Student Government President Cassie Alsfeld and Vice President Josh King journeyed to Washington, D.C. this past week with the Louisiana Council of Student Body Presidents to discuss pertinent issues facing students in today’s post-Hurricane Katrina world. The council met with a Louisiana congressional delegation to talk about the increasing costs associated with receiving an education in today’s knowledge-based economy where the economy is directly contingent on a nation’s education system. Representatives included Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., Sen. David Vitter, R-La., Rep. Charlie Melancon and former Rep. Richard Baker. Members of the Louisiana Board of Regents and LSU System employees also met with the delegation. Alsfeld said it was one of the first times University leaders were able to collaborate with other state institutions such as Southern University, Baton Rouge Community College, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Nicholls State University and Louisiana Technical College. Landrieu’s education staff asked leaders what they can do on behalf of the students in Louisiana. In response, Alsfeld and King said the council submitted a resolution written in 2005 to tackle rising textbook costs – an issue affecting every student. “We are looking at different ways to take charge of this textbook issue because the average student spends roughly $600 a semester on textbooks,” Alsfeld said. “I represent all of the LSU medical school and law school students, too, who spend upwards of $1,000 per semester.” Alsfeld said the costs are unpredictable and are a problem not only in Louisiana but across the nation. But she said there is hope, and the delegation indicated different state legislatures are beginning to address the issue. King said the federal government is taking measures to encourage companies to stop inflating textbook costs. “From a federal government scale, they can hopefully help us lower those textbook costs on a broad level,” King said. Another issue that topped the delegation’s agenda included the push for government loans to provide higher education in the South. Alsfeld said Landrieu is promoting efforts to keep doors open for the many schools devastated following Hurricane Katrina. Alsfeld said the library at Southern University in New Orleans still has standing water, and students continue to attend class in trailers. But Southern University is not alone in its financial situation, and Alsfeld said the conference discussed ways to generate income for other schools unable to rebuild facilities. “It’s those types of things that make you stop and think we take for granted how great we have it here,” she said. Alsfeld said following Katrina, higher education enrollment dropped considerably. She said this decrease continues to affect the fee increases students pay today. “Everybody is having trouble with it,” she said. “I think that’s something LSU will be looking at – how can we up our enrollment numbers?” Alsfeld said the economy is directly contingent on the nation’s educational levels. She said universities are pushing to offer a variety of degree programs to keep up with the economy. Alsfeld and King also received a surprise when Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., walked in during a capital tour. Alsfeld said she shared with Obama the results of the SG mock primary election in which Obama led the Democratic race and won the overall vote. Alsfeld said student votes are critical to bring positive change to the education system. King and Alsfeld agreed the LSU pride resonating in the nation’s capital is something the University should treasure. “It was a really beneficial trip in especially making sure the University is on the radar of politicians in D.C.,” King said.
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]
Leaders represent University in Washington, D.C.
February 18, 2008