IUSA members lobby state reps

Three members of the IU Student Association headed to Washington, D.C. Jan. 18 to lobby Indiana Senate and House of Representative delegates.\nLegislative Relations office director Ben Piper, assistant director Rebecca Homkes and IUSA office manager Lydia Roll visited the Capitol to lobby for issues concerning higher education. \n"We're under-represented sometimes," Homkes said in reference to college students.\nThe group discussed Pell Grants, the Call to Service Act, Direct Lending, the Proton Radiation Institute and Indiana's Brain Drain.\nRoll said the purpose of the trip was "to express to members of the Indiana delegation the higher education concerns of the students of IU and their support of more funding for higher education."\nThe students met with staff members from the offices of both Indiana senators and five representatives. \n"It surprised them when a group of college students walked into their office and said 'We're going to pay attention to those issues. We want you to also,'" Roll said.\nGiving IU students a role in national issues was a major purpose behind the trip.\n"We need to make sure students have a voice in federal legislation," Homkes said. \nThe group focused on issues of financial aid funding.\n"Funding higher education and forms of financial aid are important to students so they can afford to go to school," Roll said. "By our being there, the Indiana delegation is more apt to vote for more financial aid funding."\nThe group will follow these issues throughout the year by keeping track of what the legislative bodies are doing. Homkes said the Legislative Relations Office was going to focus mostly on the Call To Service Act, which allows students greater opportunity to enlist in the military and volunteer with AmeriCorps. The group will look into the proposed cuts to higher education in the state budget throughout February and will end the month with a rally for higher education in Indianapolis. \nIUSA Vice President for Administration Jeff Wuslich said paying attention to such issues is important to IUSA.\n"We stand for students," Wuslich said, "and we try to represent students at the local, state and federal level. Anytime student issues are put forth to legislators, it's a good thing." \nWuslich said the trip was an especially valuable experience because it showed students working for students.\n"I feel that the trip is important because it shows members of Congress that University students care about politics and what's going on in Washington," Roll said.