Student body government went to the state capitol March 7 to lobby for better financial aid in Oregon colleges. Members Kelly Huskey and Kurt Killinger were part of a rally for the Oregon Opportunity Initiative. The rally was headed by State Treasurer Ted Wheeler.

“The Oregon Opportunity Initiative,” said Wheeler, “helps make higher education, including four-year universities, community colleges, and vocational and technical training more accessible and affordable for Oregonians.”

Students from Central Oregon Community Colleges joined others from around Oregon visiting legislators’ offices, demonstrating and giving testimonies at the Senate committee hearing.

“I know that when I graduate from college from the help of the Oregon Opportunity Grant,” said Kelly Huskey, director of Student Organizations with the Associated Students of COCC, “that I will not be saddled with a ton of student loan debt, that I will have to live with and my children will have to live with, and an uncertain job future.”

The measures passed through the committee, bringing them one step closer to going to legislation.

–Scott Greenstone

The Broadside