SLIPPERY ROCK — Nearly 200 students and faculty members at Slippery Rock University took over the campus’ quad today to protest potential cuts to the State System of Higher Education.

The rally was a collaboration between SRU’s student government association and its chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties.

“Our goal today is to tell the governor that we need higher education,” said Jim Henry, vice president of student affairs for SRU’s SGA.

Henry said education is important for the state’s economy because 80 percent of college graduates in the state stay in the state.

The event, which featured several speakers from SRU and the community, culminated with the release of 1,000 balloons.

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett proposed a state budget that reduced funding of state system schools, which includes SRU, by 20 percent.

In 2011, Corbett proposed a budget that reduced funding to state system schools by 50 percent. The Legislature later passed a budget that reduced funding by 19 percent.