Education Access

Heading into another school year, students and campus workers are told to prepare for even more budget cuts and tuition hikes. This time, state legislators are cutting all public services to the bone. Attacks on everyone’s right to an education are being waged. These attacks are not only in the form of service cuts and fee hikes, but also include the continued denial of undocumented students’ access to higher education, as well as the increasing efforts to resegregate and privatize K-12 schools.

On March 4, tens of thousands of students and workers across the U.S. will be taking action against budget cuts, tuition hikes, and the privatization of education as part of the March 4 National Day of Action to Defend Education. From California to New York, Chicago to Tuscaloosa, Boston to Milwaukee, Seattle to Knoxville, Gainsville to Asheville, and all points in between, students and workers will be standing up and speaking out on March 4 to defend education in what is shaping up to be one of biggest days of action this country has seen in years.

On Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=312083917612&ref=ts

WHEN: Thursday March 26, at 11:45am
WHERE: The Pit (Rain Location, Carolina Union)
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=75729300239&ref=ts

Demanding transparency and accountability, UNC community to protest education cuts and layoffs
Students, faculty, and workers to demonstrate at Board of Trustees meeting Thursday

Chapel Hill, NC - A broad coalition of students, faculty, and university workers will protest the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday, March 26, in opposition to planned layoffs, cuts to programs and services, and increases in tuition. On March 19, Chancellor Thorp instructed all campus departments to make permanent budget cuts of at least 5%, which will have deep impacts on student services across campus, class sizes and availability, and will result in dozens of workers losing their jobs and hundreds more positions being left unfilled, which will put a huge strain on already overworked employees of the university. The protest will demand transparency and community involvement in decisions relating to the budget crisis, and that the University uphold its standards as a public institution by serving all members of our community - not corporate entities. The protesters will convene in the Pit at 11:45am (Rain location in lobby of the Carolina Union), then march to the Board of Trustees meeting at the Carolina Inn.

SDS is part of the coalition forming to fight the budget cuts and defend education access and the rights of workers at UNC.

This past Thursday, Chancellor Thorp instructed all campus departments to make permanent budget cuts of at least 5%, which will have deep impacts on student services across campus, class sizes and availability, and will result in dozens of workers losing their jobs and hundred more positions being left unfilled, forcing one person to do a job two, three, or four people would ordinarily do-- unless we stand up and do something about it!

Students, workers, and faculty are organizing against the budget cuts. Please join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, March 24, at 7pm in Saunders 220 if you are interested in getting involved! Contact us at budgetcuts@unc.edu for more info!