VCU SGA, students ask lawmakers to support higher education

Mechelle Hankerson News Editor

As the General Assembly moves closer to passing a new state budget, VCU students and other college students across the state are letting lawmakers know what issues need to be addressed in the realm of higher education.

As part of the effort, VCU SGA will visit the state capitol Thursday to tell lawmakers what issues are important to VCU students during their Rams Day on the Hill event.

Student groups from Old Dominion University, Virginia Tech and William and Mary are also expected to attend.

VCU’s group of students will focus on telling legislators not to raise tuitions, asking for no discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation, increasing campus safety as well as increasing bike lanes and roads in Richmond.

According to SGA legislative issues and civic action chair Virag Patel, VCU will also be focusing on legislation that would grant money to VCU to help fund Cabell Library renovations.

“Our current library, it was made to only hold 15,000 students, (and) now we have over 30,000 students on campus,” Patel said. “(The) library hasn’t kept up the progress that VCU itself has made.”

Student groups aren’t the only ones asking the General Assembly to pay attention to state colleges and universities; state student-advocacy groups are also asking state lawmakers to invest in higher education.

Virginia21, a state student-advocacy group, will be holding their annual lobby day next Thursday, a week after VCU students’ unofficial lobbying day.

Tom Kramer, director at Virginia21, said the group has been focusing on their “What’s Your Number?” campaign, which is meant to raise aware-