Student leaders from six Kansas Board of Regent universities met state legislators, Monday, to convince them to reject any bills that would allow concealed carrying of weapons in universities and force undocumented students to pay out-of state tuition.
More than 150 students from Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University lobbied the legislators in Topeka.
"Generally, in the past, our lobbying has been small," Luis Carbajal, the president of the Wichita State Student Government Association told CJ Online. "But we need to show we are important. We are customers too."
The Bill 2055 allows citizens to carry weapons in state and college campuses.
Students allege that this law would cost universities up to $9 million to provide security and could also lead to disqualification of the state to host any athletic events.
House Bill 2192 would allow any undocumented student to pay in-state tuition if he/she graduated from a Kansas high school and has been living in the state for three years.
The student body also opposed an eight percent cut for higher education proposed by Gov. Sam Brownback in December.
"These are important issues because if the higher education is cut by 8 percent, you might see an increase in state tuition, and that's going to greatly impact students who want to educate themselves so they can be in the work force." Zach George, the Senate's government relations director, told Kansan.
Kait Perry, a student senator at the University of Kansas told the newspaper that the laws should be according to what the taxpayer dollars want, especially students who pay student fees taxes.
