Officials from the UNC Association of Student Governments said they hope the "Keep N.C. Educated" campaign will focus attention on tuition increases and prompt voters to lobby legislators to increase state funding for the system.
At least 12 UNC-system schools have either voted to increase campus tuition or are considering tuition increases. The UNC-CH Board of Trustees voted Jan. 24 to increase tuition by $400.
ASG President Andrew Payne said the increases result partly from the recession and that state legislators are forcing students to "bear the brunt" of the state's $900 million budget shortfall by not increasing the system's funding.
Payne urged students during the kickoff to "embark on a tuition revival."
Payne said that as part of the campaign, students will reach out to people statewide and talk with them about tuition. Students also will travel across the state holding rallies protesting tuition increases on college campuses, at PTA meetings and in church groups.
Payne also said the group will campaign against state legislators who ignore the students' wishes and try to get them voted out of office.
"We are riding the tuition train, and you better get out of our way because we have people coming," Payne said.
About 30 students, primarily from N.C. State University, attended the rally, falling below the 200 students projected by ASG officials. Many students carried signs with slogans like "Educate me now! I'll pay taxes later" and "Keep UNC affordable."
Students from several other universities, including Western Carolina University and N.C. Central University, attended the rally. Hayley Phillips, an N.C. State junior, said she is not concerned with the low student turnout.
