Defiance College Students Lobby Statehouse

	Picture of (l-r): Kyle Shong, Brenda Delarber, Ken Wetstein, Kerstyn Clover

Defiance College students Kyle Shong, Brenda Delarber, and Kerstyn Clover accompanied by Dr. Ken Wetstein, Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students, visited the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday as part of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio’s Independent College Day. The current financial situation of the nation has affected everyone, including students, who are lobbying the state regarding significant cuts to state aid for students at independent colleges.

Brenda Delarber testified before a state committee with a proponent stance on Senate Bill 4, Grants to Grads Program. The program would provide a grant to Ohio resident graduates who will be purchasing their first home and plan to stay in Ohio and in that home for at least five years.

More than140 independent college students and their advisors had the opportunity to meet with representatives and senators from their schools’ districts as well as those from their hometown districts in Ohio. Many students were able to share their views with their representatives regarding higher education legislative actions in Ohio, from aid programs to research funding.

The Defiance College students also toured the Statehouse, heard an update on the current political atmosphere in Ohio, and attended committee meetings occurring that day.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. U. S. News & World Report ranks Defiance in the top tier of comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

February 25, 2009