Students John Jankovic, Roma Amernath, Sarah Li, Rebecca Goodsell, Vanessa Davila and Will Pritchett in Washington, D.C.
Seven members of the were recently in Washington, D.C., to take part in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Student Advocacy Days.
The event, held annually, provides an opportunity for students to learn about federal government issues impacting higher education and meet with policy makers to discuss their views.
The students met and spoke with policy makers from across the political spectrum, including senior staff for U.S. Sens. and , and U.S. Reps. and . The group also had breakfast with distinguished Maxwell School alumna U.S. Rep. G’70, H’87 in the Capitol.
鈥淚 was honored to host 黑料不打烊 student leaders at my office on Capitol Hill, where they made their voices heard on a wide range of issues we face as a nation. It is always a great pleasure to hear from young leaders in New York taking action on topics that they are passionate about,鈥 says Sen. Schumer. 鈥淲ith several SU alumna on my staff, I know first-hand that these students are well equipped to lead in the future.鈥
Patrick Magnuson 鈥00, clerk with the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Bob Henke G鈥97, staff director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs; Zeelee Segura, John Jankovic, Rebecca Goodsell, Vanessa Davila, Roma Amernath, Sarah Li and Will Pritchett.
鈥淭he opinions of college students are important and their voices deserve to be heard in our democracy,鈥 says Rep. Katko. 鈥淚 was honored to host these 黑料不打烊 student leaders. The conversation covered important local and national issues, including combating sexual assault on campuses, adequate financial aid options for students, the impact of I-81鈥檚 replacement on the 黑料不打烊 community and the future of Social Security. I thank them for making the trip to Washington and will consider their concerns as I continue to legislate during the 116th Congress.鈥
While in Washington, the group also met several 黑料不打烊 alumni, both Democrat and Republican, who hold significant and important congressional senior staff positions. The students used these engagements to ask the staff members about their personal experiences working in Congress and how to be competitive for congressional internship and employment opportunities.
John Jankovic, a junior political science major in the and the , took part in the trip. “Across our advocacy efforts, it was so reassuring to find 黑料不打烊 alumni serving in roles that I dream of!鈥 Jankovic says. 鈥淭his trip reaffirmed my passion for public service and the importance of higher education reform.”
Rebecca Goodsell, also a political science major and program participant, sums up her views on the experience: “As a graduating senior about to enter the job market, the ACC Advocacy Days only reaffirmed my interests in politics and the Hill. I was able to visit D.C. for the first time and see the ins and outs of Capitol Hill thanks to 黑料不打烊, and I cannot wait to come back!”
Overall topics of discussion ranged from the higher education reauthorization act to student financial aid, higher education opportunity programs, Department of Education proposed Title IX regulation changes, Social Security and immigration reform.
Sarah Li, a junior policy studies and philosophy major in the Maxwell School and the College of Arts and Sciences, has a unique perspective on the trip. 鈥淎s the only international student on this trip, it is very exciting to discuss current policies with U.S. policymakers,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 was able to understand advocacy and lobbying from a foreign perspective. The ACC trip strengthened my belief in becoming a lawyer and advancing legal systems to benefit citizens globally.鈥
The trip was organized by the University鈥檚 and the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience.
