Students fill State Capitol, protest Gov. Snyder’s proposed higher education cuts

• Tweet
• 

LANSING — College students from all over the state opposed to proposed higher education cuts let their voices be heard Thursday afternoon.

About 200 students from Michigan’s 15 public universities gathered at the State Capitol to protest Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed budget, which calls for cuts of at least 15 percent from each.

Several students delivered speeches expressing concerns about how the budget cuts would cause serious problems when it comes to paying for college. Cardi DeMonaco Jr., president of the Student Association of Michigan, addressed the crowd near the end of the protest.

“I think that (Snyder) needs to reinvest in higher ed or he’s not going to reinvent Michigan like he likes to,” DeMonaco said.

Among the students participating in the protest were MMCC student Courtney Barnett and sophomore CMU flag-holder Casie Hanson, both of Mio.

“It got me worked up because my parents don’t help me pay for college. It’s me, and whatever financial aid I can get,” Barnett said. “Hopefully, the budget will not be cut and we will have funding for higher education.”

Hanson, who is taking 16 credit hours and works 20 hours per week, said she does not understand Snyder’s decision making. She believes students and universities deserve the money they receive.

“I hope that this isn’t the only time that people come and pay attention,” Hanson said. “Because they should have paid attention when they voted.”

Protesting students loudly chanted “Whose house? Our House!” Some members of the crowd called, “Show me what democracy looks like,” and others responded, “This is what democracy looks like.”

Several picket signs read “Refund Rick” and “Students are our future.” After the protest, students were allowed to enter the State Capitol and work their ways up the building, where they continued their chants.

“I just hope they don’t ignore us,” Hanson said. “We are here for a reason. We care what he does, and this isn’t right.”