2008 Woodie Awards
Student lobbyists flock to the state capital for SHED
Students for Higher Education Days draws college students from all over S.D. to Pierre to effect change.
Jenna Mann
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
A balcony of theatre-style seats known as the Gallery surrounds the Senate floor. On Feb. 4, students from all six regental universities filled these chairs after a morning of testifying in committee meetings and speaking with state lawmakers at Students for Higher Education Day.
Nearly 30 students-well over half of the total students in attendance-from SDSU participated in SHED and tried to persuade legislators to pass laws important to the college students in South Dakota, like the Opportunity Scholarship bills, a bill capping the interest rate for pay-day loans and a bill that would prevent universities from banning firearms on campus.
"I think that anyone that has any interest in higher education should try to make it to SHED because this affects everyone," said Amanda Maffett, a senior music major.
SHED, held Feb. 3-5, is sponsored by the South Dakota Student Federation as a time when university students are invited to Pierre to lobby for issues concerning the university system.
"I think it's great," said Rep. Kim Vanneman (R-Gregory, Tripp). "You can always see, no matter what the issue, when there's testimony from grassroots groups that it resonates well with members of the committees."
SHED was the first experience with South Dakota politics for Andy Walker, a senior general agriculture major and Students' Association senator. The Opportunity Scholarship bills, Senate Bills 59 and 201, were his main concern.
"To me, it's not about the money. It's about the students," said Walker. "Changing what we're going to change is going to make the opportunity greater for more students in South Dakota to get the scholarship."
For Tony Temple, a sophomore chemistry and biology major, SHED is something worth doing over.
"I came here last year, half the time to lobby for the Opportunity Scholarship. Hopefully we get it passed this year," said Temple.
John Sandstrom, a senior pharmacy major, Rachel Lewis, a senior biology major, and Patrick Weber, a senior mathematics major, testified in a committee meeting about the Opportunity Scholarship bills. The committee deferred voting on both SB 59 and SB 201 until Feb. 3. Some students who participated in SHED plan to return to Pierre for the vote.
Nearly 30 students-well over half of the total students in attendance-from SDSU participated in SHED and tried to persuade legislators to pass laws important to the college students in South Dakota, like the Opportunity Scholarship bills, a bill capping the interest rate for pay-day loans and a bill that would prevent universities from banning firearms on campus.
"I think that anyone that has any interest in higher education should try to make it to SHED because this affects everyone," said Amanda Maffett, a senior music major.
SHED, held Feb. 3-5, is sponsored by the South Dakota Student Federation as a time when university students are invited to Pierre to lobby for issues concerning the university system.
"I think it's great," said Rep. Kim Vanneman (R-Gregory, Tripp). "You can always see, no matter what the issue, when there's testimony from grassroots groups that it resonates well with members of the committees."
SHED was the first experience with South Dakota politics for Andy Walker, a senior general agriculture major and Students' Association senator. The Opportunity Scholarship bills, Senate Bills 59 and 201, were his main concern.
"To me, it's not about the money. It's about the students," said Walker. "Changing what we're going to change is going to make the opportunity greater for more students in South Dakota to get the scholarship."
For Tony Temple, a sophomore chemistry and biology major, SHED is something worth doing over.
"I came here last year, half the time to lobby for the Opportunity Scholarship. Hopefully we get it passed this year," said Temple.
John Sandstrom, a senior pharmacy major, Rachel Lewis, a senior biology major, and Patrick Weber, a senior mathematics major, testified in a committee meeting about the Opportunity Scholarship bills. The committee deferred voting on both SB 59 and SB 201 until Feb. 3. Some students who participated in SHED plan to return to Pierre for the vote.
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