MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Student government leaders on the campus of West Virginia University are watching two pieces of legislation.
WVU Student Body President Colin Street said he made a commitment to be more legislatively engaged during this session, and the effort is energizing the student body.
Street said Monday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town” the Student Government Association is encouraging involvement after the development of apathy following the pandemic. Street said to encourage more involvement, the size of student government at WVU has been increased from 40 to 150 members that engage with lawmakers and the campus community.
“It’s that level of inspiration that knows giving students responsibility and civic action to students can really achieve, and it’s that inspiration that will get young leaders to stay in West Virginia and help lead the state,” Street said.
Senate Bill 675, sponsored by Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, would restore voting rights for students on boards of governors statewide and is one of the measures the organization is lobbying in favor of.
SGA State Government Liaison Logan Pierce said the other bill of interest, House Bill 4081, would establish the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant program.
“It would allow institutions across the state of West Virginia to establish food pantries or fund food pantries that already exist,” Pierce said. “We’re also working on Senate Bill 675 that would restore the students’ vote to boards of governors across the state.”
Street said the student voice is an important one when it comes to fees, tuition increases, and the overall campus experience.
“Having not just the student voice but an impact with a vote behind that voice allows the university to cultivate an educational experience that’s going to geared toward students and bring more students to Morgantown,” Street said.
WVU SGA works with other assemblies through the Advisory Council of Students to keep the board of governors informed, provide information to the student body about legislative activities, and finally work with lawmakers on policy matters they favor. The task is one Street is working harder to develop.
“That last one, ACS—the Advisory Council of Students—has faltered in the last couple of years,” Street said. “And it’s what we’ve really tried to emphasize this year in our pursuit of getting the board vote back.”
One attempt to revive civic engagement is the proposed revival of the Hardesty Festival of Ideas that will bring a wide range of speakers to campus to interact with students.
“Our student body vice president, Rozaireo Jones, has been planning the revival of the Hardesty Festival of Ideas, which will start on February 16,” Street said. “We hope to bring alumni and speakers to campus not only to engage with students and the larger Morgantown community.”