Alumni lobby state legislators to support public education

More than 250 University of South Carolina alumni, staff and supporters from around the state met with state legislators Wednesday (March 25) to advocate for support of public education. The annual Carolina Day at the Statehouse is sponsored by the Carolina Alumni Association’s Carolina Action Network (CAN).

“We had a terrific turnout by alumni who couldn’t be more enthusiastic about what they’re doing,” said Marsha Cole, executive director of the Carolina Alumni Association. “Getting support from alumni is actually an easy thing to do because when you ask Carolina alumni to do something for their university, they always say, ‘Yes!’”

CAN is a network of volunteers who work to increase awareness of legislative issues affecting the state’s colleges and universities. The advocates communicate with their elected officials in various ways throughout the year, culminating in the annual Carolina Day at the Statehouse in March.

University President Harris Pastides met with legislators earlier in the day and spoke to the group of advocates during lunch at the Capital City Club. Pastides said that each of the University of South Carolina campuses was represented and reiterated his desire to keep all of the campuses open.

“From every corner of the state, we worked as one today,” Pastides said. “Since 1801, there has been public higher education in South Carolina. We have more than 45,000 students and contribute more than five billion dollars per year to economic development to the state. A state that doesn’t provide good public education to its citizens is never going to be economically advanced. When you close a campus, you close hope.”

Pastides said the University of South Carolina system has lost nearly $55 million in the past year due to legislative budget cuts.

“The University of South Carolina has been cut more than any other university system in the country,” Pastides said. “Approximately one-quarter of our budget was hacked away without time to adjust for it. I am so uplifted by seeing so many of you here today. Coming together like this is very powerful.”

The university’s director of governmental affairs, Casey Martin, further underscored the importance of raising awareness of the university’s economic role in the state.

“We want to focus on fundamentals and get the message out that the university is an economic engine,” Martin said. “We need all the support we can get.”

Carolina Day at the Statehouse has been held annually since 2004. Membership dues in the Carolina Alumni Association make possible the Carolina Action Network and a variety of scholarship programs and other offerings that advance the university and support its students. For more information about CAN, visit the Alumni Association’s Web site: www.MyCarolina.org/advocacy.