Students lobby in capital about budget cuts

 Seven Wilkes University PHEAA Grant recipients accompanied political science professor, Dr. Thomas Baldino to Harrisburg on April 12 to state their opinions on educational budget cuts to Senate and House members.

The Wilkes students spoke to representatives for their hometown communities and the Wilkes-Barre area. This process, along with a tour of the State Capitol Building, was part of the annual Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania Lobby Day.

"The students had an opportunity to express their opinions and their thoughts about the importance of PHEAA to the legislators," Baldino said. "I let (the legislators) know that Wilkes is important to them and that their constituents are attending Wilkes and need the legislators' support."

This year, Lobby Day was an even bigger entity because of extensive cuts to educational funding that have been proposed. Each Wilkes student who attended relies heavily on state funding for their college educations. Without the funding, some students may be left with no choice but to discontinue their schooling.

"Without PHEAA a lot of students would not pursue a college education," said Brandon Dixon, a junior political science major.

Randy Keiser, a junior criminology and political science major, accredits Dixon's statement.

"I wouldn't be able to do college without the PHEAA Grant," said Keiser, who is also president of the Pre-Law Society.

Students were well aware how imperative it was to get their points across and for their voices to be heard. Some believe cutting education may create an even bigger problem than their own financial dilemma.

"Education is essential for not only the present students, but students of the future and for the United States and the state as a whole," Keiser said. "Education provides multiple different avenues for new business and new industry and economic development."

After a long day of lobbying, the students felt like it was worth the trip.

"I think we were successful," said Yasmine Solomon, a junior criminology major. "It could have been that they already knew what we wanted to hear but I feel like they were content and serious about it."