SUNY Student Assembly Leaders to Travel to Washington, D.C.

SUNY Student Assembly leaders will be making a joint advocacy trip to Washington D.C. alongside the California State Student Association (CSAA), the University of California Student Association (UCSA), and the CUNY University Student Senate (CUNYUSS). Collectively, these leaders will represent nearly 2 million students from New York and California.
 

President Marc Cohen, of the SUNY Student Assembly states, "I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of this unique collaboration on behalf of nearly 2 million students. I look forward to advancing a meaningful and progressive dialogue not only with my passionate counterparts from New York and California, but with members of our government who understand the necessity of proper investment in higher education. There is too much at stake in every area of higher education not to engage in a national dialogue.”
 

“Support for a safe, affordable, and accessible higher education is a national issue, which is why student leaders like us—representing the largest public higher education systems in the U.S.— are banding together to advocate not only for our nearly two million students, but also for the millions of college students across the country who are faced with challenges in achieving their dream of obtaining a college degree. Public higher education is a benefit not only for students and graduates, but for the success of our entire country, and needs to be placed above partisan politics.”  said Maggie White, of the California State Student Association.
 

"As a student leader from the largest public research university system in the world, I am proud to join fellow student advocates in this unprecedented collaboration between the UC, CSU, SUNY, and CUNY systems. A public higher education is an investment in both individuals and society, because a college degree increases someone’s social mobility and allows them to help society prosper. Genuine investment in higher education is critical for our institutions to continue serving as engines for economic growth and innovation for California, New York, and the rest of the nation. UCSA is eager to collaborate with our sister organizations in sharing the college student narrative. Our nation's policymakers must join us in ensuring that our higher education institutions remain affordable, accessible, and high quality for all.”said President Ralph Washington Jr., of the University of California Student Association.
 

"College accessibility will prove to be the social/political issue of our generation. As a proud student of the City University of New York (CUNY), which is the largest urban institution of higher learning in the United States, we are compelled to ensure that future generations have access to an affordable quality education. Regardless of a person's race, gender, disability, nationality or socioeconomic status, affordable quality higher education has to be available to all in the public because it helps build a healthy and stable foundation for families to live a prosperous life. We are putting America first when access to public higher education is on the top of our agenda. The CUNY University Student Senate is excited to partner with our colleagues in student government in higher education systems across the country and we are committed to expanding this coalition to make sure every person in the country can earn a college degree,” said Chika Onyejiukwa, CUNY Trustee and University Student Senate Chairperson.
 

The student leaders are planning on meeting with high profile members of the legislature to discuss initiatives regarding college affordability, campus safety, and sustainability.
 

Source: SUNY SA