Over 50 students from 11 campuses arrived in Juneau Feb. 21 with a 12-foot puzzle of Alaska to advocate for an increase in university funding. Fourteen members if the contingency were from the UAF campus and ASUAF has allocated over $7,000 dollars for the trip.

Students' efforts to show support for the Board of Regents' annual budget request to the state legislature is commonly dubbed the "full funding campaign." This year the campaign included mailing over 1,700 postcards to the Governor's office and circulating pieces of the giant puzzle to UA campuses across the state to gather signatures.

"It was really significant to me to have students from all 11 different campuses come together to support education," said Ian Herbert, ASUAF government relations director.

The students attended a leadership conference Feb. 21 and 22 to learn about the dynamics of the university budget and then met with legislators Feb. 23 and 24 to promote support for the five percent increase that has been requested.

Herbert said the increase amount of five percent represents the average increase for state funded universities across the country and is the amount Gov. Frank Murkowski committed to supporting during his campaign for office.

Murkowski pointed out in a letter sent to the students of the UAF, UAA, and UAS campuses two weeks ago that although he is supportive of a five percent increase to the university budget, the current state fiscal problems leave room for uncertainty.

"I share your support for the University and have proposed to increase the university system's budget for Fiscal Year 2005," Murkowski wrote, " For the short-term, the reality is that unless Alaskans agree on a new way to pay for state programs, any increase in funding for the university will have to come from reductions in other state programs."

Even the student government leaders realize that funding the increase to the university is a difficult decision for many legislators.

"In a year where there is a $100 million deficit in education funding, we're not really at the top of the list," concedes Herbert, "There were a number of people (in the legislature) who were not supportive of university funding."

But he emphasized the symbolism of university students carrying the puzzle of the Alaska on their shoulders in during the rally in Juneau. He said that the educational opportunities offered at UA contribute to the state's economy.

"The university training for Alaska jobs is a big selling point for university funding."

Fairbanks area residents will have the opportunity to testify about the state's 2005 fiscal year operating budget before the finance committee on Thursday, March 4 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

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