Pitt students pack Capitol to protest budget cuts
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HARRISBURG - Students from the University of Pittsburgh made sure the lawmakers in session on Tuesday knew they were there.
The Pitt students packed the Capitol rotunda to protest the governor's proposed higher education cuts, turning the marble stairway into a sea of blue and gold. They greeted the Allegheny County legislators, who came to speak in support of restoring funding, with cries of "P-I-T-T!"
Rep. Dan Frankel, a Democrat whose district includes Pitt's main campus, reiterated his commitment to prevent the proposed 50 percent cuts in state aid. Doing so would be detrimental to Pitt's role as "an essential economic engine" in the region.
"We've already asked the universities to make do with less, and they have," Mr. Frankel told the crowd of several hundred students and administrators.
One top House Republican, Majority Leader Mike Turzai of Bradford Woods, said this week that he will be working to boost the amount of higher education funding in the final budget. But he said he still expects the figure approved to be less than current funding.
Students shouldn't accept partial funding as an answer, said Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon.
"Don't stand for any halfway measures," Mr. Smith told the rallygoers. "You have to fight for full restoration."
Pitt student government leaders said about 120 students boarded buses to attend the lobbying day, which follows a series of rallies that have been held on campus.
They were joined in their outreach efforts by hundreds of fellow students from Penn State University and various community colleges.
First Published April 6, 2011 12:00 am
