LANSING — A group of about 30 students and government officials rallied on the steps of the state Capitol on Friday in an effort to convince officials to prioritize higher education when it comes to the state’s budget. The rally comes in light of recent cuts in state appropriations to Michigan’s public universities.

The rally was hosted by the Associated Students of Michigan State University and the Student Association of Michigan — a student group comprised of representatives from each of the 15 public universities in Michigan. Students, along with members of the state government, spoke at the Capitol in Lansing to raise their concerns about the shrinking amount of state financial appropriations for higher education. Several students held signs asking politicians, “Where’d my classes go?”

In the 2011 fiscal year budget, higher education appropriations will be cut by 2.8 percent. The University of Michigan alone will experience a $9-million loss in funding.

Though the 2.8-percent cut was less than lawmakers originally planned, and representatives voted to increase financial aid funding by 10 percent, students at the protest said more could be done to ease the financial burden of tuition costs.

According to Michael Lipphardt, ASMSU director of University Budgets and Education Policy, Michigan is ranked 49 out of the 50 U.S. states in the amount of funding it provides for higher education, and the state currently spends $183 million less on higher education than it did in 2002.

In a speech at the event, Lipphardt warned politicians that if they do not follow through on their promises to make higher education a priority, students would vote them out of office.

He also urged students to elect politicians that would follow through on their promises to reduce budget cuts to higher education.

“Make every candidate here, and into the future, earn your vote,” Lipphardt said. “Make them promise to make Michigan a leader in education investment, and make them promise never again to forget about the power of the student vote.”

Cardi DeMonaco Jr., president of the Student Association of Michigan and a fifth-year student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, said the state of Michigan allocates more money for people in jail than in the classroom. According to DeMonaco, the state spends about $42,000 on each prison inmate, but only about $5,500 on each student.

“That sounds to me like failure — a failure to recognize what is truly important in this state, our future,” DeMonaco said.

State Rep. Joan Bauer (D–Lansing), chair of the House Higher Education Appropriations Committee, spoke at the event and informed the audience that there may be more cuts in next year’s higher education budget.

In an interview after her speech, Bauer said there is already a $1.5-billion hole in the $7-billion general fund budget for 2011.

“My biggest fear is that if we do not come up with more revenue in the budget, that higher education will face major cuts,” Bauer said. “I wish I had better news.”

Brenda Lawrence, Democratic candidate for Michigan lieutenant governor, told the audience that funding higher education is tied to the overall success of the state. Lawrence added that she worries about students leaving the state after they graduate from college.

“The commitment to Michigan is strong. The desire to stay in Michigan is real, but if we don’t continue to invest in this economy through supporting and making sure we fund education, you will get your wonderful education and leave this great state,” Lawrence said, addressing the group of students.