Chabot Spectator

Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Phu, Toan STRONG board member, Louis Heystek (left), and CEO, Jael Myrick (right), listen intently to Chabot College chapter member, Ryan Belden's speech on the California state health care.

Last Saturday afternoon, the socially conscious organization, Standing To Represent Our Next Generation, invited guests from other colleges to discuss controversial issues that directly affect youth.

The board members of STRONG held a meeting on campus to debate rising college tuition, health care and financial aid restrictions and formulate plans to influence policy in 2007.

"These are student issues, so it makes sense to have it at a campus," said founder and chief executive officer, Jael Myrick.

Myrick organized this meeting to set the basic guidelines for the issues and receive feedback from the community.

The meeting started with San Francisco State University representative, Jerilyn Smith, as she explained the increase of college tuition at the four-year level.

After stating her claim, the group was allowed to voice their comments.

Board member, Michael Hawk, explained that the tuition increase is due to staff pay as the main reason.

He also noted that "bond money pays for infrastructure, not salaries," said Hawk.

Next to speak was Ryan Belden of Chabot College who brought up the issue of health care.

"Health care shouldn't be a luxury," he said, explaining the proposed health care initiatives being debated in the state legislature.

David Wasserman of University of California Berkeley spoke with compassion about the financial aid restriction that is Question 31 on the Free Application For Free Student Aid, which asks students, "Have you been convicted of possessing/selling drugs?"

Wasserman has received attention from the media at UC Berkeley for the same cause, creating a scholarship for those denied by answering "yes" on Question 31 on the FAFSA.

After speaking on these topics, the STRONG board members discussed upcoming fundraisers and collaborations with other groups which can be found on the organization's new Web site, www.wearestrong.org.

According to Myrick, the acronym STRONG explains it all.

"Currently, the youth do not have a voice," he said. "Young people don't have representation."

Myrick explained that "anybody who wants to affect the issues that affect college students and young people" should check out a STRONG meeting.

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