SGA engages in D.C. national conference, discusses future of higher ed
Students from SGA recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part in the Atlantic Coast Conference Advocacy Days, an annual conference in which student government leaders engage in conversations about the future of higher education. Courtesy of Sadie Brown
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Students from Syracuse University’s Student Government Association met with officials in Washington, D.C. to advocate for higher education policy.
SGA, along with student representatives from eight universities, took part in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Advocacy Days, an annual multi-day conference where student government leaders engage in conversations about the future of higher education.
Hosted by Virginia Tech from Feb. 9 to 11, this year’s conference featured an agenda with panel discussions on the current state of higher education and meetings with United States political representatives on Capitol Hill. It also included a keynote address from Susannah Wellford, the CEO of Running Start, a nonprofit organization that inspires women to pursue political leadership.
“(I was) thankful for the opportunity to attend,” SGA Speaker of the Assembly Emily Castillo said.
The conference also provided an opportunity for the SGA members to “elevate” SU and other student priorities, Vice President of Community and Government Affairs Kenny Lanterman said. Students met with the offices of U.S. Representatives John Mannion and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand — all from New York state.
“They reaffirmed their commitment to opposing the action (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on campuses and in cities, including Syracuse, and to exploring ways to limit overreach and protect students,” Lanterman said.
Representatives also discussed the lack of protection and clarity surrounding athletic Name, Image and Likeness compensation policies as well as ongoing tuition and financial aid barriers faced by international students, Lanterman said.
The SU delegation targeted these topics toward the expertise of certain politicians. The most prominent issue concerns ICE, which the delegation utilized during their time with Ocasio-Cortez.
“We were talking about concerns, experiences and how we’ve seen them impact students and the Syracuse community,” Engagement and Outreach Committee Chair Sadie Brown said. “Also, recommending ways we would like to see action taken in Congress or various bills and resolutions to ensure there is progress made on issues affecting people so greatly right now.”
Students appreciated the opportunity to meet with officials, and since sending every student at SU to Capitol Hill is an unrealistic endeavor, representing student voices becomes that much more important, Brown said.
“When we have these opportunities to speak with people who are actually writing laws or who are so influential on a social level, you really feel like you’re being heard and that you’re making a difference,” Brown said.
