Write back to Reps you met on March 8

- This letter is an example, provided courtesy of Ralph Cintron. Feel free to modify-

Dear Salvador Cerna:

Thanks for meeting with the UIC delegation this past Monday.

As we explained then, we needed to have a broader meeting with the larger group before formulating a specific request for the Congressman.  Clearly we are at the early stages of all this, but I for one think that a broader coalition of the education sector, from K-12 through the university, needs to act together to challenge the budget cuts.

Here are some specific actions that we are asking of the Congressman:

1) The federal stimulus package saved us from deeper budget cuts this past year.  Those monies run out this year.  It needs to be renewed, and we are asking the Congressman to help push this through the Congress.

2) We know that both you and the Congressman have a special interest in the Illinois public universities.  (You graduated from UIC; Luis graduated from Northeastern.)  Higher education needs “champions” to help lobby the governor and the key legislators not to do the 15-16% cut proposed in the governor’s budget.  We also need the Comptroller to pay the money owed to the university system–nearly $500 million.  We ask that the Congressman support these issues.

3) We are hoping that the Illinois Congressional Delegation can become united in rescuing the educational sector.  We ask the Congressman to use his influence to convince the rest of the delegation of the seriousness of what is unfolding in Illinois higher education and education in general.  We then ask that the delegation influence state legislators to prevent the continuing deterioration of higher education.  Apparently the elected officials at all levels of the state are worried that voters do not want to see tax increases.  But at the same time voters do not want to see further deterioration of the educational system.

4) Finally, we ask you to look carefully at the Fact Sheet that is included as an attachment to this e-mail.  We left you a copy at the end of the meeting, but we wish to emphasize the Fact Sheet again.  Among other things it details the sort of economic engine for the state of Illinois that is UIC.  We ask you to send a copy to the Congressman.

We will be staging formal protests in April in Springfield.  Please keep abreast of the sorts of mobilizations that we will be organizing. Morever, I am hoping that over the next few months we can open a regular line of communication between the Congressman and UIC.  I will be happy to act as mediator.  I look forward to hearing the Congressman’s and your own response to this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ralph Cintron (on behalf of the committee)
English/Latin-American and Latino Studies