1. Student Advocacy and College Affordability
Elena Sakopoulos
Midwest Organizing Manager, Young Invincibles

2. Young Invincibles Millennial policy & advocacy organization
Issue areas
Higher education
Health care
Youth unemployment
Student Impact Project

3. Why college?

7. Tuition Trends – STATE DISINVESTMENT

8. National Picture
48 states – all except Alaska and North Dakota– are spending less per student than before the recession
The average state is spending $2,026 less/ student than before 2007
Tuition is up $1,936 or 28%, since the school year
Student loan debt doubled from half a trillion dollars in 2007 to over $1 trillion today

9. Trends in IL Higher Ed Funding
Avg tuition in IL public college is $11,990 (above national average)
Illinois has the 5th highest in-state tuition in the country.
Average student debt: $28,028
MAP grants cover only 30 percent of student need

10. What’s different this year?

12. What do we do about it?

13. Advocacy is: The act of attempting to influence a politician or public official.
The majority of advocacy is comprised of educating lawmakers and other stakeholders about an issue with the end goal of changing public policy.
We do this by:
Sharing our personal stories
Providing lawmakers with facts, trends, and data
Keeping lawmakers updated with new information
Making an ask

15. Sharing student stories is central to our advocacy!
Why are students powerful advocates?

16. General tips
Call your legislator’s office a couple days before, and the morning of when you arrive at the Capitol
Be flexible – if you can’t get a meeting scheduled, try to pull your rep off the floor or find them in the hallway
Be courteous and respectful of legislators’ time
Dress like you’re going to Grandma’s
Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know,” but make sure to get back in touch with them or their staff

17. Know Your Audience
Familiarize yourself with your state rep, their background, and their history
How do they stand on higher ed issues?
Past votes they have taken (SB 2034, June stopgap budget, etc.)
What committees are they on?
What do they look like? You might need to “pull them off the floor”

19. Know Your Audience Champions – co- sponsors, leaders
Thank them!
Ask how you can help
Supporters – agree
Ask them to take a leadership role
Opponents – disagree
Thank them
Undecided
Try to persuade and gain commitment
Talk about why this is important to you personally
Follow up with answers to questions

20. Keep in mind… “Universal but different”
Facts and data matter, but don’t get bogged down in the details (don’t guess or speculate!)
Leave something behind if possible
Rebuttals
“I agree - the state should balance its budget first. There are a wide range of revenue-generating options the state can consider in order to fund colleges. Which would you like to see pursued?”
Most common thing you’ll hear from conservative legislators is “we don’t have the funds”
College is an important investment for our state to make, even if it IS expensive
Students are leaving the state – what do we want our economy to look like in ten years?
There are ways to pay for this legislation (not just raising income tax), and the legislature has the tools to come up with this information
Most common rebuttal from Democrats is “I don’t have any power, talk to Mike Madigan”
Don’t let them shirk their duties – it’s their responsibility!

21. Now it’s your turn!

22. Keep in touch! elena.sakopoulos@younginvincibles.org 707-815-3917
#MillennialMon
234 S Wabash St
Chicago IL