Student walkout nears

In an attempt to show state legislators the importance of higher education, Eastern students will stage a walkout Thursday, Feb. 4.

“We aren’t attempting to lower tuition, we are simply looking to show legislators that we care about our education,” said Kris Byrum, ASEWU legislative affairs representative.

This will be the second year that Byrum has led this type of event. Last year’s rally attracted about 500 people.

Eastern will be the only University holding the all-student walkout Thursday. Colleges and universities throughout the state will hold their walkouts on Friday.

“Students shouldn’t be penalized for missing their classes during that hour. We sent an e-mail to faculty asking to excuse from absences and not to take attendance during that time,”

Byrum said. The e-mail also requested that teachers rescheduled any tests that were supposed to take place at that time.

The walkout will be at noon on Thursday in the campus mall where President Rodolfo Arévalo, Dr. Raphael Guillory and a representative either from SLAC or the ASEWU will be speaking.

“We aren’t looking to represent one side or the other, we want to unite students and faculty at Eastern to show legislators that they need to keep us in mind,” Byrum said. “Without education, there is no future.”

In addition to the speakers, there will be tables available for students to register to vote and a petition that has been circulating state colleges and universities.