South Seattle College Students Advocate for Change in Olympia
On Thursday, January 30, a group of 14 South Seattle College students and advisors traveled to Olympia to meet with state legislators and advocate for student issues. They joined peers from North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and community colleges across Washington to discuss pressing concerns such as financial aid, tuition, housing, food insecurity, textbook affordability, and childcare.
The day began with a guided tour of the Capitol Building, setting the stage for an afternoon of meaningful discussions. Each college delegation then met with legislators from their respective districts. South Seattle College students met with 34th District representatives to focus on three key issues: textbook affordability, housing accessibility, and a proposed universal free two-year college program. They first sat down with Senator Emily Alvarado before meeting with Representative Joe Fitzgibbon’s Legislative Assistant.
For many students, the experience was both empowering and inspiring. “We all had a great time sharing our personal circumstances with the representative and senator,” said Tien Le, Vice President of the United Student Association (USA), South Seattle College’s official student government. “It was a wonderful opportunity for us as community college students to be heard and to advocate for ourselves and our peers.”
Student Advocacy Day is an annual event sponsored by USA, designed to educate students about the legislative process and the power of civic engagement. This year’s trip was made possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of USA members and advisors Monica Lundberg and Donte Quinine.
Want to get involved? USA holds its weekly student government meetings every Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in JMB 128. All students are welcome to attend.