Out d'Coup LIVE | Nick Marcil and Alex Karlesses organizers with PASSHE Defenders

<p>On this week's show I welcome Nick Marcil and Alexandra Karlesses. Nick and Alex are graduate students at West Chester University who wrote a piece for the student newspaper The Quad, "Hallmarks of neoliberalism pervade PA system of higher education." In that piece they argue, </p> <p>"While the promise of market efficiency can seem tempting under such bleak circumstances, it is not a sustainable model of increased access or more abundant resources in higher education. In fact, despite the increasing reliance on this model, inflation-adjusted per-student state funding has declined in 41 states since 2008, according to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In PA alone, we have seen about a 40% reduction since the year 2000 in state funding across the board, even as universities continue to struggle and threaten to shut their doors."</p> <p>Now, Alex and Nick are helping launch a new organization, "PASSHE Defenders," Fighting for a Fully Funded State System of Free Public Higher Education. Sounds like an appropriate addition to the Marvel Universe and I'm all in. Find them on Twitter <a href='https://twitter.com/DefendersPasshe'>@DefendersPasshe</a> & Instagram <a href='https://www.instagram.com/passhe_defenders/'>passhe_defenders</a>. You can join them for an organizing meeting this Thursday, May 20 @ 7:00 pm - <a href='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf77gnBioSLJh5fDxVJbLOzrcWkd3MDLiienYbs6zADLbYkpQ/viewform'>SIGN UP HERE</a>. </p> <p>It turns out today is a good day to have them on, too. Earlier today the <a href='https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=751273888891554&ref=watch_permalink'>PA Senate Democratic Caucus Policy Committee held a hearing on PASSHE consolidation plans</a>. State Senators Katie Muth, Lindsey Williams, and Judy Schwank led questions for panels featuring faculty, staff, students, and administrators. </p> <p>Nick Marcil is a first-year Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs masters student at West Chester University. He is a current Graduate Assista