The Student Government Association
at Eastern Kentucky University has produced a video to raise awareness among
elected leaders and the public about the importance of accessible and
affordable higher education, especially for EKU students.
The video, which runs almost four
minutes, features comments from seven Eastern students, including SGA President
and Student Regent Madelyn Street, as well as from EKU President Doug Whitlock
and two staff members. It can be viewed at vimeo.com/m/60347273.
The students talk about financial
obstacles to completing a degree, and the role higher education plays in
improving their lives.
“The Board of Student Body
Presidents reached a decision late last semester to cancel our annual Rally for
Higher Education that is hosted at the State Capitol,” Street said. “We
decided that we would like to take a more personal and respectful approach to
voicing our opinions to the state legislators. It was then decided that
all eight public institutions would develop their own ways of getting our message
across and voicing the opinions of our students.
“I think that this approach shows
that we (student government associations) are trying to take a more
professional stance on the issue,” Street continued. “We are able to appeal to
the legislators on a level that truly shows what we are trying to accomplish.”
In addition to Street, students
featured on the video are: Matthew Greenleaf, John Perrin, Andrew Beasley,
Madison Koller, Chris Ernste and Michael Deaton. Benton Shirey, director of
academic advising, and Brandon Williams, assistant director for student rights
and responsibilities, joined Whitlock in making comments.
The video idea was proposed,
Street said, by SGA Treasurer Elizabeth Horn and then “immediately put into
action” by the SGA Executive Cabinet. Street credited Brandon Shinkle for
the video production.
“It is absolutely essential that
our state government take into consideration how their cuts … place the burden
on our students,” Street said, “especially at Eastern, because we pride
ourselves in providing a low-cost education for students who wouldn't otherwise
be able to receive a degree. We are the future of this state, and we will
ultimately be the ones who contribute economically and socially to Kentucky’s
well-being.
“As SGA President, I want to
challenge the state to not only end higher education budget cuts, but to look
at creating ways for our public institutions to begin receiving more funding. I
am challenging them to come up with new and innovative ways to provide incentives
for universities to earn more funding.”
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