Student voices fill state Capitol at TRU Day

Student voices fill state Capitol at TRU Day

News contacts:
Tim Seydel | Vice President, University Advancement | 541-962-3628 or tseydel@eou.edu
Alex McHaddad | Legislative Aide, University Advancement | 541-962-3083 or amchaddad@eou.edu

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SALEM, Ore. – For the third year in a row, Eastern Oregon University students made up the largest delegation in a joint lobby day in the Capitol, with nearly 40 students joining trustees and staff in meetings with 63 legislative offices.

EOU joined fellow institutions in the state capitol May 16 to showcase the contributions of Oregon’s Technical and Regional Universities (TRUs). Students, faculty, staff, and trustees from EOU, Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, and Oregon Technical Institute met with lawmakers, learned about the legislative process, and presented unique program offerings from each campus in the Capitol Galleria.

“TRU Day is an incredible opportunity for students from Eastern and the technical and regional universities to connect with state government leaders and share with them how higher education impacts the state,” said Tim Seydel, EOU vice president for university advancement. “We could not be happier that EOU had the largest number of students attending and advocating.”

Mascots and student-athletes greeted legislators and staff with donuts and coffee on the Capitol steps. EOU’s Outdoor Adventure Program hosted a display in the Galleria as part of a joint effort by the universities to showcase unique programs offered at each institution.

During morning meetings, Rep. John Huffman, R-The Dalles, spoke with EOU students about his support of tuition equity legislation for undocumented immigrants. Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, described his work on a bill to reform municipal deer control centered on solutions suggested by citizens, giving students an insight to the process of developing legislation.

“[EOU] serves students from not only across the state but also the nation, [and] has a student population of about 3,800 students, both undergraduates and postgraduate studies,” Sen. Hansell said before the Oregon State Senate. “Many of the students who are on this trip this year have never been to the Capitol before.”

House Speaker Tina Kotek extended courtesies to the TRUs following a performance by SOU’s Chamber Choir, and Senate President Pro Tempore Laurie Monnes Anderson called attention to the TRUs again after an SOU student sang the national anthem.

Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove, focused his address from the floor of the House of Representatives on EOU’s unique student opportunities, highlighting the “nationally ranked NAIA athletic teams, the Outdoor Adventure Program and [the] seven-time award-winning Chemistry Club,” among other programs including the dual-credit Eastern Promise partnership with high schools and nearly 20 online degree offerings.

“I have to say it was an amazing experience. I’m so glad I got to be there,” said Trustee Holly Kerfoot. “Our students — wow, what can I say? There were probably about four or five of us sitting in a legislator’s office with students from our university and other universities and hearing them really talk about what’s important to them and be well schooled from our staff…their passion came through.”

For more information about EOU advocacy, contact Alex McHaddad at govrelations@eou.edu.