Virginia legislators stressed the dismal budget situation in the Commonwealth and the many competing priorities the General Assembly is faced with when six state delegates and one state senator fielded student questions on hot-button higher education topics last night.
The legislative affairs committee of Student Council brought Virginia Senator Craig Deeds, D-25th district, Virginia Delegates Robert Bell, R-58th, Preston Bryant, Jr., R-23rd, John Cosgrove, R-78th, Steven Landes, R-25th, Davis Rust, R-86th, and Mitchell Van Yahres, D-57th, to the University for a question-and-answer session.
"We felt that students and also legislators really didn't know each other well," committee Chair Alex Stolar said. "We wanted to give students the opportunity to get to know Virginia politics and what it means to them and at the same time give legislators an opportunity to learn more about us as students and how their votes affect Virginia students."
The discussion turned primarily to funding priorities as legislators debated with students and each other the relative importance of research, faculty retention and funding of higher education in general.
All the legislators pointed to the condition of the state's budget, which is coming in with a $1 billion shortfall this session, pitting funding for higher education and the University in particular against funding for elementary schools in poor districts and other state commitments.
"I wish I could stand here and paint a positive picture for you, but I don't think it's in the cards," Rust said.
Legislators and students argued the merits of general taxpayers subsidizing higher education versus increasing tuition even more.
Cosgrove drew ire from some students when he suggested universities should examine their efficiency before looking for more money.
"We need to look to our institutions and have them look inward -- are they offering too much?" Cosgrove asked. "Do we need to have 10 engineering schools or can we reduce that to six?"
Students during the open forum worried that such an approach would limit the possibility of pursuing multiple interests during college. However, the beneficiaries of Cosgrove's suggestion -- faculty and research -- also emerged as priorities for students and legislators.
Legislators professed their support for higher education despite difficulties in finding sufficient funds to finance it.
"Higher education is woven into the fabric of our economic growth," Deeds said. "Right now, we are failing in our basic responsibility to fund higher education."
Students filled the aisles of Newcomb Theater to ask the legislators questions during the open forum. Many said they were happy for the opportunity, but felt the session would not spur much change.
"I think it went well overall," first-year College student Sam White said. "I think the issues still remain -- the lack of funds is always an issue."
Legislative affairs committee members said they were thrilled with the large turnout.
"We were so excited to see so many people come out," said committee member Payal Maheshwari. "People were really actively engaging."
Stolar added that Council now hopes to stage the event annually.
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