Four Student Government Association members joined Kentucky college students in Frankfort to lobby for the importance of higher education in the state.

The Rally for Higher Education,  an annual event organized by the Board of Student Body Presidents, is composed of university student body leaders across Kentucky and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.  

Jeanie Morgan, SGA adviser, said the rally gives student leaders the opportunity to network with Kentucky lawmakers. 

“The Higher Education Rally allows students to meet legislators and share their opinions regarding Higher Education and what the effects their votes have on education and the future of our state and country,” Morgan said.

The rally allows student leaders to advocate for the University and its student body and provide suggestions for potential improvement. 

SGA President Ellie McGowan served as the vice chair on the Board of Student Body Presidents. She said it was an incredible experience. 

“The rally brings together students and SGA bodies together from all across the Commonwealth,” McGowan said. “The students who attend participate in a short rally where they hear from different individuals involved in the legislative process, and then, each school is encouraged to schedule their own independent meetings with legislators.”

Students met with legislators to discuss a number of issues impacting education in the state. Among those legislators were Rep. Richard Heath, R-Mayfield; Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton; Rep. Mary Beth Imes, R-Murray; Rep. Chris Freeland, R-Benton; Rep. Danny Bridges, R-Paducah and Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville. 

McGowan said the FAFSA Requirement Bill, Senate Bill 33 and mental health initiatives were discussed. 

The FAFSA Requirement Bill would require all high school seniors to fill out the financial aid application prior to graduation. Students can waive the requirement by filling out a form saying they are not applying to college or are granted a hardship waiver by a school superintendent.

SB 33 would create a Center for Cybersecurity at the University of Louisville.

“SB 33…would have harmed our current Cybersecurity Program and Cybersecurity Center,” McGowan said.

House Bill 542, which would prevent public colleges and universities from banning guns on their campus, was another key issue addressed at the rally. 

McGowan said lawmakers she spoke with told her they would ensure bills that could impact students, particularly HB 542, wouldn’t pass. 

“I hope students know that Rep. Imes in particular and many others in the West Kentucky Caucus were instrumental in killing bad bills that were of concern to Murray State University students, such as the guns on campus bill,” McGowan said. “We really appreciated our legislators listening to our concerns about that bill and many others and taking action on our behalf.”

In addition to McGowan, Center for Student Involvement Office Coordinator Kade Gambill and SGA members Gabe Maynard, Jacob Fritts and Luke Wyatt also attended the event.  

Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson spoke on the need for more mental health resources on college campuses and better access to resources for incoming college students. 

Thompson said in his address mental health cases have increased over the last several years. 

“The pandemic really brought it into bear,” Thompson said. “This has quickly become an item we didn’t talk about because of the stigma years ago to now the No. 1 thing we talk about—not because it’s popular. We do it because it’s real.”

McGowan said she is hopeful legislators took her concerns into consideration. 

“At Murray State, we are blessed to have heavily integrated relationships with our elected officials from all over the state, but specifically in western Kentucky,” McGowan said. “Myself and other students who participated in the rally were incredibly thankful for the opportunity to converse with our legislators and ever appreciative of how invested they were in hearing our experiences and student testimonies.”

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