About 100 students with signs and homemade drums raised a ruckus at N.C. State University's Bell Tower this afternoon in a warm-up rally to oppose proposed budget cuts.
The crowd included high school students and college students from various UNC campuses as far away as Appalachian State University.
"This is no budget crisis," said Bryan Perlmutter, a sophomore at N.C. State, where a cut of $80 million is feared. "It's a moral crisis. We will no longer sit back and watch the legislature tear apart the future of this state."
The House budget proposal includes a cut of about $1 billion to all sectors of education. The UNC system would face the highest percentage cut -- more than 15 percent.
After a few passionate speeches, the crowd marched down Hillsborough Street to join thousands of teachers at a rally sponsored by the N.C. Association of Educators. Gov. Bev Perdue is scheduled to speak to the big crowd late today.
Comments
"Their average salary is
May 3, 2011 - 8:41pm — k_a_bob"Their average salary is more than most of us dream about"
When I worked for the state about 4 years ago, I topped out at 45K, and I have an advanced degree and worked with sensitive data, so I was making a lot compared to most. Now I make double that, doing nearly the same thing with a different employer. I hardly think that the 45K that I made (which was well above the average) was dreamy, especially when I immediately made 25% more by leaving the state.
State employees are not overpaid. There may be too many management positions, but the "grunts" are stepped on left and right.
When will gov employees realize they work for us???
May 3, 2011 - 8:36pm — BigSharkYou work for us. We are your boss. We can fire you at any time regardless of any contract you have.
Cities, counties, & states cannot print money like the fed gov. We have to balance our books.
So where is the money going??? Find your own programs to cut to save your jobs!!!
What About Cutting State Employee Benefits Instead?
May 3, 2011 - 7:19pm — Ethics.
May 3, 2011 - 7:20pm — EthicsLayoff Protest.
May 3, 2011 - 5:23pm — henryeIf students feel so strongly about layoffs they could donate their own tuition fees..
thanks for ruining my joke,
May 3, 2011 - 5:11pm — PatronusPotterthanks for ruining my joke, horrible comment reply system
Possibly
May 3, 2011 - 5:10pm — PatronusPotteryour family reunion?
"homemade drums"
May 3, 2011 - 4:57pm — AgentPierce"homemade drums" ??? Maybe they should join up with Duke Lacrosse's notorious "pot bangers" and have a jam session.
Has there EVER been an assemblage of at least 5 humans p*ssed off about whatever that The N&O did not cover with their full photojournalistic might?