OU students will meet with Oklahoma legislators at the state capitol for Higher Education Day Tuesday.
Higher Education Day is an annual event where college students meet with legislators to discuss Oklahoma’s system for higher education, workforce development and economic growth, according to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
College students will be speaking to over 50 legislators in attendance to discuss the importance of higher education in Oklahoma.
This list includes gubernatorial candidate Rep. Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City), Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman), Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman), Rep. Jared Deck (D-Norman), Rep. Jason Blair (R-Moore, Norman, Oklahoma City) and Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman), among others.
Gov. Kevin Stitt, legislators, OU’s Student Government Association, OK Votes, representatives of Oklahoma’s higher education institutions and students from Oklahoma’s colleges and universities are invited to attend.
OU Undergraduate Student Congress External Affairs Committee chair Hope Rhoads, who organized the event, told OU Daily Monday that speaking with legislators is not just for OU students, but also for other universities such as Oklahoma State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and other public universities.
“Its a lot of universities working together to make this effort. I think that's a really beautiful part about higher education day, because it's not just huge public institutions who are affected,” Rhoads said.
Rhoads said that higher education funding is very important to students like her, who rely on scholarships to attend college.
“A lot of students are at school because of programs like (Oklahoma’s) Promise. Keeping programs like that and getting students who, on their own, wouldn't have the ability to be at college financially,” Rhoads said. “I wouldn't be at OU without scholarship. I know a lot of students are in the same boat, but also as students who are first generation I’m having that ability to obtain that education and kind of change their family forever.”
Oklahoma’s Promise Day will also take place at the capitol, beginning at 10 a.m. Higher Education Day will begin at 2 p.m. During Oklahoma’s Promise Day, Stitt and the legislature will be recognized for their ongoing support of the program, which allows students who meet certain income, academic and conduct requirements to earn a tuition scholarship.
Rhoads said the senate will consider a bill to prohibit institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from using state funds to provide scholarships, grants, tuition aid or discounted tuition to international students. As a student and student government committee chair, Rhoads says she believes higher education funding is important.
“I can't say for sure if us lobbying is going to change that, but I can definitely change some senators’ or representatives' opinions on it,” Rhoads said. “It’s a lot harder when you meet somebody face-to-face and hear their story to say higher education funding isn't important.”
According to Student Government Association Vice President Josephine Nicholson, members of the Undergraduate Student Congress, Executive Branch, Graduate Student Senate and Crimson Leadership Association will be in attendance.
Nicholson told the Daily Monday that meeting with local legislators is essential to discuss policy and build future opportunities.
“I think that the only way you could see change that can move in your direction is if you use your voice and access the resources closest to you, which obviously is your local legislators. Higher Ed Day is a great opportunity to make sure that happens,” Nicholson said.
According to Nicholson, the meetings with legislators for SGA members are very structured, lasting usually around 15 minutes and speaking in groups of three to four.
Nicholson said the opportunity to meet with legislators puts a face to those affected by policy.
“I think it's really important to get to go in and talk about why higher education is so important and really put a face to all these things they're voting for,” Nicholson said. “You never know what your story could do for a legislator or what your input can have.”
This story was edited by Natalie Armour and Macey Thaxton.
