Day of Action for Tuition Equity at Oregon State Capitol this Tuesday

MEDIA ADVISORY
February 17, 2012

Contact:
Emily McLain, Oregon Students Association (OSA), 971-221-9778
Erik Sorensen, Causa Oregon, 503-488-0263
Andrew Riley, Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO), 503-287-4117 ext. 106

Day of Action for Tuition Equity at Oregon State Capitol this Tuesday

Salem, Ore. -- Students, parents, teachers, and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community will gather at the Oregon State Capitol on February 21st for a Day of Action in Support of Tuition Equity. Tuition Equity will ensure that every Oregon student, regardless of their immigration status, has fair access to quality and affordable higher education.

The Informational Session and action on Tuesday is the first step to lay the groundwork for introduction and passage of Tuition Equity Legislation in 2013 and to give an opportunity to those who sat on the sidelines last session to join the popular support of this very important legislation for Oregon.

In 2011, Republicans and Democrats in the Oregon State Legislature came together in support of tuition equity. They believed it was right to follow through on an investment in Oregon’s students beyond the high-school level, to raise the level of education in Oregon and infuse our public universities with more tuition dollars. Although Oregon’s Historic Tuition Bill SB742 passed the Senate, in the end it was blocked by process and opposition in the House-- failing short by just 5 votes needed for passage.

Join students, parents, teachers, and members of the business, faith, and the higher education community at the Oregon State Capitol this Tuesday, February 21st for Tuition Equity Action Day. There will be an informational session in the House Higher Education hearing room around 4pm.

What: Tuition Equity Action Day: Informational Session, and supporter action day

Where: Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court Street Northeast, Salem, OR

When: February 21, 2012 3:30 to 5:30pm.

Supporters of Tuition Equity will gather to show that students, teachers, faith leaders, business owners and community members believe in the future of our students.

FACTS
Tuition Equity will ensure that every Oregonian has fair access to quality and affordable higher education. It will also make it possible for ALL Oregon Students, regardless of their citizenship status, to be able to pay in-state tuition. And besides capitalizing on the investment in Oregon's K-12 students, it would boost the education level of Oregon's workforce and bring in more tax dollars to the state's general fund.

To qualify for in-state tuition, a student must meet the following requirements, regardless of their documentation status:

• They have attended an Oregon high School for at least three (3) years
• They have graduated from an Oregon high school
• They have been admitted to an Oregon University System Institution
• They are working towards residency

Organizations in support of tuition equity legislation include Oregon Student Association (OSA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Oregon Education Association (OEA), Center For Intercultural Organizing (CIO), Causa, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Organization, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Asian Paciic American Network of Oregon (APANO) Associated Oregon Industries, Oregon Business Association, and many others.

Posted in: Center for Intercultural Organizing,Direct Action,Media Advisory,Oregon State Legislature,Oregon Students Association,Tuition Equity