Oregonian
February 13th, 2015
An estimated 500 college students and supporters rallied Thursday in Salem, calling for legislators to restore state support for higher education.
The rally was organized by the Oregon Student Association, a student-led nonprofit advocacy group established in 1975.
"Oregon has a steady pattern of disinvestment from higher education and it is hurting students." read a statement from the association. "Between 2002 and 2012, funding per student at Oregon decreased by 32%, from $5,663 to $3,650 in inflation adjusted dollars."
The association says the increased costs have begun pricing students out of an education or causing them to go into increasing student debt. Oregon college students graduate with an average student debt of more than $25,000, according to the association.