Upset over Gov. Scott McCallum’s proposed state budget, Student Senate has planned a rally to inform students and send a message to state legislators.

The rally will start at 11 a.m. Friday in the Locust Lounge of Davies Center.

On Feb. 20, McCallum released his proposed budget for 2001 to 2003. The proposal includes a 1.6 percent increase in money for UW schools, an amount that disappointed education officials who requested an increase of 3.7 percent. It also would cause tuition to increase.

Student Senate President Justin Hentges said the rally will be a chance for students to learn how the proposed budget will affect them and to voice their concerns.

“(Under the proposed budget) our state is not helping students at all,” Hentges said. “That’s crazy.”

Students have already shown they get out and vote, Hentges said, and the rally will be a chance for students to show they care about what’s happening in the state and issues that affect them.

“Hopefully, (legislators) will realize that we’re voters, we’re citizens of the state and they’re going to have to represent our interests as well,” he said.

Sarah Schuh, director of the Intergovernmental Affairs Commission, said the rally will include a brief overview of how tuition costs would be raised. Testimonies from students also will be heard, so that a clear message can be sent to legislators.

Because the rally will be held in Davies, Senate hopes students walking by will be interested.

Other student governments in UW schools, such as River Falls, Superior and Milwaukee, also have scheduled rallies to express concerns.

If students across the state show disapproval of the budget, the hope is that student interests will be looked at more carefully, Schuh said.

“Students can send the message that they care and want to see the budget changed to our advantage,” she said.

“If legislators see a large amount of students interested, they definitely will care about what we have to say.”

Schuh said she hopes the rally will get the word out about the budget, so that concerned community members and parents also can begin letter-writing campaigns to the governor.

Students interested in making signs for the rally can join student senators from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday in the Senate office.