Widener Students In Harrisburg To Lobby For College Debt Relief
By Jim Melwert
CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) - College students from across Pennsylvania are heading to Harrisburg today, to lobby lawmakers on debt relief for middle-income college students.
The bus pulled out before the sun came up, carrying about 40 Widener students heading to Harrisburg where they'll join up with undergrads from several other colleges and universities across Pennsylvania and lobby lawmakers on supporting two bills aimed at easing college debt on middle income students.
Senior political science major at Widener Andrea Stickley says not only is this a cause that affects her, it's also great, real world experience.
"Because there's only so much you can learn in a classroom setting," Stickley says. "You really need that experience of talking one-on-one, of understanding what it means to lobby, understanding what it means to put your issue out there and not always get the right reaction that you want, but then to go back."
Political science professor Wes Leckrone says they're well-prepped, "They've got what's called an elevator speech, which is about 30-seconds just in case we meet up with a representative and then we have longer presentations for when we have set-up meetings."
The goal, students say, is to help students whose families make too much to qualify for state aid, but not enough to pay out of pocket, a group they say racking up the most college related debt.