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--> --> Students fight for grant funds as state special session nears Rows of empty chairs marked with `10 students' signs are displayed in the Stevenson Union courtyard Wednesday representing the cost of students lost from Southern Oregon University under proposed budget cuts, as ASSOU co-president Tamara Henderson speaks in background. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA By Mark Norby Ashland Daily Tidings The state budget is an ugly thing, and its theme - cuts, cuts, cuts - echoes through the campuses of Ashland schools scaring students, teachers, faculty and parents alike. But some refuse be daunted and one group - the Associated Students of Southern Oregon University - is determined to fight for grant monies threatened by the state budget crisis. "A study by the National Center for Public Policy gave Oregon a D-minus for access to public education. Only five other states ranked as low or lower," ASSOU co-president Tamara Henderson said Wednesday before a tiny group of students at a Stevenson Union rally. "We're here to represent all students and our power only lies in our numbers," she said. The rally and media event was organized by ASSOU directors who are prodding their fellow students to go to Salem Friday for the special session of the State Legislature. ASSOU is protesting proposed cuts to the Oregon Opportunity Grant and the Student Childcare Block Grants, both potential losers in the current budget debate. "The Oregon Opportunity Grant is a grant that gives $400 per term to students in lower income groups. This grant is given to between 6,000 and 9,000 eligible students each term, depending on financial need," ASSOU director of government affairs Danielle McNeill said. SOU student Jennifer Thurston, a single mother with two children and a junior this term, added that "These proposed cuts threaten every one of us, not just my family, not just families you might know. "If the Student Childcare Block Grant loses funding, I'll be forced to drop out of school and this affects my children and their future as well." The Student Childcare Block Grant is especially emotional to families where one or both parents are enrolled at Oregon institutions of higher education. An ASSOU report states that for every 100 tuition increases, about 1 percent of the student body will drop out, and these numbers are greater for students with children. Alec Lewiston, a sophomore who holds a part-time job to help finance his education, said "The number of students that are here to represent our school is pretty skimpy. I don't know what's up with that." He added that cuts could mean he could be forced to leave school altogether. Henderson didn't flinch at Wednesday's small turnout. "I must remind all of you that students do have power, but again our power lies in our numbers which is why we must register to vote. Politicians and decision makers don't have to listen to students, and believe me, they don't. But they have to listen to the voters." Henderson said. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing