Spring Break
ASCSU battles with Penley - and wins
Vimal Patel
Issue date: 5/7/07 Section: News
"I kind of liked the idea of attending (Arizona State University) or other schools, but there was no way my family could afford that," he said.
So armed with a personal account of a cash-strapped college student, his mission that day was to tell it to as many legislators that would listen.
He'd catch the lawmakers wherever he could. On their way to lunch. In their offices. He'd send his business card in with the Sergeant at Arms and request meetings that way.
"You'd be surprised how accessible the Colorado state legislature is," he said, estimating he made his argument against the amendment to about 20 legislators.
"Legislators were receptive to (my) message because it was straightforward. Also, students were not consulted in any way, shape or form. Legislators were receptive to that, too."
Defeated
The day of hard work paid off. The amendment was shot down in the Senate 18-15.
And some credit Ragland for the outcome.
Johnson said three senators personally told him it was Ragland's explanation that helped them digest the issue.
"They told me that Luke's explanation was clear and concise and helped explain the impact of the amendment," he said. "CSU's lobbyists were confusing people. Senators were telling me, 'That CSU student explained to me in two minutes what those CSU lobbyists couldn't.'"
Sen. Josh Penry, a Fruita Republican, even mentioned Ragland's account at the Senate podium.
But on such a passionate issue, Ragland wasn't viewed as a hero to all.
"I believe this is a failure by the governor and senate to acknowledge the value of higher education at CSU, to provide equitable funding with other institutions in the state and our peers, and to allow CSU the revenue authority to replace missing state funds," wrote Robert Jones, chair of the CSU faculty council, in an internal e-mail to other council members.
"In their refusal to take the responsible approach to funding higher education, it appears that they have enlisted an anti-tuition sentiment in some students as their mouthpieces and excuses to the media."
So armed with a personal account of a cash-strapped college student, his mission that day was to tell it to as many legislators that would listen.
He'd catch the lawmakers wherever he could. On their way to lunch. In their offices. He'd send his business card in with the Sergeant at Arms and request meetings that way.
"You'd be surprised how accessible the Colorado state legislature is," he said, estimating he made his argument against the amendment to about 20 legislators.
"Legislators were receptive to (my) message because it was straightforward. Also, students were not consulted in any way, shape or form. Legislators were receptive to that, too."
Defeated
The day of hard work paid off. The amendment was shot down in the Senate 18-15.
And some credit Ragland for the outcome.
Johnson said three senators personally told him it was Ragland's explanation that helped them digest the issue.
"They told me that Luke's explanation was clear and concise and helped explain the impact of the amendment," he said. "CSU's lobbyists were confusing people. Senators were telling me, 'That CSU student explained to me in two minutes what those CSU lobbyists couldn't.'"
Sen. Josh Penry, a Fruita Republican, even mentioned Ragland's account at the Senate podium.
But on such a passionate issue, Ragland wasn't viewed as a hero to all.
"I believe this is a failure by the governor and senate to acknowledge the value of higher education at CSU, to provide equitable funding with other institutions in the state and our peers, and to allow CSU the revenue authority to replace missing state funds," wrote Robert Jones, chair of the CSU faculty council, in an internal e-mail to other council members.
"In their refusal to take the responsible approach to funding higher education, it appears that they have enlisted an anti-tuition sentiment in some students as their mouthpieces and excuses to the media."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Brett Heeney
posted 5/30/07 @ 2:34 PM MST
As an alumnus, it's a pleasure to see one more of Dr. Strayer's student doing an exceptional job. Sure, the school needs more money every fiscal year, just as people do for cost-of-living increases and such; it's the point of making small increases annually versus very large, very impacting, increases every 5 to 10 years. (Continued…)
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