As of lately, there’s been an immense amount

of talk regarding the future of Iowa State, ISU students and the

ISU community as a whole. Between continued cuts to the regents

universities by the Iowa Legislature, a new university president,

questionable governing of the university by the Board of Regents,

and legislation that will foreseeably directly impact students’

lives in the next legislative session, the future experience of ISU

students and graduates is at best questionable.

As multiple aspects of the student experience

have repeatedly been on the chopping blocks, now is a pivotal time

to make sure decision-makers hear what we as students have to say.

The powers that be constantly hear from constituents such as

corporate lobbyists, donors, community members and business owners.

However, historically, a consistent student voice has not been

offered. The individuals determining our experience as students,

community members and citizens are largely unaware of how we wish

to be represented and governed.

One of the many ways to get involved in the

legislative process on varying levels is through the organization

of ISU Ambassadors. Ambassadors, a division of the Government of

the Student Body, “serves as a connection between Iowa State

University, the state legislature and Iowa communities, in a

professional and nonpartisan manner. As an informed resource, ISU

Ambassadors represent and educate students about issues pertinent

to the student experience.”

ISU Ambassadors is an organization that aims

to get students involved and their voices heard in governing

processes that impact us as students.

Ambassadors hope to engage students,

regardless of political affiliation (or lack of), with

decision-makers with the intent of directly impacting rules,

regulations and legislation. Ambassadors will serve as an

information resource for students and the greater ISU community by

learning about the rule-making and legislative process by attending

committee meetings, public forums at the Capitol in Des Moines,

meeting with legislators and Board of Regents officials, and

participating in other meetings or events.

To get students involved in the legislative

process, Ambassadors will host various programming and events. ISU

Ambassadors will hold town-hall style forums to inform and discuss

current events issues with students and the ISU community. In

addition, workshops will be held to educate the ISU community on

how to further issues to rule makers that they feel are important

through activism; these workshops will be focused around topics

such as lobbying, writing letters to your legislator, and community

organizing.

ISU Ambassadors also coordinate and attend

Regent’s Day at the Capitol, an event in which Ambassadors and

representatives from the other regent universities (University of

Iowa and University of Northern Iowa) invite students and other

university community members to meet at the Iowa Capitol to speak

with legislators about issues they feel are important.

In years past, the event has attracted as many

as 300 students. ISU Ambassadors also will tentatively hold social

events such as open debate nights to provide a space for students

to discuss current events, learn from each other’s diverse

paradigms and find the common ground amongst us that undoubtedly

exists.

Though certainly not the only way, ISU

Ambassadors is a great way to start the conversation of student

well-being with your lawmakers, university officials, peers and

community; we are lucky enough to be students at a time when

pivotal decisions will be made that impact our own lives and the

lives of future students. As director of ISU Ambassadors, I urge

you all to get involved and make your voice an integral part of the

future. Applications are due Wednesday and can be picked up in the

West Student Office Space in the Memorial Union.

If you’re unable to serve as an Ambassador,

get involved. Attend ISU Ambassador events, talk to the individuals

governing you, write letters to the editor, engage in debates with

peers; it’s time we made our own voices — that of the student — an

integral part of the conversation regarding our own lives and

futures.