Oregon Public Broadcasting

More than 500 people showed up at the OSU Cascades campus Wednesday to speak with state lawmakers in charge of the budget.

Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

At moments, it seemed more like a slumber party than a Ways and Means Committee hearing. The overflow crowd sat on floors, kneeled in corners, and filled seven rooms. More than 150 people signed up to testify.

The location was appropriate, as the small branch campus of OSU has been rumored for possible shutdown, anticipated as part of the state’s deep budget cuts.

Bjorn Peterson is a student at OSU Cascades.

Bjorn Peterson: “I want to be here in Central Oregon, but a closed Cascades campus would likely mean my wife and I would move out of state. The cost of moving in this economy would necessitate moving to a place where I had a job opportunity and a family. For me, that would be Minneapolis Minnesota. Central Oregon would lose me, and I think that would be too bad for you.”

Ten of the first 12 speakers focused on the OSU Cascades campus.

But the hearing lasted more than 2 hours, and others spoke on a wide range of issues, from water rights to taxes.