The decision of your student body to join forces with the other Regent universities to lobby at the State House is a positive step. Other student body presidents have worked with the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa for special projects. This new effort will encourage a more constant and ongoing effort.

The majority party does vote as a group for the budget bills that have cut work-study and $200 million in funding for Iowa State over the last three years. I serve with the minority party and have argued for the last four years that any cut to education is a cut to the future prosperity of this State. We are making an investment in the future when we make it possible for students to gain a quality education at an affordable cost. I do not want any students at Iowa State to be paying off student loans for years.

If each student were to get acquainted with his or her own legislator from “back home” and do a little lobbying, I believe you could make big difference in their attitudes toward funding for the Regents universities. If you are suffering with too many work hours, if your work study was cut or if you aren’t getting enough sleep worrying about your staggering debt load, let your legislator know about the details. Talk about the “land grant” philosophy of this institution. We have a long history of being accessible and affordable to the average student.

If we pool our efforts, we may be able to convince the majority party Legislators that funding the Regent universities is a sound investment in our future. You can find your hometown legislator’s name at www.legis.state.ia.us.

Rep. Jane Greimann

District 45

Ames, IA