Student leaders from the three regent universities will reunite today in Des Moines to speak with state senators about student opposition to pending educational budget cuts.

Today is the second time in two weeks that students from Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa will meet at the Capitol to protest the cuts.

On March 28, about 75 students from the three universities met for a press conference and a rally to show their dissatisfaction with the proposed budget cuts.

After last week’s effort, the House of Representatives passed the $975 million education spending package on a party-line vote of 55-41.

This week, the protest will be scaled back and will target the Senate instead of the House, but the focus will still be same.

“We’re going down there to do the talking we need to do,” said GSB President-elect Ben Golding. “It’s not fancy stuff anymore.”

Instead of the dramatic rally and the press conference, the students will meet with minority and majority party senators to discuss the effects the educational budget cuts will have on college students.

“The main thing we’re going to be doing is talking to the senators,” said Alex Olson, off campus. “The only way to really change people’s minds is to talk to them and let them know we’re concerned. Hopefully, we can at least neutralize some positions.”

Golding said he expects to take between 15 and 20 people to Des Moines today, about the same as UNI and U of I.

Olson said he hopes students understand how the budget cuts will affect them individually.

“It’s very important that people realize the gravity of the situation,” he said. “We want to stress the importance of people getting out on this. Take a trip down.”