UNC Young Democrats lobby legislators in Raleigh against cuts in education

RALEIGH — The day after a legislative proposal calling for a $483 million cut in state funding for the UNC system was released, students were already taking action.

Four members of UNC Young Democrats traveled to Raleigh Wednesday to persuade legislators against the large cuts to education.

These four students were part of a group of lobbyists from UNC’s chapter of Young Democrats who will be meeting with legislators in the N.C. General Assembly this week. A second group will lobby today.

“We as young people, as college students and as Democrats, urge the North Carolina General Assembly to not mortgage our education,” stated a letter the group delivered to legislators.

Burton Peebles, a member of the Young Democrats, said the group is concerned with all of the cuts being proposed to education.

“The sandwich has already been trimmed down,” Peebles said.

“The question is, do we want to eat a sandwich or do we want to go on a diet?”

The students met with five Democratic legislators, asking them to hear the students’ side of the story.

“We are meeting with pretty conservative Democrats who could end up voting with Republicans,” said Lauren Hovis, co-political director for the Young Democrats.

Members of the group said they focused on lobbying Democrats and didn’t meet with Republican representatives because they would be less likely to change their minds.

“We are putting our resources where it’ll be most effective,” Peebles said.

One of the main worries for the students is a tuition increase.

“If you raise tuition on students, aren’t you punishing them for working hard?,” said Peter Alfredson, a member of the group.

Alfedson, who is a Russian major at UNC, said he was also worried about course offerings.

UNC-system administrators are projecting an elimination of 9,000 course sections and 240,000 class seats systemwide in case a 15 percent cut is approved by the Republican leadership.

Alfredson and other members of the group talked to N.C. Rep. Frank McGuirt, D-Anson, who showed them a “cheat sheet” of statistics relating to transportation, higher education and other items.

“He showed us a list of the estimate of staff that would be eliminated,” Alfredson said. “It was scary to see.”

McGuirt asked the group for help.

“Are any of you armed?” he said. “Because I need weapons against these Republicans.”

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