The “More for Less” campaign stepped up its efforts to be heard by state legislators Tuesday.
After day one of its letter writing campaign, when the Missouri Students Association and the Associated Students of the University of Missouri gathered nearly 2,000 signatures from students, More for Less saw its first administrative participant.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs made her way to the More for Less tent and signed the campaign’s 2,000th letter at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“I want to be supportive of our students and their efforts to get the attention of our legislators,” Scroggs said.
Scroggs said she hopes MSA and ASUM’s efforts are noticed by Gov. Jay Nixon.
By 2 p.m., approximately 2,200 letters had been signed by MU students. By the end of Tuesday, more than 3,000 letters had been signed, Academic Affairs chairman Ben Levin said.
At the end of Thursday, about 4,964 letters had been signed, Chief of Staff Steven Dickherber said. Dickherber is a former Maneater staff member.
The letters call for representatives and senators to speak against the proposed higher education budget cuts proposed in Nixon’s State of the State address Jan. 17. Students can sign a letter addressed to their representative, senator and the governor.
All three of the letters make the same argument.
“Cutting state-funded higher education is a maneuver which may save money in the short run,” according to the letters. “But which will inflict immeasurable harm upon the state of Missouri in the long run. I urge you to oppose the Governor’s proposed cuts.”
MSA senator Mason Schara said student turnout has greatly exceeded expectations.
“Our goal this week was honestly to do 4,000,” he said. “I think we are going to beat that within these five days.”
Schara said other schools in the UM System are doing their parts for the campaign as well.
“We obviously are making some kind of an impact on the student body,” he said.
MSA Director of Student Communications Zach Toombs said he and other senators will be hand-delivering the letters to Rep. Steven Webber, D-Columbia, and other Missouri representatives. Toombs is a former Maneater staff member.
“We think, for one, it sends a more powerful message,” he said. “Also, we spoke to Steven Webber this morning, and he encouraged us to take that step.”
If the proposed cuts are passed, Missouri higher education will have lost 25 percent of its state funding over three years, according to MSA legislation.
UM System curator Wayne Good has said the cuts could lead to a tuition increase.
Schara said he believes the More for Less campaign has shed light on budget issues.
“Everyone seems really upset by it,” Schara said. “I don’t think many (students) knew. I think that’s the thing that’s kind of shocking to me. They didn’t know that it was actually going on.”