When hundreds of students convene in Salem for the Oregon Student Association lobby day Tuesday, they will speak with legislators about everything from racial profiling to the amount of tuition University students will pay next year.
But they’ll also be learning a few things for themselves.
It is a “chance for students who are not necessarily political science majors to see the legislative process firsthand,” said Brian Tanner, the ASUO state affairs coordinator.
ASUO President Jay Breslow added, “it’s a leadership development tool. It’s taking people up to Salem and letting them get a little touch [of the lobbying experience].”
But while learning to navigate the legislative ropes, the students are also looking to change the way those ropes swing.
“We’re there to impact the legislative process,” Tanner said.
To do that, students will bring up four different issues, the foremost of which is the Oregon University System budget and the probable end of the tuition freeze.
“We’re going to go up there and make sure the tuition hike is a real hot-button issue,” Breslow said.
Tanner said students want to garner as much money for higher education as possible, not only to keep tuition low, but also to retain the quality of education and programs.
Gov. John Kitzhaber’s state budget proposal for the next two years not only fails to set aside enough funds for higher education, Tanner said, but it also takes away funds from programs that need the money.
“We have a problem with that,” Tanner said.
Secondary issues for the students include increasing funds for both the child care block grant and the Oregon Opportunity Grant, formerly the Oregon Need Grant. The students also plan to discuss racial profiling.
To accomplish their goals, the students have planned an early start: Training sessions about the issues and how they should be discussed begin in Salem at 8 a.m.
After that, groups of students will head into legislative meetings, and Tanner said they hope to speak with each legislator in the capitol before the day is through.
“Legislators typically really like these events,” former ASUO State Affairs Coordinator Matt Swanson said. “It’s powerful for them to see a large group of constituents come through.”
A rally is scheduled to take place on the capitol steps between the meetings, and afterward the students will make an appearance on the floor of the State House and Senate, Tanner said. The last afternoon meetings will probably take place around 4 or 4:30 p.m.
In past years, about 300 students have participated in the lobby day, Swanson said. This year, he said, he thinks there will be far more.
Tanner estimated between 300 and 500 students will attend, including about 50 from the University. People can still sign up to go by calling Tanner at 346-0628.Tuesday’s event is the first of two major days students have scheduled in the capitol. The second is an Oregon University System rally, to be held March 6, that will include not only students, but faculty, administrators and alumni.