A group of 25 NYU students took concerns about education funding to Capitol Hill for D.C. Day last week.
Sponsored by NYU’s Office of Government and Community Affairs and the Brademas Center, which focuses on programming that allows NYU community members to better understand the workings of Congress, D.C. Day maintains a dual role of advocating in support of student aid programs and providing students the opportunity to remind their representatives of the importance of federal student aid.
“We were thrilled that 25 NYU students were willing to spend the day on the bus to communicate with Congress about how cuts to student aid programs will affect them personally,” said Steve Heuer, director of government relations for NYU.
In recent months, media outlets have heard the term sequestration, the automatic spending cuts taking place as a result of Congress’ inability to reach a long-term deficit reduction agreement.
With all programs affected by sequestration being subjected to 5 percent cuts, students receiving federal work-study and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants will see some reductions in the coming fall.
“It is absolutely necessary for Congress to continue their focus on education because … not giving [students] the opportunity to go to colleges of their caliber will not only put our country at a disadvantage but will put our future in jeopardy,” LSP sophomore Justin Ahn said.
Meeting with a variety of legislative assistants for New York representatives including Reps. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., Paul Tonko, D-N.Y. and Joseph Crowley D-N.Y., students spent the day on the Hill and in Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn House office buildings. While most participants were becoming acquainted with the city, a few had spent the previous semester studying away at the newly opened NYU Washington, D.C. campus.
“[Congress] needs to do a better job of providing assistance. How we will compete?” said Jeff Morgan, legal assistant for Congressman Paul Tonko, D-N.Y.
“As a student who interned on the Hill last semester, it was a great feeling to be able to direct peers and answer their questions about the basics of how congressional office or senate offices worked,” said CAS junior Tanzila Ahad. “Many students like me are worried about what will happen [with education] in the future and how we will afford this basic need in our society … and more importantly, pay it off.”
Students appreciated the time legislative assistants took to meet with them, and said they were empowered by the experience.
“Getting to share my story with the staffers gave me pride in not only NYU but also the fact that we as citizens of the United States have the opportunity to voice our opinions without any criticism or fear of consequences,” Ahn said.
A critical function of our democracy is to communicate constituent concerns and be heard by our representatives.
“If we persistently bring this issue to the attention of the government, they will have to notice and something must be done,” Ahad said.
A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, April 2 print edition. Maria Michalos is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].