Protests to Pa. higher education cuts slated for Tuesday

Students in Pennsylvania’s state university system  will protest Governor Corbett’s budget Tuesday, and  lobby lawmakers in Harrisburg next month.

Rallies at the 14 state system schools are being organized by the union representing the institutions’ faculty members.

Administrators have warned of mass layoffs, tuition hikes and cancelled courses if the 50 percent reductions go through.

Roger Bruszewski, a Millersville vice president, says cutting $20 million out of his school’s $106 million budget would hurt the area around the university, too.

“That’s a heck of an economic force in our local community,” said Bruszewski.  “So there’s an economic engine here that helps fuel the economy of this county and this area. And with 20 million dollars less, what does that do to the economy of the area? What does that do to the local businessman?”

Last week, the presidents and chancellors of state-related universities made their case for restored funds in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Millersville’s student senate president, Sarah Darling, says the cuts are too deep.

She and other student leaders plan on making that case to legislators next month.

“We’ll be traveling to Harrisburg in April. April 4 and 5th and we have organized meetings with different legislators to share our PSSHE story, and why we chose a PSSHE institution, and why providing this public institution for education in the commonwealth is so important,” said Darling.