PULLMAN, Wash. — The Associated Students of Washington State University are sending President Jesse Keene of Tacoma and Vice President Annie Brown of Bellevue to Washington, D.C., to lobby for students.
The two student leaders will meet with senators and representatives to discuss the possible loss of transit services and the possible increase in tuition Feb. 23-27.
Keene and Brown hope to convince legislators to help fund Pullman’s transit system, which may cut many of its services as early as May. The transit system has $400,000 less for both 2002 and 2003 due to the statewide motor vehicle excise tax decrease and loss of state support. With about 7,000 riders a day, Pullman’s system is the most efficient in the state. Many students are dependent on the system and cuts could leave them without transportation.
Keene and Brown also will address tuition and financial aid issues. Tuition may increase as much as 14 percent because of a recommendation by Gov. Gary Locke to cut 5 percent or $10.5 million from the university’s general appropriations budget.
Keene said students would need more financial aid and need-based grants because of the increase in tuition. The two also hope to convince legislators that students should be able to declare independence from their parents more easily. That would increase the amount of financial aid that students could receive.
“We hope to represent WSU to the best of our ability and bring awareness to Washington, D.C., about issues that face students in Pullman,” Brown said.
