ASMSU representatives to travel to Washington, D.C.

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When ASMSU officials leave for their annual spring trip to Washington, D.C., on Sunday, they hope to bring a more focused view to student issues than in past years.

ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.

The three-day trip, which ends Wednesday, allows 11 representatives — down five from last year — from the Academic and Student assemblies to meet with U.S. representatives and senators about issues important to undergraduate students, said Megan Threats, the trip coordinator and Academic Assembly director of education policy, in an e-mail.

Officials scheduled to meet with assembly representatives include U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, Threats said.

The purpose of the $6,500 trip is to advocate for lowering tuition rates or curbing increases through federal funding for higher education, Threats said.

“The major piece of legislation that will affect students at Michigan State University and other universities and colleges across the nation is the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, or SAFRA,” Threats said in the e-mail.

She said SAFRA would invest $36 billion throughout 10 years to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $5,975 by 2017.

Mary Burleson, an Academic Assembly representative who will attend the trip for her third time, said she felt the trip this year would be more focused on advocacy and less on lobbying. Burleson, Academic Assembly vice chairperson for internal affairs, said she felt in years past there was more of a focus on telling politicians about student life.

“This year we are more advocating for certain budgetary items,” Burleson said.

“It’s a bit of a different approach to specifically have legislation you want to advocate for instead of lobbying for general causes.”

The reduction of participants from 16 to 11 this year also will be more efficient, Burleson said.

“We have the same amount of meetings and the same things to do,” Burleson said.

“This is more cost effective and it’s easier to keep track of a smaller group.”

Academic Assembly Chairperson Kristy Currier, who will not attend the trip, said she hopes the delegation can bring the voice and face of students to Michigan politicians who spend the majority of their time outside the state.

“The biggest problem is in D.C. they are so removed and far away from their constituents,” Currier said.

“They need to see MSU college students coming to D.C. saying, ‘This is what we need.’”

The timing of the trip is good, said Chris Schotten, Student Assembly vice chairperson for internal affairs.

“Right when they’re considering or even voting on changes in higher education, we’ll be there to actually see what they’re doing and what changes are being made, hopefully for the better,” Schotten said.

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