2008 Woodie Awards
FIRST PERSON: L.A. Community Colleges Lobby for Students' Rights
Several community college students headed to Sacramento to address their concerns to lobbyists.
H.M. Montes De Oca
Issue date: 5/4/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
On Monday morning, a group of around 75 students from several of the Los Angeles community colleges gathered at Burbank Airport to board a plane to Sacramento. The goal was to ask the state legislators to help community colleges stay affordable.
Among several issues the students addressed were the 144 percent increase in fees over the last two years, eliminating the maximum age disqualification for Cal Grants, making the $11 health fee mandatory for all students and changing the way Prop 98 distributes funding for community colleges. Many of the students who attended Sacramento Lobby Day had come to share their personal stories with legislators about how their community colleges changed their life.
Melissa Mendez, a rehabilitated gang member and Harbor College ASO senator attended the two-day event. "I wanted to experience being on the right side of the law," said the 30-year-old sociology major and mother of four. "It helps encourage me to continue my work helping other students."
Monday evening was a chance for students to speak with the lobbyist in charge of the event, who provided students a handout with talking points to bring up during their meetings with the legislators. Although the students were expected to speak about the nine specific issues outlined in the handout, the organizers encouraged students to speak on issues that affected us personally.
Hughes Kuedituka,a student from West Los Angeles College, was interested in attending Lobby Day because in his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, political power is highly centralized.
"I wanted to be part of the process. This was an opportunity to see political power used for the good of people," said the 19-year-old business major.
During lunch in the park that surrounds the capital, students were hopeful that their advocacy would translate into policies that encourage enrollment. A reporter was told by assembly member Carol Liu that she and other Democrats were on board with the proposed changes, however we needed to speak with those on the other side of the aisle in order to enact these policies.
"You are preaching to the choir," said Liu.
In the lobby of the Hyatt Regency, across the street from the capital, students gathered their luggage and said good-bye to one another. These last two days helped each of them see that their efforts might not yield change in our time at community college, but they are hopeful for the future.
Among several issues the students addressed were the 144 percent increase in fees over the last two years, eliminating the maximum age disqualification for Cal Grants, making the $11 health fee mandatory for all students and changing the way Prop 98 distributes funding for community colleges. Many of the students who attended Sacramento Lobby Day had come to share their personal stories with legislators about how their community colleges changed their life.
Melissa Mendez, a rehabilitated gang member and Harbor College ASO senator attended the two-day event. "I wanted to experience being on the right side of the law," said the 30-year-old sociology major and mother of four. "It helps encourage me to continue my work helping other students."
Monday evening was a chance for students to speak with the lobbyist in charge of the event, who provided students a handout with talking points to bring up during their meetings with the legislators. Although the students were expected to speak about the nine specific issues outlined in the handout, the organizers encouraged students to speak on issues that affected us personally.
Hughes Kuedituka,a student from West Los Angeles College, was interested in attending Lobby Day because in his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, political power is highly centralized.
"I wanted to be part of the process. This was an opportunity to see political power used for the good of people," said the 19-year-old business major.
During lunch in the park that surrounds the capital, students were hopeful that their advocacy would translate into policies that encourage enrollment. A reporter was told by assembly member Carol Liu that she and other Democrats were on board with the proposed changes, however we needed to speak with those on the other side of the aisle in order to enact these policies.
"You are preaching to the choir," said Liu.
In the lobby of the Hyatt Regency, across the street from the capital, students gathered their luggage and said good-bye to one another. These last two days helped each of them see that their efforts might not yield change in our time at community college, but they are hopeful for the future.
