Student lobbying group petition calls for increase in financial aid in VA

Virginia21 is calling on members of the Mason community to sign a petition aimed at increasing financial aid for students. (AMagill)

Virginia21, a bipartisan student lobbying group based in Richmond, Va., is working with student government this semester to encourage students to sign a petition calling for an increase in financial aid in Virginia. The group also asks students to share their own experiences with debt.

As part of its mission, Virginia21 handles issues directly relating to higher education within the Commonwealth. According to Jackson, the group has dealt with issues ranging from textbook reform to the passage of the Virginia Higher Education Act, which brought in more funding for higher education within Virginia.

“Virginia21 had a large part in lobbying for [the Virginia Higher Education Act], which included phone drives, lobbying at the general assembly, and legislative forums with delegates” says Jackson.

According to senior Melissa Jackson, a Mason student representative for Virginia21, directors of the organization proposed a campaign in August aimed at ending the perceived student debt crisis in Virginia. The campaign is known as “What’s Your Number”, referring to a student’s monetary debt.

The campaign focuses on a petition calling for more financial aid funding in Virginia. Organizers of the petition, which everyone is invited to sign, have a goal of 10000 signatures. The plan is to take the petition to the Virginia General Assembly where organizers will advocate for more financial aid funding across the state. 

In late October, Virginia21 hosted an event in SUB I on the Fairfax Campus, where they offered free food and had students enter a raffle if they signed the petition. Free t-shirts were also given away to those who allowed Virginia21 to film their story of why they are in debt. Members of Student Government also took their efforts into the Johnson Center and collected about 350 signatures within three hours in the Johnson Center alone, according to Jackson.

“We really just want students to sign the petition first and foremost,” Jackson said. “They also can film their story!”

The issue of student debt is important to students like Katherine Pereira, a senior at Mason, who works two jobs with a full course load with the goal of graduating without debt.

 “One of my goals is to graduate without any debt and because of that I have worked several jobs,” said Pereira. “Freshmen and sophomore year I was working as a bank teller, but that was not enough to pay for tuition so I took a second job as a waitress.”

Even some Mason students that aren’t currently experiencing the direct effects of debt have stated their support for the petition.

“Student debt has not really affected my life yet, besides a lot of emails,” says Senior Semra Mander. “But of course I would sign a petition calling for financial aid funding in Virginia. It is not like we are making money in college, we are going to school to make money.”

Michelle Kearns, a sophomore, said she’s grateful for the financial opportunities afforded to her and would like to support the petition to give more students the opportunity to receive aid.

“I know that it is still really expensive and if my parents didn't prepare and set me up with an amazing scholarship opportunity it would be a very different situation for me,” said Kearns. “I would one hundred percent sign a petition to get more financial aid to students.”

Tevin Cropper, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, says that having debt “is more motivational” because it forces him to stay focused on his studies knowing “I have to pay off my loans afterwards.” Cropper said, despite his own feelings, he would support a petition to get more financial aid to students.

Currently, Virginia21 works in conjunction with Student Government and is not a separate organization. Jackson and Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs Gabrielle Allen hope to have an independent Virginia21 Mason Chapter set up by the end of the academic year. According to Jackson, this will allow the organization to receive separate funding.

Virginia21 and Mason Student Government invite students to sign the petition online.

For more information on getting involved with Virginia21 at Mason, contact Melissa Jackson at mjacksos@gmu.edu.