen sisters Olivia and Hannah Hamel were among the 15 Lyndon State students who rode the bus to the Statehouse.

"We will have debt. My mom is a single parent and she's trying to help pay for both Olivia and myself," Hannah explained while wearing the white shirt she decorated to read "Swimming in debt! Help!" Many students wore white shirts sporting the amount of student debt they have incurred while in college.

"I think we're going to make a huge difference," Olivia said. "I don't think a lot of students know that Vermont is dead last in financial support for higher education institutions." Vermont is close to last, ranking 49 in the country in providing state support to higher education institutions.

LSC had about 24 students attend the rally, while Castleton and Vermont Technical College had a total of 63 students present. Johnson State brought over 125 students to the statehouse steps.

 "Instead of urging the legislature to do the research, we are bringing the research to them," JSC Student Government president James Dempsey was excited about the student presence. "We're going to show them, ‘this is how much I owe, I go to JSC, and you can ask me questions."

"I'm hoping we just get the word out," Kristina Gorden, a junior majoring in wellness and alternative medicines, explained. "I see a lot of students leave school because they can't afford it." Gorden's enthusiasm for the event began on the bus ride over when students were busy making posters for the rally.

Currently Vermont's higher education system, including the five state colleges, University of Vermont, and Vermont Student Assistance Corp., receives about $80 million a year from the state.

In-state tuitions around the state colleges range from $8,568 at Castleton, Lyndon, and Johnson, to $10,656 at VTC. Out-of-state tuition is as low as $18,456 at LSC to $20,376 VTC. Many students were quick to point out that tuition does not include extra charges such as lab fees, office supplies, and textbooks. Room and board can add up to $10,000 to the student's bill.

After listening to student leaders and members of the legislature speak on the steps, students had the chance to interact with legislators. "Every single student was assigned a state legislator," explained VSC student trustee John Kleinhans. Going to have one on one conversations… they have a little pledge sheet and if they want to pledge the Vermont State College they can sign."

Some students found legislators hard to approach.

"I was a little nervous," said Rain Nissen-Reilly, a senior global studies major at LSC.

"I don't know why though. He was very nice," Roland Pollard, a sophomore computer and sustainability major at LSC, who was partnered with Nissen-Reilly, added. 

"I wish I had talking points though, I kind of lost my words. He was open to talking to us though, he seemed to care about higher education," Nissen-Reilly explained.

As students loaded back on the bus to LSC, the Hamel sisters felt good about what had been accomplished.

"I do feel like we made a difference," Olivia said. "They know we are here."

"And during lunch we did a little shopping," Hannah smiled and held up a small blue bag.