By Hailey Murphy
If you are a student interested in making a change in your local government, then there’s a great opportunity awaiting you! The AS Legislative Affairs Council (LAC) is currently on the hunt for four to six students interested in being part of the committee.
This committee determines the Associated Students’ legislative agenda, and thus the legislative agenda for the student body as a whole. The agenda covers issues at the local, state and federal level. Being a member of the LAC is an opportunity to have a voice in your government, to advocate for issues that matter to you and to meet with state legislators. The LAC is perfect for any student interested in politics and looking to be more involved.
As a member, you’ll work alongside ASVP for Government Affairs and LAC Chairperson Ana Ramirez. She is the connection between LAC and the AS Board of Directors.
Other members of the committee include AS Legislative Liaison Rosa Rice-Pelepko, AS REP Organizing and Outreach Coordinator Emma Scalzo, and AS Local Issues Coordinator Anna Kemper. Additionally, there will be an Ethnic Student Center representative, an Environmental Sustainability Program representative and other student members! Together, the committee will discuss and vote on potential issues for the agenda. Some past agenda items include a ordable housing, support for sexual assault survivors and voting rights.
Once the committee has completed dra ing the agenda, it’ll be presented to the AS Board of Directors for approval by Ana Ramirez. A er the board approves it, student lobbyists Rosa Rice-Pelepko and Anna Kemper can visit the legislature and speak on behalf of Western students.
However, lobbying is an option for students outside the committee. The most significant opportunity is the Lobby Day in Olympia on Jan. 15. The LAC will be looking for students to participate near the end of fall quarter.
Participants will travel to Olympia on Sunday, Jan. 14. On that day, LAC members will train students to inform them about the issues and prepare them for their meetings. Then, on Monday, students in groups of three or four will meet with state legislators.
Each meeting is about fifteen minutes long, with three to four meetings taking place that day. But this is just one example! Other opportunities include Local Lobby Day, Environmental Lobby Day and ESC Lobby Day. These lobby days will be taking place throughout the year.
Another aspect of the LAC is their involvement with the Washington Student Association (WSA). WSA is a coalition of the twelve four-year colleges in the state (Eastern, Central, Evergreen, Western, etc.). This organization represents students in state government to achieve a ordable, equitable, quality education.
So, besides creating a legislative agenda for Western, the LAC provides suggestions for WSA’s legislative agenda. This allows more student power in the government, because if WSA takes on an issue proposed by the LAC, then the voice of Western’s student body grows from 15,000 students to 140,000 students.
For those interested in being part of the committee, applications are available on the Associated Students Website. The application will be reviewed rst by Ana Ramirez, then by the Board of Directors. If it’s ap- proved, then you’ll become a voting member of the Legislative A airs Council. But apply quickly! The state legislative agenda must be approved before the end of fall quarter, and any proposals going to WSA must be ready by the beginning of November.
If you’re not officially a member of the committee, that’s okay! You’re still welcome to attend the meetings, discuss issues with your fellow students and attend the lobby days. The only difference is that non-committee members don’t get to participate in voting. They don’t have a final say in agenda items, budget allocation or other matters of the LAC.
“Everyone, no matter your what knowledge level or background on these issues is de nitely welcome, as long as you’re passionate about some sort of student advocacy,” said AS Legislative Liaison Rose Rice-Pelepko.
The Legislative Aairs Council meets every Tuesday 6 to 8 p.m. in Viking Union 567. is time is up for renegotiation, so if that time doesn’t work, no worries! You can still apply for this amazing opportunity to get involved with civic engagement.
This committee determines the Associated Students’ legislative agenda, and thus the legislative agenda for the student body as a whole. The agenda covers issues at the local, state and federal level. Being a member of the LAC is an opportunity to have a voice in your government, to advocate for issues that matter to you and to meet with state legislators. The LAC is perfect for any student interested in politics and looking to be more involved.
As a member, you’ll work alongside ASVP for Government Affairs and LAC Chairperson Ana Ramirez. She is the connection between LAC and the AS Board of Directors.
Other members of the committee include AS Legislative Liaison Rosa Rice-Pelepko, AS REP Organizing and Outreach Coordinator Emma Scalzo, and AS Local Issues Coordinator Anna Kemper. Additionally, there will be an Ethnic Student Center representative, an Environmental Sustainability Program representative and other student members! Together, the committee will discuss and vote on potential issues for the agenda. Some past agenda items include a ordable housing, support for sexual assault survivors and voting rights.
Once the committee has completed dra ing the agenda, it’ll be presented to the AS Board of Directors for approval by Ana Ramirez. A er the board approves it, student lobbyists Rosa Rice-Pelepko and Anna Kemper can visit the legislature and speak on behalf of Western students.
However, lobbying is an option for students outside the committee. The most significant opportunity is the Lobby Day in Olympia on Jan. 15. The LAC will be looking for students to participate near the end of fall quarter.
Participants will travel to Olympia on Sunday, Jan. 14. On that day, LAC members will train students to inform them about the issues and prepare them for their meetings. Then, on Monday, students in groups of three or four will meet with state legislators.
Each meeting is about fifteen minutes long, with three to four meetings taking place that day. But this is just one example! Other opportunities include Local Lobby Day, Environmental Lobby Day and ESC Lobby Day. These lobby days will be taking place throughout the year.
Another aspect of the LAC is their involvement with the Washington Student Association (WSA). WSA is a coalition of the twelve four-year colleges in the state (Eastern, Central, Evergreen, Western, etc.). This organization represents students in state government to achieve a ordable, equitable, quality education.
So, besides creating a legislative agenda for Western, the LAC provides suggestions for WSA’s legislative agenda. This allows more student power in the government, because if WSA takes on an issue proposed by the LAC, then the voice of Western’s student body grows from 15,000 students to 140,000 students.
For those interested in being part of the committee, applications are available on the Associated Students Website. The application will be reviewed rst by Ana Ramirez, then by the Board of Directors. If it’s ap- proved, then you’ll become a voting member of the Legislative A airs Council. But apply quickly! The state legislative agenda must be approved before the end of fall quarter, and any proposals going to WSA must be ready by the beginning of November.
If you’re not officially a member of the committee, that’s okay! You’re still welcome to attend the meetings, discuss issues with your fellow students and attend the lobby days. The only difference is that non-committee members don’t get to participate in voting. They don’t have a final say in agenda items, budget allocation or other matters of the LAC.
“Everyone, no matter your what knowledge level or background on these issues is de nitely welcome, as long as you’re passionate about some sort of student advocacy,” said AS Legislative Liaison Rose Rice-Pelepko.
The Legislative Aairs Council meets every Tuesday 6 to 8 p.m. in Viking Union 567. is time is up for renegotiation, so if that time doesn’t work, no worries! You can still apply for this amazing opportunity to get involved with civic engagement.