From the classroom to the Capitol, the University of Puget Sound is making its voice heard. On Jan. 30, students and faculty joined a statewide advocacy day in Olympia, meeting with legislators alongside representatives from more than 100 colleges to champion sustained higher education funding and programs like the Washington College Grant. The experience offered students a firsthand lesson in civic engagement and the critical role of state support in their education.
Puget Sound advocated for sustained financial aid and funding for higher education, emphasizing its critical role in preparing students for family-wage careers and meeting labor market demands.
Puget Sound staff met with Rep. Clyde Shavers, Sen. Steve Conway, Sen. Claudia Kauffman’s office, and Gov. Bob Ferguson’s education policy advisors. They stressed the importance of maintaining investments in higher education institutions and the Washington College Grant, which is vital for local students pursuing high-demand credentials.
Professor Robin Jacobson’s Introduction to Politics class attended some of the event, touring the Capitol and hearing from Sen. Drew Hansen, who discussed the implications of the state’s budget deficit and potential financial aid cuts. In Jacobson's class, students have been studying federalism, including the division of powers between state and federal governments, the dynamics of cooperation and conflict, and the Founders’ arguments for states' power as a check on federal authority. The experience proved inspiring for many students.
“My time at the state Capitol, although brief, was very enlightening as I gained insight into the condition of higher education in Washington, especially considering the growing pressures from the federal level,” said sophomore Archie Kerr ’27. “State Senator Drew Hansen delivered a short but potent speech repudiating legislatures that do not make higher education a priority, and reminding us of the critical importance of the state’s responsibility to fund the education of our future physicians, engineers, professors, lawyers, and social leaders.”
Kerr, an executive in the Associated Students of the University of Puget Sound (ASUPS), emphasized the importance of youth advocacy.
“Enacting change on a national level is a daunting and expensive task, but starting locally only takes determination and solidarity, as I learned when I was at the Capitol,” Kerr said.
Molly Mecham '27 reflected on the power of collective action.
“Our tour of the Capitol campus was an enriching experience that helped me learn the importance of lobbying and being an activist,” Mecham said. “While our time was limited, I developed a better understanding of the power in numbers and community. I was honored to represent the University of Puget Sound as an advocate for increased monetary and legislative support for institutions of higher education in Washington State.”
Mecham's sentiments reflect the university's broader commitment to ensuring higher education remains accessible and well-supported.
“Bringing students to Olympia was a great experience, especially for students just beginning to study U.S. politics,” Jacobson said. “Often when we think of ‘politics’ we focus on what is happening in D.C., and that can be, well, disheartening at times. Students got to witness political engagement right at Puget Sound’s own backdoor. They saw that truly significant decisions, decisions that affect them personally and immediately, are made by a system that is incredibly accessible and relatively collegial, at least in comparison with what the media tells us about the other Washington.”
