By Sarah Mcsparin

In a move to further promote the Feb. 7 rally for higher education taking place in Frankfort, the Student Government Association of the University of Louisville hosted its annual “Listen Up Legislators” event on Jan. 24 at the Red Barn, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Hundreds of students voiced their opinions on the need for more funding in higher education by making calls, sending e-mails, writing letters, and even taking surveys on Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Web site.

In addition to this, students had the opportunity to register for the “Skip Class 2-7-07” rally in Frankfort.

Weyeneshet Lake, a freshman who attended the event, said, “Students need to be considered more. They should be able to go to school in-state for a reasonable amount of tuition.” Many students came to the event ready to deliver similar concerns to their legislators.

Students first began by locating their local state representative and state senator. From there, students were able to proceed to one of four stations where they were given the option of being able to leave a voice message or a written message.

At the mailing and e-mailing stations, students signed or typed their names on a pre-written letter composed by SGA that informed legislators of the U of L’s need for full funding and a plea to reduce the unequal distribution of funding that the university receives compared to other state schools.

Students also left voice messages to legislators, using cellular phones provided by Cricket Wireless.

And at the final station, students filled out a survey that ranked the importance of where state funding was spent.

“This event was a good idea. If there’s going to be any kind of effort here, there has got to be student involvement and every little bit helps,” said Matt Peyton, a junior music education major.

Members of SGA deemed the event a success with an estimated 400 students coming out for the occasion.

The student attendance at the rally in Frankfort also looks to be improved, with already 144 students registered to attend.

SGA also held an alternate event for students at the Health Sciences Center the next day. Two hundred additional students attended the event, totalling over 800 students participants in this year’s Legislator events.

“Events like these show our legislators that the University of Louisville community is united in its effort and that funding higher education is a serious issue that needs to be addressed,” said SGA Director of Outreach, Rudy Spencer, a sophomore political science major.

“We’ve done very well this year,” said SGA Services Vice President Justin Tooley, a junior studying political science.

“People that came were people that SGA has never reached before. I saw a lot of non-resident, upperclassmen coming in today and that makes sense because they are usually the ones that the impact of rising tuition impacts the most.”

Ultimately, the event not only helped to bring greater awareness to funding higher education, but also showed students how to get politically involved, “College students should know their officials, they need to know who to call. Today was a success because we had students taking part in a political issue. That is the American dream.” said Tooley.

The next area on campus that SGA hopes to tackle rising tuition is at residence halls.

Spencer explained, “We are currently coordinating with RSA representatives to bring a smaller version of ‘Listen Up Legislators’ to the dorms and we are also trying to bring some members of the Kentucky State Senate and House to the campus to speak with students.”

More information on how to contact local legislators can be found on the Skip Class link on SGA’s Web site at www.louisville.edu/sga.

To register for the rally or sign up for transportation, students should go visit the Student Life or student government office located in room W301 in the Student Activities Center on the Belknap Campus.