April 6, 2011

BOONE, N.C.--Some 200 students, faculty and staff at Appalachian State University (ASU) walked out of class March 31 and rallied to protest budget cuts to education.

The protest was organized by the newly formed group Appalachian Defends Education. Student organizers led the crowd in chants, including, "No cuts, no fees: education should be free" and "Money for books and education, not for war and incarceration!"

The state legislature in North Carolina is threatening up to a 30 percent cut in funding for University of North Carolina schools for the coming year--a cut that will mean faculty and staff layoffs, increased tuition for students, larger class sizes and elimination of courses and programs.

Chancellor Kenneth Peacock recently told the Watauga Democrat that "a tuition increase is inevitable." According to walkout organizer and ASU junior Jackie Clubine, the protest was "about raising awareness on campus about the budget, budget cuts proposed at 25 to 30 percent." The group is also encouraging students to write letters opposing the budget cuts to their elected representatives.

This was the first protest on Appalachian's campus in nearly three years, and it was inspired by similar actions held elsewhere in North Carolina and around the country.