MMC HEOP Students Visited Albany for Student Advocacy Day

With a 6:30 a.m. departure time, and a three hour ride ahead, most on the bus didn’t get nearly enough sleep, but there was still a feeling of optimism and excitement in the air. Upon their arrival, to everyone’s surprise, there were pro-gun protesters in the park outside of the Legislative Office Building. This initiated a small debate about gun rights among the bus riders. Once inside everyone gathered to listen to the inspirational stories from fellow HEOP/C-STEP/TAP/Liberty Partnership scholars (a crowd comprised of more than 1,000 students from 60 colleges and universities across New York State). After listening to personal stories from all of the students who were brave enough to get on the stage, everyone headed to meet with their local and state representatives to discuss issues of concern and to thank them for their continued support. MMC students were honored to meet with staff from the offices of New York State Senator Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Deborah Glick. We were proud to make our voices heard and grateful to our legislators for their time.

Student Advocacy Day is an annual gathering which provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and financial aid administrators, as well as legislators and higher education policy makers, to come together and show their support for student aid funding and higher education. Save the date for next year’s Student Advocacy Day – February 11 – and join your fellow Griffins in 2014!

Published: February 20, 2013