Student Lobby

The UCSA Student Lobby Conference (SLC) was the biggest event of the year for AS Student Lobby. As in years past, a great delegation of students represented our campus!

Since 2004, the UC Student Lobby Conference has provided students with the opportunity to participate in lobbying, organizing, and higher education issue workshops as well as strategy sessions designed to empower them to effectively lobby elected state representatives on UC Student Lobby Day. The lobby conference brought UC students together with UCSA’s allies in Sacramento to craft effective messages and strategies to win their legislative campaigns. At the SLC banquet, UCSA announced its Legislator of the Year, Advocate of the Year, Ally of the Year, and other awards. It all took place in Sacramento during Winter Quarter.

Student Lobby worked on a campaign against Congress’ decision to end the student loan grace period. In conjunction with Human Rights Week they held a rally during Winter Quarter to spread awareness about the issue.

Participants met in the Arbor and marched to Storke Plaza. The grace period was eliminated with the expiration of the  College Student Relief Act of 2007, which expired on July 1 2012. Expiration of the act led to a debate about whether to allow interest rates to increase or not.

Student Input, Day of Action

The AS Office of the President created a space for those in charge of the University to hear directly from students. This meant collaborating with several campus groups, including Student Lobby, to hold a Town Hall on Diversity in Corwin Pavilion during Spring Quarter, where students voiced their experiences and grievances about the University’s commitment to diversity directly to the UCSB Administration, since those who make policy and can make change.

Students had the rare opportunity to address marginalization and diversity at UCSB. They raised their voices on issues facing students including representation, resources, sexual violence and violence at large, and retention and recruitment.

The meeting featured two panels, one made up of students and one of upper level Student Affairs and other University officials, including Vice Chancellor Michael Young. The student panel included Anisha Ahuja, Yoel Haile, Gloria Campos, Melba Martinez,  and Katlen Abuata. In addition to Dr. Young, the administration panel included, Educational Opportunity Program Academic Director Lupe Navarro-Garcia, Senior Associate Dean of Enrollment Services Mary Jacob, Associate Dean of Student Life and Activities Katya Armistead, Senior Associate Dean of Student Life Debbie Fleming, Acting Associate Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Academic Policy Anna Everett and Executive Assistant to the Chancellor Kevin McCauley.

Students were encouraged to ask questions of the panelists. According to the Daily Nexus, Dr. Young emphasized the significant funding cuts to Student Affairs of about $11 million over the 23 year’s that he’s been Vice Chancellor. At the same time, although he sympathized with student’s concerns and supports their efforts, he also stressed the need to work together, rather than approaching the real challenges we all face in an adversarial manner with students on one side and Students Affairs seen as the enemy.

The event was co-hosted by: Student Commission on Racial Equality (SCORE), Student Lobby, UCSB I.D.E.A.S., Muslim Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, Pacific Asian Coalition, Office of Student Advocate General, South Asian Students Association, MCC Council, BPRO, Black Student Union, Human Rights Board, Arab Student Group.