Michigan College Students Raise Awareness at Capitol
Alma College students join college students from across the state Feb. 23 for the third Michigan Campus Compact (MCC) Day at the State Capitol. Dr. Elizabeth Cameron is taking her law class and members of the Barrister Society to Lansing to interact with their senators and representatives.
MCC is working with Senator Mike Goschka (32nd District) and Representative Chris Kolb (53rd District) to host more than 100 college students for a day of networking, training, and meeting with Michigan lawmakers.
"This field trip provides students the opportunity to attend House and Senate Sessions, discuss key higher education issues with legislators and become educated on lobbying and the legislation process," Cameron says. "In addition, it provides an opportunity for law students to be involved with civic engagement."
Representing public, private, community, two- and four-year colleges and universities, these students will come together from around the state to discuss the importance of civic engagement, community service, social activism, and the issue of young people becoming more involved in politics. Students will be able to have conversations with legislators about the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative and the Educational Funding Guarantee initiatives.
These students will represent their specific college or university by voicing their ideas and concerns to legislators. Participants will observe sessions of both the House and Senate, meet with lawmakers, and be addressed by Rebecca Thompson, Chair of the Association of Michigan Universities, and Judy Putnam, Reporter for Booth Newspapers.
“Higher education is rising to the forefront as a major entity in and of itself that has the capacity to help pull Michigan out of its economic doldrums,” said Senator Goschka. “It is essential that college students from every school communicate with their legislators the need for higher education to be a priority in the state budget and understand that their voice can make an impact.”
Representative Kolb stated, “It is important to connect college students to the legislative process, it can have a powerful impact on their lives and future civic involvement. I am delighted to be hosting these college students at the Capitol.”
Michigan Campus Compact promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college students to be civically engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning and civic engagement.
Visit Michigan Campus Compact on the web at www.micampuscompact.org. Please contact Allison Treppa at 517.492.2424 or atreppa@micampuscompact.org for more information about the Day at the State Capitol. Cameron can be reached at (989) 463-7226 or cameron@alma.edu.
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Posted: Tue, February 14th, 2006 at 3:34PM
