Advocates protest UNI cuts

A group of parents, students and community members has formed a statewide grass-roots campaign in response to academic and program cuts at the University of Northern Iowa.

The group has a website at www.unifyforeducation.org. Its purpose is to unify students, faculty and members of the public around the issue of improving education in Iowa, Cedar Falls parent Kristin Teig Torres said in a statement, because the UNI cuts are dividing the campus and the community.

University officials in recent weeks announced they would close the Malcolm Price Laboratory School on campus and target 77 academic programs for cuts or restructuring.

The group is arguing for “investing in the right priorities for education.” Members say that at a time when Iowa is one of the few states with a budget surplus, the state continues to make cuts to education, with UNI's appropriation below 1996-97 funding levels.

“We don't want to see these short term solutions have long term impacts on UNI, the Cedar Valley economy and the state of education in Iowa,” Christian Andrews, a Cedar Falls parent and business owner, said in the statement.

Organizers of the UNIfy for Education campaign are asking people to visit www.unifyforeducation.org and sign a pledge of support. The pledge numbers will be shared with Iowa leaders and legislators.