Members of SVSU’s Student Association (SA) will attend a two-day event to address such matters as high tuition costs and state funding to public universities this week.

The Lansing Blitz event takes place Thursday and Friday at the state capital. It is put together by the Student Association of Michigan, combining student associations from each of Michigan’s 15 public universities. The universities meet to rally to support higher education.

“It is an annual event established to bring to light issues that matter to college students,” said Ted Goodman, SA president.

Goodman said attending the event is a “way of letting Lansing know that we want our concerns heard.”

Representatives from the student governments attend structured lobbying meetings with state legislators Thursday, said Joshua Fleming, SA parliamentarian.

The purpose is to petition promote increased financial resources.

“The SVSU Student Association will be sending a delegation to attend these meetings and lobby for increased funding for the higher education base budget,” Fleming said.

The delegation will consist of Goodman, Fleming and representatives Dylan Kosaski, Kaitlin Foran and Doug Boehm.

“The purpose of the trip is to persuade Michigan’s legislators to make higher education a higher priority and to effectively lobby selected state legislators to achieve this goal,” Fleming said.

Funding for higher education in Michigan has been declining steadily.

“We took our biggest hit last year with a 15 percent cut,” Fleming said. SVSU’s SA goal is to receive an increase in funding for higher education for years to come.

Students are to meet with state Reps. Joel Johnson, Charles Brunner, Kevin Cotter, Stacy Erwin-Oakes and state Sens. John Moolenaar and Roger Kahn.

Friday, the rally is held on the state Capitol lawn where students from Michigan universities request an increase in their funding for higher education appropriations and financial aid for students.

“Any and all students from SVSU are invited to attend this rally,” Fleming said.

Students interested in joining SA to attend the rally can sign up in the Student Association office during business hours at Doan 103. A $5 refundable deposit is required at the time of registration.

Free transportation is provided to and from Lansing and students will be given a free “Securing MI Future” T-shirt to wear at the rally.

The bus to the Lansing Blitz leaves from Curtiss Hall at 9 a.m. and returns to SVSU at 4 p.m.