UofL students join ACC peers in support of higher education

A group of UofL students headed to Washington, D.C., over spring break to meet with legislators and discuss important issues in higher education. Six students and associate general counsel Amy Shoemaker were in the Capitol March 12-15 as part of the fourth, annual ACC Academic Consortium Advocacy Trip. “Our goal was to put a student face to the University of Louisville and express to legislators how UofL benefits us,” said Student Government Association Political Coordinator Kevin Grout. “We had the opportunity to meet with all eight of Kentucky's offices—six congressmen and two senators—and they all seemed very responsive to us.” Grout, who scheduled the meetings with the decision-makers, said topics discussed included federal funding for students and research and legislation to address sexual assaults. Student participants in addition to Grout were Victoria Allen, SGA president; Brandon McReynolds, SGA graduate school vice-president and senate speaker; Tyler Poteet, SGA Speed School student council president; Sam Gentry, SGA business school senator; and John Weber, law school Student Bar Association section representative. The 2016 advocacy trip was hosted by Virginia Tech and strives to give the 15-member ACC schools a collective voice in support of higher education and related issues.