By Teresa Brummett, Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College joined with students from community colleges around the state for Student Advocacy Day.
The Springfield event included guest speakers talking about the importance of community colleges and offered a chance for students to share their voice with lawmakers.
“With such an impressive looking group of students, you have to know that you are all so much more effective together,” Karen Hunter-Anderson said.
She encouraged students to tell their stories. She said she believes that Illinois community colleges are not the best in the country, but the best in the world.
Following Hunter-Anderson, Kyle Walsh, a student at Heartland Community College, spoke.
“I will tell you what all of my old girlfriends have told me: ‘I swear I won’t keep you long,’” Walsh said as the room broke out in laughter.
He quoted Abraham Lincoln, “Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.”
Walsh spoke about state Rep. Dan Brady bringing a resolution on costs of a college education.
Lawmakers want to pass a bill that will allow students who are at-risk, minority, low-income and under-represented populations the chance to go to college. The legislation would pay for these nontraditional students’ first two years of school.
Walsh said having full-time jobs and full-time school makes it hard to focus on school. Students also worry about student loan debt.
If this bill were to pass, Walsh said, it would relieve pressure for students.
“If you don’t have a seat at the table, then you are on the menu,” Walsh said, quoting Avery Bourne, the state representative from Litchfield. Walsh was encouraging students to advocate for their positions.
“I hope this isn’t the last time that you voices will be heard,” Walsh said.
The speakers ended with state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Dalton, who started his speech with wadding up his personal outline and tossing it over his shoulder.
“Believe it or not, I had really big glasses and an Afro back in school,” Jones said, jokingly. “I know it’s hard to believe, because I’m bald now. But it’s true.”
He talked about growing up in one of the poorest communities and how privileged he felt to be here speaking with the students, because a lot of kids didn’t make it out of his town.
When Jones graduated, he made a copy of his diploma and put his mother’s name on it. She never finished fifth grade, but he knew she was as much a part of his accomplishments as he was.
The backbone to the community is our community colleges, Jones said, and we have to fight for them.
Jones finished by saying that, “believe me, there is power in numbers, and your voices want to be heard. That’s why I’m here. I’m excited for the students, and for your futures. So let’s go get it!”
Teresa Brummett can be reached at [email protected] or (217) 786-2311.
