Fear — that’s the first word that sophomore Erica Huston said came to her mind as she stood and listened to the facts presented about the dwindling financial support of higher education at Higher Education Day in Montgomery Feb. 28.

Higher Ed Day, an event hosted by the Higher Education Partnership, has happened annually for more than 10 years, said Gordon Stone, executive director of the Higher Education Partnership. The rally is a way for Alabama students, faculty, alumni and supporters to encourage lawmakers in Alabama to boost higher education funding.

Huston, a first-generation college student, is majoring in elementary education and is an out-of-state student from Macon, Ga. She said she’s not part of SGA or any particular student organization; she just wanted to be part of the day.

“A lot of my friends were talking about attending (Higher Ed Day),” Huston said. “I thought it was going to be lame or boring, but I actually had a good time.”

More than 2,000 individuals across the state gathered on the Statehouse lawn to rally for increased funding.

“We’re not here to be complacent; we’re here to be heard,” Stone said. “Today, we want to make sure the people in there hear you.”

Stone led the crowd in chanting “two-thirds, one-third” to draw attention to the fact that Alabama lawmakers should return to providing 33 percent for higher education, despite the fact they have now decreased funding to only 27 percent, while K-12 receives the remaining 73 percent.

“I didn’t realize how important this was until I started listening to the speakers and heard we weren’t getting the funding we’re supposed to,” Huston said.

Stone explained the gradual decrease in funding, telling attendees that funding has dropped from 33 to 27 percent over the years.

“The line is going downhill — we don’t want to be going downhill,” Stone said.

Stone said it’s time to let the brightest stars, the people who make up higher education, shine.

“For too long, we’ve seen the burden of running our public universities shift from the state to you,” he said, addressing the students in the crowd.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley echoed Stone’s cries.

“The brightest minds in this state need to be used,” Bentley said. “I am supportive of all the universities in this state.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my education, especially my higher education.”

The costs of attending UNA, especially as an out-of-state student, is high for Huston, but she said she believes if public universities were to receive the funding they deserve, the blow would be considerably less.

“It would be a huge burden lifted off of me and my mom,” she said. “She has to help me, because I just can’t do it alone. It’s tough for both of us.

“I’ve considered transferring from UNA just to lower the costs. But I love it here too much.”

Stone said higher education — and increased funding — is crucial to building a strong workforce for Alabama’s future.

“If they want to invest in the economy of this state, they don’t need to look any further than higher education,” he said. “Higher education is workforce development.”