A look at Student Government with Bob Bajek/ Student Government Editor

Dear fellow readers,

I was excited to be a journalist at Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting. State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, addressed the Student Senate about the Renewable Energy Center.

Righter told the Student Senate about the importance of engaging Eastern’s student body in supporting Senate Bill 2009, a bill that would change the Higher Education Energy Conservation Act.

“One thing that almost every legislator cares about is students,” Righter said. “Every legislator I’ve talked to would listen to students carefully with anything they say about their education, especially finances.”

Righter said he wants Eastern students to write two letters—one to their local state representative and one to their state senator—to convince lawmakers to act in the students’ interests.

“The more letters we send and the more legislators we touch, the better chance we have to getting the bill on the governor’s desk to be signed,” Righter said. “If we get it to the governor’s desk, I’m highly confident it will be signed. But the process of getting there will be like going through a jungle.”

Righter also told the Student Senate the best time for students to contact their state senator would be early next week because the Senate will have a low traffic time. The Illinois General Assembly will meet again on April 21.
The current steam plant is about to go under. Mark Olendzki, student vice president of student affairs-elect, said if the plant breaks down in winter, the residence hall pipes could freeze within 30 minutes.

The time to act now has come, Eastern students. Righter came to remind you about the power your voice could have in the legislative process.  Please use it.