Not everyone in our communities has access to voting. Some decision makers want to limit voter participation by passing laws that exclude specific individuals or by setting up barriers that impact communities broadly. People of color, young people, LGBTQ people, people living with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, low-income families, and the formerly incarcerated are often targets of this kind of legislation.

Senator Merkley invited our Executive Director Emma Kallaway to D.C. to testify in front of the Senate Economic Subcommittee on Banking and Housing on June 6/25. Senator Elizabeth Warren was also present to ask questions.

The Oregon Student Association had one of the most robust agendas in the 77th Legislative Session and had a presence in the capitol every single day. Students organized multiple lobby days and actions calling attention to statewide issues students care about. Students worked on proactive policies and defended the 2013 session budgets. Below is a synopsis of the accomplishments made by students and missed opportunities by the legislature. OSA’s full 2014 End of Session Report will be published in the coming weeks. This work could not have been made possible without the dedication of students statewide; from universities and community colleges making up a strong statewide nonpartisan student association.

Written by Mario Parker Milligan

The January Legislative Days were packed for The Oregon Student Association. Our priorities this week were lobbying efforts on our Financial Aid Protection bill, Good Samaritan legislation, governance reform, and electoral engagement access.

Written by Mario Parker-Milligan

To mark Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday today, about 70 advocates and organizers, including the Oregon Student Association, will deliver “Facing Race: the 2013 Oregon Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity” to Oregon legislators in Salem. The report card is  a multi-issue assessment of the 2013 legislative session, evaluating lawmaker’s commitment to advancing opportunity and addressing disparities affecting Oregonians of color. The  report card was put together by the Western States Center and the Oregon Student Association along with many other advocacy groups signed on in support earlier this year and have taken an active role in its creation. 

The Interim Legislative Days got off to a start Wednesday morning in Salem as legislators began three packed days of informal committee meetings.  From House Higher Education to Senate Rules, your OSA staff was there the entire time. 

Written by Mario Parker-Milligan

The U.S Government has shut down the same week the U.S Congress discusses the need to slash food stamps, unemployment rates are at near record highs, and our class rooms are over capacity. Yesterday, the Oregon Legislature took the necessary votes to reinvest $40 million to public universities and community colleges. This support will significantly improve the lives of Oregon’s neediest students. Improving access to mandatory classes, graduation rates, and buying down tuition is absolutely critical to ensure students graduate with manageable debt.

Written by Mario Parker-Milligan

OSA keeps a finger on the pulse of the national student movement by directing the movement locally and as members of the United States Student Association. This year the Oregon Student Association used all 7 of our votes at USSA’s National Student Congress in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  OSA’s delegates were from LCC, OSU and SOU.  The UO also used one of their votes as a direct member of USSA. The Oregon delegation included the experiences of working class students, student veterans, students of color, LGBT identified students, and many other intersecting identities.

The Oregon Student Association would like to thank the members of the Oregon Legislature and the Governor’s office for working with the Oregon Student Association this session. Together our elected officials and students fought for the collective needs of students across the state of Oregon.

Written by Emma Kallway and Mario Parker-Milligan

An in-depth week by week description of the 2013 Legislative Session. All posts written by Emma Kallway.

Most students go home their first week of winter break, but that’s not true for the leaders of the Oregon Student Association. This week students from all across the state gathered in Salem for the final meeting of the 2011-2013 Legislature. Students from PSU, UO, EOU, WOU, SOU, LCC, SWCC, and LBCC were in the capitol to share a unified message of increasing access and affordability of Oregon’s post-secondary education. We focused our advocacy around funding for our schools, financial aid dollars, and our shared policy priorities of TE, school not prisons, and cultural competency for healthcare providers. Students met with returning legislators to discuss OSA’s legislative agenda for the 2013 Legislative Session and we also met with exiting legislators to thank them for working with students and we asked them for tips to improve our advocacy. Here are some issue updates from our week lobbying in Salem.

By Emma Kallaway - OSA LD