LETTER: Meeting to be held for HB331

Dear Editor,

Ever since I found out about HB331 changing tuition requirements for out-of-state residents I have been working hard to voice concern.

My friend Matt Coulter and I contacted Steve Palmer our Associated Students of Utah State University president and Celestial Bybee the president-elect. Together we have all been working hard to change this bill to make it more reasonable.

We have made great strides. In less than three hours we collected 1,000 signatures from students to give to Governor Leavitt urging him to veto the bill. We organized a rally on campus to get students informed. We organized a press conference and rally at the state Capitol in less than two days.

More than 75 students from Utah State showed up. Though the governor signed the bill, he felt the pressure we along with many others put on him. He sent a letter to the legislature urging them to take a closer look at the bill.

KSL Radio was talking about how the governor signed the bill. I called in and asked how it was that I had been elected a delegate to the county and state Republican Conventions this summer, but under HB331 I’m not considered an in-state resident for tuition purposes.

Not having an answer, Dave Wright, the host of KSL, got Representative Jeff Alexander, the author of HB331 on the radio. I was able to tell him what was wrong with the bill, and Representative Alexander admitted the bill had some problems.

We will be having a meeting Wednesday in the TSC Auditorium at 7 p.m. The purpose is to inform all concerned how we are organizing to lobby the State Legislature to make the necessary changes to HB331.

It is important we keep up the political pressure that has been generated in the past few weeks. We have contacted our local elected officials. They have all pledged their support, but need our help. Attend the meeting and let your voice be heard.

Tom Robins