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Printer-Friendly ModeQ&A session to take 'Hardball' format
September 12, 2005 —
Students tired of continued tuition increases and fed up with the state of Michigan ignoring the plight of its college students will have an opportunity tomorrow to voice those concerns to an influential state politician.
A mock version of "Hardball," the fast paced Q&A show hosted by Chris Matthews on MSNBC, will hit campus at 7 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall.
The SVSU version of Hardball will be moderated by Cameron Knowles, formerly with WSGW News Radio 790, and will be a chance for the community to probe state Rep. John Stewart (R - Plymouth), the chairman of the House Higher Education Appropriations Committee.
As chairman of the House Higher Education Appropriations Committee, Stewart ultimately decides (along with Mike Goschka, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee, and Governor Jennifer Granholm) how much funding state-supported colleges and universities will receive from the state of Michigan. The decision that is made directly determines not only the University's budget, but also yearly tuition rates.
Dr. Eugene Hamilton, special assistant to the President for Government Relations, hopes students will realize the importance of the event, and will come and ask important questions which affect their college expenses.
"I hope 80 percent of the session is a Q&A session with students," Hamilton says. Hamilton wants the campus to come out and question someone with so much power over the University, someone who has the power to determine how much of a tuition increase there will be at SVSU in upcoming years.
"Stewart holds an important position in Lansing, relative to Saginaw Valley," Hamilton explains.
The event should also be interesting and entertaining, due to the sheer character that Stewart possesses, Hamilton says.
"He is an interesting character - charismatic, high energy, not afraid to speak his mind to people," Hamilton says.
Since Stewart is term-limited for the Michigan House of Representatives, Hamilton adds, he will be able to shoot from the hip, and tell the audience the honest truth about the state's higher education funding.
With only little more than a year before his Michigan House political career ends, Stewart will have nothing to lose by being honest with the audience.
He will meet with several state universities in a similar "Hardball" format.
In addition to the Hardball session, Stewart will be making the rounds on campus for much of the evening.
Prior to Hardball, Stewart will meet with President Eric R. Gilbertson and his staff, take a tour of campus, have a light dinner, and meet with media.
"[Stewart] loves the media, to get it aware of what he's trying to do for higher education," Hamilton says.