Tuition–this seven letter word can make or break a college student.

And rising tuition can be a barrier to one obtaining a degree.

As some students at the University and other public universities around the state work to pay the bills, state legislators are considering the creation of legislation to make more cuts to funding for higher education.

Nine University students, along with students from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State and Wright State, traveled to Columbus yesterday as part of the Storm the Statehouse program sponsored by the Ohio Council of Student Governments.

During the morning, these students met with senators and legislative aides to ask them to vote in favor of funding for higher education.

After the meetings, students gathered on the steps of the Capitol building for a rally. In a unified voice, students shouted, “Higher education is a must, we will vote so stop the cuts.”

Students also cheered for a freeze on tuition in 2005, a reduction in the consequences for being involved in celebratory riots and for keeping the 1 percent sales tax.

According to Josh Kontak, Undergraduate Student Government President, tuition increases are directly related to state funding. He said that when the state cuts funding, the University has no choice but to raise tuition.

“When tuition costs rise, students should direct any frustration they have, any animosity or anxiety, not toward the University, but toward the state,” he said. “Nothing will change unless students attend these programs, talk with their legislators, write letters and vote.” Ron Ricks, President of the student body of the University of Cincinnati, agreed with Kontak.

“They don’t trust our words because we don’t vote,” he said. About 150 students attended the rally.

After the rally, students attended part of the senate session in order to show senators a visible presence in support of higher education.

“I was pretty happy with the turnout,” John Toman, USG Senator, said. “We had a really good turnout, especially from the University of Cincinnati. I liked a lot of what I heard today.”

Kontak felt that whether or not Senators agreed, the visibility in Columbus was important.

“We were there,” he said. “They knew what we were there for and we made them aware that there are college students who care.” After the senate session, students also met with Deborah Gavlik and Shaun Yoder from the Board of Regents Office.

Gavlik and Yoder provided students with data correlating a state’s investment in higher education and the growth of that state’s per capita income.

Over the past 40 years, Ohio has remained below the national average in funding for higher education and bachelor’s degree attainment. For the past 30 years, Ohio’s per capita income has fallen below the national average.

Gavlik encouraged students to be compelling and consistent when talking to state legislators.

“Senators think that in general students are apathetic about political issues,” Gavlik said. “You are competing with the Nursing Home Association and all the other lobbying groups that send them piles letters and who are consistent in their message.”

Yoder added that programs such as Storm the Statehouse are good programs, but hearing from constituents once a year will not influence the legislators decisions as greatly.

He urged students to organize at the state level and sponsor letter writing campaigns and other grass roots initiatives.

Both Yoder and Gavlik encouraged student leaders to work in conjunction with the Board of Regents to change how funding for higher education is perceived in the state legislature.

“We are not thinking of a short term or immediate solution,” Yoder said. “This fight is a long-term commitment.”

Overall, most participants felt that this day was a good first step.

“At the very least we encouraged the legislators to give higher education funding a second thought,” Kontak said. “We showed them that there are adept constituents who are aware of the issues and will vote for legislators who support higher education.” Storm the Statehouse may be a good first step, but all participants understand that fighting for funding for higher education will be a long-term fight, Toman said.

Ricks said students across the state of Ohio need to work together to create a strong voice supporting higher education.

Maybe someday students at public universities in Ohio won’t be so intimidated by that little seven letter word–tuition.