Student Council’s Legislative Affairs Committee hosted Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, and Del. David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, in a roundtable discussion with politically-active student leaders around Grounds Wednesday.
“As the primary connection between students and our elected officials in Richmond, the Legislative Affairs Committee wanted to have an event where the Student Council and other interested students could meet our local legislators, hear about the issues that the General Assembly will face when they convene in January for session, and discuss issues important to students,” said Legislative Affairs Committee Co-Chair Zach Cohen, a second-year Law student.
Once session begins, the Legislative Affairs Committee plans to meet with lawmakers in Richmond, testify before committees on important legislation and provide resources to enable students to be involved as well, Cohen said.
Event organizers asked reporters not to transcribe the actual roundtable conversation to facilitate open debate among the senator, delegate and students.
Cohen began the discussion by focusing on the issues which will be brought up when the General Assembly convenes in January, including the budget. Key topics also spanned Virginia’s dependency on the federal government and need to diversify its economy, redistricting, criminal burden of proof, campus safety bills, student debt, the University’s role as a public institution and energy policy in Virginia.
Deeds said students should focus on financial issues, while both Deeds and Toscano agreed funding higher education and diversifying the economy are important to creating good jobs.
“It’s all about money,” Deeds said. “[Students] need to be thinking long term how [they] build the best future.”
Toscano said he learned a great deal from meeting with students.
“[There’s] so much energy and knowledge in this group of students,” Toscano said.
Third-year College student Brittney Brown said she is particularly concerned about the high cost of out-of-state tuition.
“It's important for in-state and out-of-state individuals to get involved and understand why costs are so high rather than just complaining about something they are not actively seeking change in,” Brown said in an email. “I believe further talks with representatives and the administration need to be fostered more in the community through a larger amount of students so that the complaints can turn into real solutions.”
Cohen said the student body was lucky to have legislators who strongly support the University and higher education.
“From setting funding levels to policy bills, the state government has the greatest day-to-day impact on students,” Cohen said. “It is important for students to be involved so that we can ensure that our voices and opinions are heard when the General Assembly is considering legislation that affects us.”
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