FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2009
COALITION FOR EDUCATION RIGHTS
Demonstration to Be Held on UNCA Campus
On May 5, 2009
The Coalition for Education Rights at the University of North Carolina at Asheville will hold a demonstration on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 12:30 PM to approximately 2:00 PM. The Coalition is protesting the move by administration officials to cut days out of the academic calendar that benefit students.
The Coalition for Education Rights of UNCA was formed on May 3 in efforts to oppose the restructuring of the 2009-2010 academic calendar. These changes are meant to take away days that benefit students, such as the reading day for exam preparation and moving day for first-year students. Coalition student groups include the Student Government Association (SGA), Students for a Democratic Society, Students for True Liberal Arts, Herman@s Orgullos@s en las Americas, Active Students for a Healthy Environment, College Democrats, and College Republicans, among others.
In a recent Blue Banner news article, “Administration fails to consult students on calendar changes,” student body president Cortland Mercer and SGA official Steven Haas claim that the “changes have been made retroactively, without the consultation of students, and are an offense to all those paying tuition and fees. The Student Government Association has written legislation in response to this change. We request that the administration reconsider its current action and return to the 15-week system that was in effect as recently as the 2007-08 academic year and had been for many previous decades.”
“The important issue at hand is transparency,” said Doug Michel of Students for a Democratic Society. “The administration is not only acting against students’ interests, but has also failed to be open about their intentions. The economic crisis at UNCA affects us all as students, and we plan on opposing attempts to cut back our benefits and rights. We need a university that welcomes student participation in the planning of its affairs. We need a university that serves the people.”
There will be several speakers during the demonstration from several coalition groups on the quad. The demonstration will then proceed to rally outside of Phillips Hall and stage a study-in, where students will sit and protest during what may be their last studying day.
For more information, please contact:
James Price, 919-357-2187, ncstla[at]gmail[dot]com
Doug Michel, 919-698-3385, dwmichel[at]gmail[dot]com
