College Democrats to host ‘Breakfast with Your Legislator’
The University of Indianapolis College Democrats will host “Breakfast with Your Legislator” on March 5, featuring several of Indianapolis’ legislators, who will address issues students are concerned with.
“Breakfast with Your Legislator” will start off in UIndy Hall A in the Schwitzer Student Center at 8 a.m. The event will begin with a free breakfast, followed by a question-and-answer session with the legislators and conclude with a meet-and-greet.
The event is free but students must have a ticket to attend. The use of tickets is mainly due to limited number of seats, as well as to make an educated guess on how much food should be ordered. Only 100 seats are available.
Students may also receive LP credit for attending.
Several legislators will be present for the event, including Indiana state representatives John Barnes, Greg Porter and Mary Ann Sullivan.
According to Chris Jackson, senior and president of UIndy College Democrats, there are still more legislators potentially planning to attend the breakfast. Jackson believes it’s important for students and all community members to get to know their legislators.
“They’re the ones that write the laws that affect you most,” Jackson said.
Jackson also said that Sullivan was asked to attend because part of the university’s campus is in her district. She also represents the area north of UIndy. Barnes was included because his district starts at State Street. Porter was invited to come because he is chairman of the education committee.
Alex Lyster, junior and vice-president of UIndy College Democrats, has been convincing students to come and has also been publicizing the event.
“I mainly do what Chris can’t do,” Lyster said. “I’ve also been helping get the LP slip information together.”
Although Jackson is credited with coming up with the idea of having legislators attend breakfast with students, he admitted that the whole executive board of UIndy College Democrats helped develop the idea. Lyster said that the club loved the idea after Jackson pitched it, and they really began pushing for it. The event has been tossed around since last semester, but the idea was not seriously planned and developed until January 2010.
“We’re hoping that it will inform students as to what goes on in the legislature,” Lyster said. “This is a student’s chance to get involved, find out what’s going on and make a difference. It’s important for us to meet who actually represents us.”
Jackson further acknowledged the accessibility of the Indiana state legislators.
“Legislators love to talk to people,” Jackson said.
UIndy College Democrats also want to use this event to get their name out there and get more members.
“We think we have a great organization, and we think it’d be better if we get more active members,” Lyster said.
The legislators will discuss whatever the students wish to talk about. The only topic they have been asked not to discuss is their campaigns, since this event is not a political rally and the main purpose is to inform and involve students.
“Really, it’s up to the students. It depends on what they ask their legislators,” said Lyster.
Contact Jackson (chljackson@uindy.edu) or Lyster (lystera@uindy.edu) for tickets.
