By Dennis O’Neil

As the clock strikes 1:11 p.m. tomorrow, some students may stand up and walkout of their classes, in an effort to show their disdain for tuition increases.

The student-run Progressive Action Coalition of the University of Louisville is organizing the event. The walkout is being held in protest of Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s proposed 12 percent cut to higher education funding, and the tuition hikes expected from state universities as a result.

PAC will also be holding a rally at the Thinker statue in front of Grawemeyer Hall immediately following the walkout. According to PAC member Sarah Maddix, one of the group’s biggest goals is to give students a chance to have their voices heard.

“The best thing that could happen with the walkout is for the administration to realize the power of the students,” said Maddix, a senior philosophy major. “Our tuition makes up about 40 percent of the university’s operating budget, so we want a more present student voice to be heard in that budget setting process.”

Despite PAC’s intentions, the Student Government Association voted not to endorse the walkout in their senate meeting on March 18 (see sidebar). SGA President Brian Hoffman expressed great disappointment at the senate’s decision not to endorse.

“Personally, I support the walkout 100 percent,” Hoffman said. “Any time students want to come together to advance an important cause that is relevant to students, it is a good idea. If SGA cannot support them, who in the world can we support?”

According to Maddix, PAC formed back in January as a social interest group made up of students from different organizations. Maddix said that when the issue of budget cuts became so prevalent, the group decided to rally around the issue.

“When we were trying to figure out an event to stage, we had a lot of crazy ideas,” Maddix said. “But what we wanted more than anything was to have an event where student voices were actually heard. That was really how the idea came out.”

Jennifer Wallin, another PAC member, said the walkout is aimed as a message to both the state and the university, but emphasized the university’s responsibility to its students.

“Frankfort has put the university in a horrible position, but the university has the final say in whether or not tuition goes up,” Wallin, a senior psychology and sociology major, said. “The university spends so much time trumpeting diversity as a cause they believe in, but when tuition goes up, minorities are the first to be affected.”

Some in the student body have voiced similar opinions regarding the university’s responsibility to students.

“The administration has not proven that their hands are completely tied in this matter,” senior economics major Robby Lutz said. “I think that the university is using the budget situation as an excuse to have a guilt free 12-15 percent tuition hike.”

In a statement issued to the Cardinal, Provost Shirley Willihnganz said the university is still firmly committed to making sure college remains affordable for Kentucky students. She also offered her support for the protest, but wished the tuition issue could be engaged by other means.

“There are many ways for our campus community to engage in meaningful dialogue about this issue other than walking out of class,” Willihnganz said. “I wish that we could have explored some of those prior to the planning of this action.”

Despite the Provost’s reservations, Wallin said she is one of those planned to speak at the rally along with several other planned speakers for the rally.

There also are plans to engage an open dialogue with students who attend.

Wallin and Maddix said they hope to have around 500 students at the event.

“We think the best case scenario is that we can get 600 to 700 students to attend, and that the worse case is that we only get around 100,” Maddix said. “You can never really guess how many people are going to participate, but we want to get our voices out there as much as possible.”

Regardless of attendance though, Hoffman offered his appreciation for PAC’s commitment to this issue.

“I only wish more students realized their potential to impact change,” Hoffman said. “If I can go into a meeting and impact university policy, imagine what hundreds or thousands of unified students could do.”