The Virginia Informer

Last Updated:2/3/10 Section: News

An early start

In the darkness of 6 AM last Tuesday, 38 students boarded a bus headed for the state capital. The annual "Road to Richmond" trek promised to provide the eager students an opportunity to wander the halls of the Virginia General Assembly and discuss the potential impact of key legislation facing the College with legislators. Office of Strategic Initiatives interns Bryan Alphin ('10) and Leacy Burke ('12) organized the event. An unprecedented number of students attended this year, with an increase in the number of out-of-state students.
In a speech in Blow Hall the evening before the trip, President Reveley informed students with daunting statistics about the financial status quo of the College. State funding has dropped by 36% since April 2008, a concern when Virginia is not a state where funding for public school operating budgets is a priority, even in good fiscal times. Virginia ranks 40 out of 50 for in-state student appropriations and ranks last in the 16 southeastern states. Reveley stressed three points to convey the next morning. First, we know there is no money to give, but please don't cut our funding anymore. Second, stay away from student paid fees (in response to former Governor Kaine's proposed 5% tax on these funds). Third, we need out-of-staters for the College to survive. In the words of President Reveley, young faces could "open the minds and soften the hearts" of Virginia's legislators.

The day began with an opulent breakfast, filled with friends and family of the College and paid for by the office of the President. This event allowed for the first mixing of students and legislators, but students and staffers of the College far outnumbered legislators. The legislators in attendance seemed happy to be meeting students and eager to share their own personal connections to William and Mary.

Towards the end of the meal, President Reveley addressed the room. The President began by speaking of the accomplishments of the College in the past year, stating that, "Despite the great recessionary bear that's roaming the country, William and Mary has never looked better. It is filled with new and renovated buildings. Our people remain splendid. Our applications remain rising." Yet, according to Reveley, "we are living on borrowed time financially." Despite becoming more self-sufficient over the course of a generation, bad times are ahead for the College's finances. Reveley then reminded students of their purpose in attending the Road to Richmond program.

Filled with numbers of slashed budgets, decreased revenue and funding shortfalls, Reveley's speech was clear in his belief that funding William and Mary, and protecting the College from financial ruin, should be a priority for the Commonwealth. As such, his next point referred to the "bricks and mortar" projects. Specifically referring to HB 41, Reveley asked the legislators for funds for bricks and mortar projects that would be "absolutely succulent, delicious to have." In his last point, Reveley pointed to the big picture, stating, "All of us have to start thinking seriously about how we are going to fund state colleges and universities in the future, because the old model is irreparably broken." He then wished the students luck in their endeavor and concluded, "Time to feed."

Students Hit the Halls

When the time to lobby arrived, students were divided into groups of no more than 5, including at least one in-state student. According to Alphin, students were strategically assigned to legislators from their district (if in-state) and to the four important subcommittees: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, House Education Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Arts, Senate Finance Subcommittee on Education, and the Senate Education and Health Subcommittee on Higher Education. The goal was to persuade legislators to kill the bills before they pass the subcommittees.

Alphin believed the mere presence of students made an impact. He observed that, "When students were walking in the halls and waiting for the elevators in the GA Building, many legislators noticed students' Tribe buttons or ties and expressed support for the 'Alma Mater of the Nation.'"

Scott Foster ('10), Erik Houser ('10), and Mike Young ('11) had success in meeting with three of the four legislators they were assigned to. First, the group met with Delegate William K. Barlow. In the meeting, Houser questioned the delegate regarding out-of-state student ratios. According to Barlow, "They put those in every year, and they are usually killed in education committee." When the conversation shifted to SB 326, Barlow began to take notes.

The group's next meeting with Delegate David Bulova ('91) lacked the focus of the prior conversation with Barlow. With memories of his college days still fresh in mind, Delegate Bulova was more to eager to discuss Morton Hall, Professor McGlennon, and the current mascot debate instead of the College's lack of funding and proposed changes to out-of-state student ratios. This may also stem from the fact that the delegate represents Northern Virginia, where constituents lobby for preference to in-state students in the admission process. When asked about the ratio change, Bulova responded, "It is a legitimate policy debate." The delegate did not take notes during the meeting, but did indicate his preference for the Wren as the new mascot.

The group also met with Senator Creigh Deeds, where Sarah Rojas ('10) joined the discussion. When questioned about out-of-state student ratios, Deeds stated, "Northern Virginia thinks they are being cheated, that's where these bills come from." The mood in this meeting was pessimistic. Deeds responded to student complaints about lack of funds saying, "There is no money."

When legislators were absent from their offices, students spoke with their legislative aides instead, hoping for information about their boss's opinions about the key bills. The aide for Delegate Mark Keam stated that he and Keam don't believe HB 732 will pass because it doesn't save any money. He believes the Senate will be more reasonable than that. Other less informed aides promised to deliver notes written by students when the legislators returned from their morning meetings.

A symbolic gesture

After about two hours of hit-or-miss lobbying, students departed for campus. Although there is no empirical way to measure the trip's impact on legislators, Road to Richmond offered students the opportunity to learn more about Virginia state politics and how the legislative process affects us all at the College. When the House and Senate versions of these key bills come together in mid-February, we will have more answers.

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