University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Philbrook Dining Hall is now closed on weekends, both the UNH and Rite Aid pharmacy are gone, tuition costs are rising and dozens of professors and staff members have been laid off. These changes, as well as many others caused by recent budget cuts, have been felt on campus.
Many students blame UNH directly for their fiscal reductions. However, according to Lucas Coriaty, class of 2025 and outgoing President of the UNH College Democrats, the New Hampshire legislature is most responsible. Coriarty, with a few other UNH students, attended the budget cut hearings at the State House in Concord.
Coriarty said that on April 10, 2025, the state legislature voted to cut approximately 15% of USNH’s funding, which is equivalent to around $35 million. He continued on that this loss is devastating, as New Hampshire already receives the lowest amount of funding from the state towards public higher education in the entire country.
Sophomore Siena Schaier, Vice President of the UNH College Democrats, said, “UNH was forced into a corner by our NH legislature. I want students to understand how these cuts will not only affect our university and their experience, but also how it will affect the state of New Hampshire.”
On Wed. Sept.10 at 4pm, the UNH College Democrats held a protest on the Great Lawn, inviting students to voice their opinions on these budget cuts and make it clear that this is a statewide issue. Multiple New Hampshire State Representatives joined and spoke to students about the lack of funding public education receives in the state.
Dr. Karishma Manzur, a scientist and researcher who is now running to be New Hampshire’s Democratic primary for Senate, said in an interview, “The fact that they’re even out here to protest shows that they understand the system is wrong and that there is an alternative that they envision, and that is very important.”
“We have the highest in-state tuition in the country for a public school. We have the lowest spending per student of any state in the nation. I think it’s just the most ridiculous thing in the world that we have a more expensive education now for a lower quality education,” said Coriarty.
After the state budget for fiscal years 2026-2027 was signed into law by Governor Kelly Ayotte back in June, Schaier said she was expecting budget cuts to UNH to be announced soon after. Once she saw how angry students were with these cuts and the losses that were occurring on campus, she began planning this protest.
“There may be doubters that a protest such as this won’t accomplish much, but we can do what we can to show the citizens of our state just how frustrated we are,” said Schaier.
State Representatives and UNH alums, Wayne Burton and Heath Howard, shared in this frustration, both speaking publicly at the protest. Representative Howard discussed the unfairness of student pharmacy cuts and extra costs for students to simply receive the medication they need to function daily. Representative Burton spoke about the power of protesting and his experience doing so at UNH during the Vietnam War.
“To the students who are afraid to speak out, I totally understand you. It can be so hard to stand up against an institution that is so powerful. But remember, you are not alone, and you have the power to make real change, and don’t let anyone tell you different,” said Schaier.
Now, as Coriarty prepares to step down from his role as President of the UNH College Democrats, he said, “Our big goal as student activists this year is to make sure we have an army that goes down and says, you caught us sleeping the first time, not this time.”
