Dear readers,

Among the 50 states, Missouri ranks forty-seventh in state funding for higher education per student. That means that only in three states do public universities receive less financial support than in Missouri. But as Gov. Jay Nixon’s proposed budget for 2013 shows, it could be worse. In January, the governor laid out a plan to cut 12.5 percent from higher education funding. That’s $105.9 million in all — $45 million of that coming from MU.

The University of Missouri already suffered a 14.2 percent cut in funding over the last two years. Losing more than 25 percent of state financial support for higher education in the span of three years is unacceptable, and on Thursday, April 26, students will bring that message to Jefferson City at The #MoreForLess March.

The consequences of more higher education cuts are too high to keep silent. With funding from the state at lower levels, the UM System Board of Curators has been forced to rely on tuition rates. That means college becomes less accessible and less affordable, especially for low-income families. It also means students are pushed further and further into debt. At MU, the average debt for a graduate is $18,000, and that figure is growing.

This trend of higher tuition will continue unless we can stop the drastic shift in the cost burden from the state to students. In the past 30 years, students have gone from funding 27 percent of university operations to 48 percent, whereas the state has gone from paying 64 percent to 36 percent.

Disproportionate budget cuts also hurt the quality of education at MU. Our university’s faculty salaries rank near the bottom of those at Association of American Universities member-schools. Without funding, those salaries just aren’t competitive, and, as a result, our faculty retention suffers.

Now is the time to show that students won’t let public universities go to the chopping block. So, what can you do? Stay informed on the issue. Write your state legislator and ask them to protect universities and education. And join students from public universities across Missouri in rallying at the state capital on Thursday, April 26. The Missouri Students Association is providing free breakfast and transportation to Jefferson City for students gathering at the Student Center at 9 a.m. April 26. Be sure to sign up online at [msamoreforless.com](http://msa.missouri.edu/the-moreforless-march-registration/). This is how students can make their message loud and clear at the state capitol: Make education a priority, not an easy target.

Ben Levin
MU junior
bnlevin@mail.missouri.edu