Missouri's Attorney General and the MU System president spoke out to advocate legislators to fund higher education.

See Related Stories

Intro:	The UM system president called on state legislators to support closing the university's 35 million dollar budget gap.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: University of Missouri alumni and members of the Board of Curators gathered at the Capitol for the UM System Legislative Day to advocate for future support of the university.

Chris Koster, Missouri's Attorney General, and Timothy Wolfe, the President of University of Missouri System, spoke about the importance of funding higher education.

Wolfe says the government's support is crucial.

Actuality:	VOLFE.WAV
Run Time:	00:13
Description: “Right now we have a 35 million dollar gap relative to what we were doing. And we got associated program cuts, people cuts, could be proximally 200 people that are at risk.”

Koster says a strong public education system is the engine of Missouri's future.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ruohan Xu.

Intro:	Missouri's Attorney General says higher education funding is crucial as tuition becomes less accessible to the children of Missouri’s working families.
RunTime:	0:48
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Missouri's Attorney General Chris Koster and the President of University of Missouri System Timothy Wolfe spoke out on UM system's Legislative Day to advocate for future support for the university.

As higher education tuition has increased, Koster says students have had to take out more loans, and faculty are paid less.

Actuality:	KOSTER3.WAV
Run Time:	00:15
Description: "Of the 35 public university members of the American Association of Universities, the salary with full professors at the University of Missouri ranks 34th out of 35. With associated professors, Mizzou ranks dead last."

However, Koster says, the appropriation from the state has fallen 13 percent in the last ten years.

Wolfe says the UM system currently has a 35 million dollar budget gap, and government support is crucial.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ruohan Xu.

Intro:	Missouri's Attorney general says a low higher education budget will diminish the quality of education.
RunTime:	0:48
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Attorney General Chris Koster and president of University of Missouri System Timothy Wolfe spoke out during UM system's Legislative Day to advocate the importance of funding higher education.

Koster says higher education is crucial for a successful future career. However, he says education is become less accessible to the children of Missouri’s working families.

Wolfe says many associated programs and researches were cut because of budget cuts.

California Representative Caleb Jones is a sponsor of a higher education appropriation bill. He says the House and Senate should be supportive.

Actuality:	JONESC.WAV
Run Time:	00:11
Description: "It deals with higher education, Missouri is falling behind with the budget cut. I think the house and senate need to send out a message that we can continue to support higher education in the state of Missouri."

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ruohan Xu.