CU-Boulder students stand up for low-income peers

More than 100 University of Colorado students are expected to gather Monday night in the University Memorial Center for a pep rally in support of National School Choice week and equal opportunity education.

Local politicians, K through 12 principals and CU administrators will speak at the event, which is being hosted by Teach for America and Students for Education Reform, a student group started in the fall.

CU senior Genevieve Smith, a campus campaign coordinator for Teach for America, said students will be donning orange and blue t-shirts representing the percentage of low-income students likely to graduate from college.

"Only 8 percent of low-income students are likely to graduate," Smith said. "Monday we will be handing out mostly orange shirts which will represent the majority and the other 8 percent of us will be wearing blue shirts, representing the few students expected to graduate."

Smith said students will continue to wear the shirts throughout the week, raising awareness of program like Teach for America and the issues around education for low-income students.

CU freshman Jamie Engel, president of Students for Education Reform at CU, said it's important for the campus community to learn about the "injustice in America's school systems."

"It is very important to get people to understand the issue and mobilize students to help close the education achievement gap," Engel said.

The group will hold a free viewing of "Waiting for Superman" -- a documentary about the American school system -- Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Libby Hall.

The week of awareness will end in the students marching from Norlin Library to the UMC Friday afternoon, Smith said.