The importance of higher education in the face of rising tuition and inadequate financial aid was the focus of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson's speech at a UA rally yesterday.
Pederson, a UA alumnus, spoke for 20 minutes to a crowd of about 40 students and community members, some of whom cheered in support as others picketed his arrival on campus at Roger's Plaza, just north of the Student Union Memorial Center.
The Democratic Senate candidate focused on college affordability but also touched on the importance of healthcare and maintaining a sense of community despite the large campus population. The response showed a mix of support and dissent toward incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Kyl's recent changes made to financial aid.
With tuition skyrocketing at such a quick pace, the public's support of Kyl's $13 million cut to higher education at a time when students and their families have difficulty affording college is hard to believe, Pederson said.
"University of Arizona students and families are facing the highest tuition increases in the nation, yet Jon Kyl voted for the largest student aid cut in history," said Pederson in a press release provided at the rally. He added that when he attended the UA in the 1960s, tuition was $110 a semester.
In-state tuition at the UA for fall 2005 was $4,487 including mandatory fees. This increase of 74.1 percent since the 2002-2003 school year makes it the highest percentage increase in the nation, according to an Arizona Board of Regents workgroup study.
Students attending the rally in support of Pederson said they came to listen to how the Democratic candidate would improve upon the job they believe Kyl is failing at.
"The fact that (Pederson) cares about education and affordability directly relates to us," said Derek Lukas, a mechanical engineering freshman.
Others in support of Pederson said the prominence of John McCain has left many in the state wondering who exactly Jon Kyl is and what he does for Arizona.
"Kyl has been cutting programs and his system is flawed. He uses fear-mongering tactics," said Joseph Pape, an economics freshman.
With college affordability and tuition such a hot point for Pederson, he was quick to blame and hold state and federal governments accountable, but said UA administration wasn't culpable.
"What an indictment this is to our generation and our country. We need a change in Washington and we need your help to effect that change," Pederson said. "John Kyl is not a good leader and his record shows that. We owe you better and together we have the opportunity to change the direction of our country."
Students and others in the community weren't afraid to show opposition to Pederson. They held signs in an attempt to hold the candidate accountable for failing to address the Patriot Act and find out how Pederson planned to lower tuition.
"He showed very empty rhetoric in his speech and is simply using his own money to buy himself a seat in the U.S. senate," said Blake Rebling, a senior majoring in political science and economics. "He refuses to take a stance on the Patriot Act. Meanwhile, Jon Kyl is an expert on this very important issue."
David Martinez, president of the UA Young Democrats, said the group helped bring Pederson to campus, which wasn't difficult because the former Wildcat wanted to speak specifically to students about college affordability.
"We're working closely with his campaign to try and reach across party lines and get the independent and Republican voters to switch sides in the notoriously blue Pima County," said Martinez, a secondary education junior. "Jon Kyl has made a lot of mistakes and change is needed because the Republican Party has continually led us down the wrong path."
Sen. Kyl was unavailable for comment, his Tucson office representative said yesterday.