Statehouse rally for higher education
AFSCME members from across the state joined a massive rally in Springfield on April 20. Participants rallied and marched to urge legislators and the governor to find a funding solution for Illinois colleges and universities.
Hundreds of university students, faculty, staff and supporters filled the rotunda, chanting, "Fund Our Schools!"
Members of AFSCME Local 1989 (NEIU) and 2887 (SIU-Edwardsville) delivered more than 1,500 signatures to Gov. Rauner's office, urging him to fund our state colleges and universities.
Illinois’ public universities are at their breaking point after ten months without the state funding that is essential to their operations. Ramifications for the state’s higher education system include layoffs and furloughs, drops in enrollment, loss of student financial aid, the threat of accreditation loss, and even the possibility of closure.
Gov. Rauner continues to hold the state budget hostage to his anti-worker “Turnaround Agenda.” Despite freeing up funds for some state functions, he refuses to release funding for higher education and insists they instead rely on cuts to make ends meet.
Without immediate action, death by a thousand cuts may be the story of higher education in Illinois.
