Over 150 students, faculty and staff packed the Woodbury Campus Center Amphitheatre on Thursday for a teach-in, where two panels of speakers expounded on the crisis of funding public universities.
The event was part of the nationwide March 4th Day of Action to Defend Education, in support of recent California students, who have protested a 32 percent tuition hike. The event at USM was organized by George Caffentzis, professor of philosophy.
After the teach-in began, a large group of students led by economics professor Michael Hillard marched into ampitheatre, chanting “what do we want? Free tuition. When do we want it? Now,” before taking their seats.
“This university is being absolutely squeezed. I’m nervous to see what’s going to happen here because right now it’s really not looking good,” said Molly Dolby, Chair of the Student Senate. She cited the loss of 130 staff since August – 80 through retirement and 50 through lay-offs. Dolby urged students to get involved in student government. She said the protest of the proposed cutting of the German program and subsequent media coverage have pressured administrators to listen to students.
Jason Read, professor of philosophy, said the bachelor’s degree is becoming the new high school diploma. “You’d think that a country that said we’re in a knowledge-based economy would give more priority to higher education. Knowledge is the basis of our economy and we’re not even funding knowledge,” said Read. He said that many of his philosophy students come to him asking how they can work in their fields when they graduate with such large amounts of debt.
A student spoke from the audience about a lack of outreach by USM to minority groups. Dolby agreed USM fails in this area more than any other. Staff from the USM multi-cultural center replied to concerns. “You’ve got to remember to lean on us because our whole gig is student support, you’re so not alone,”said USM Diversity & Scholarship Liaison Gabe Demaine. “We want to be the ground from which you get strength to rise up from, that’s a big part of our charge as employees here.”
“Remember you pay everyone’s paychecks here, you do have power and a voice and you need to use it,” said Susan Evans, Coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs. Evans said her office represents roughly 600 students or 7 percent of USM.
“USM has become the model of how higher education is being refashioned, where students are always working and taking on debt, so in some respects we’re ahead. The jobs we’re going to get when we get out of here are the same jobs we’re working to stay in here. The altar of private property, Wall Street, has been publicly funded. They won’t share the profits with us, they’ll share the risks though,” said Read.
Many called for a reassessment of Maine’s funding of higher education. “What’s not on the table is changing the funding formula because Orono students get $2 for each one that [USM students] get in support,”said Hillard. “What history teaches us is that if you have a strong enough social movement you can put anything on the table.”
More information on the March 4th Day of Action to Defend Education can be found at www.defendeducation.org.