Legislators listened to note writing, organizers say
The “Writing a Note Gets You a Vote” campaign organized by Rex Hansen, executive vice president for the Associated Students of Utah State University, encouraged students to get involved with the legislative session.
The campaign ran through the entire session, from mid-January through February.
“We took a proactive stance on it,” Hansen said.
Previous years have been geared toward encouraging the ASUSU Executive Council and university administration to write to legislators.
“This year we wanted to include as many students as possible,” Hansen said.
Tables were set up on the first floor of the Taggart Student Center to reach a broad section of the student body.
Hansen said it was successful because it didn’t just get to people who go to the third floor all the time.
Hansen said between 25 and 30 letters were hand-delivered to legislators during the session.
Materials were given out for approximately 110 to 120 letters.
Hansen said he didn’t know how many letters were sent out by other people – rather than by ASUSU – who took and used those other materials passed out.
The issues ASUSU focused on were initially library and Disability Resource Center funding, formula funding or money given back to the school based on enrollment and growth, and justifying tuition expenditures or Truth in Tuition.
As the campaign went on, Hansen said the issues were cut down to formula funding and tuition, since the DRC and the library were approved early in the session.
“We changed it so we could continually force the issues still on the table,” Hansen said.
Student lobbyists went to the Legislature in Salt Lake City weekly, as well as for the tuition rally, and the Public Affairs Board gave out ice cream twice.
Hansen said feedback from legislators was positive.
“They like to hear that we’re informed and that we care,” Hansen said.
He said he hopes to see more involvement next year in forums and other issue-awareness events.
He said the letters are helpful in getting more students involved in political issues.
“We’re going to see some great benefits next year and in years to come because of students’ and lobbyists’ efforts,” Hansen said.