WWU crowd protests proposed state budget cuts as university faces $18 million shortfall
More than 100 Western Washington University students and staff gathered on campus as rain fell Friday to protest proposed state funding cuts for higher education.
WWU student employees spoke at the rally on Friday. Several expressed concern that if the legislature did not fully fund Western’s budget needs, some of the most vulnerable and lowest-paid employees could be heavily impacted.
“Fully funding WWU would allow all of its workers to be paid a living wage without being threatened with lay-offs and austerity measures,” said WWU student employee Mattie Horne at the protest. “Unfortunately, funding for higher education is on the chopping block in Washington State and beyond. These proposed budget cuts are a threat to all of us.”
“Public school employees stand against the layoffs already happening and the additional layoffs that Gov. Ferguson’s budget would implement,” WWU student employee Ian Schaefer Lorenz told the crowd.
“Campus employees are coming together to demonstrate that they are an essential part of Western’s community and workforce that deserves to be funded, and need union protections now more than ever given the Trump administration’s recent attacks on workers, immigrants, DEI, education funding and more,” the release states.
Protest attendees held signs saying, “Western works because we do,” “The people united will never be divided,” “Fund Western adequately,” and “Less funding? Less aid. Say no to budget cuts.”
Western Washington University has a $235 million annual operating budget. The university announced in October that it would cut more than 50 paid positions from its personnel as part of a “strategic organization” and cost reduction plan due to ongoing budget challenges. Some of those budget challenges were attributed to insufficient state funding.
The university is facing an $18 million budget shortfall this year.
The state’s legislative session to determine Washington’s budget began in January and will continue until April.
This story was originally published February 22, 2025 at 11:36 AM.
