President Jeffrey Armstrong and Associated Students, Inc. President Jason Colombini discussed financial aid and the Cal Poly Rose Float with Rep. Lois Capps (D-Ca) as part of California State University Hill Day.
Katharine Gore
Special to Mustang News
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong and Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President Jason Colombini met with Rep. Lois Capps (D-Ca) during a trip to Washington, D.C. on Feb. 26.
The meeting was part of California State University (CSU) Hill Day, with representatives and students from more than half of the 23 CSU universities advocating for system-wide issues.
“It was nice to go over there and show that we were taking it to the capitol,” Colombini said. “I was able to advocate for the system, advocate for students and advocate for Cal Poly.”
Armstrong and Colombini met with Capps because she is the representative for San Luis Obispo County.
“They had a great conversation surrounding the big projects that are going on at Cal Poly and some of the recognition that the university is receiving,” said C.J. Young, a spokesperson for Capps.
One talking point of the meeting was the award Cal Poly received at the Tournament of Roses this year, which is tied to the congresswoman’s work on cut flowers, Young said.
The Cal Poly float was the only float in the Rose Parade to be certified California-grown, which means more than 85 percent of the flowers used were grown in the state, Young said.
Armstrong, Colombini and Capps also discussed the importance of financial aid and student loan availability for Cal Poly students, Young said.
“Specifically, both President Armstrong and Congresswoman Capps expressed strong support for the Pell Grant Program,” Young said. “Twenty percent of Cal Poly students receive Pell Grant, and both the president and the congresswoman believe that we need to continue to support the program and ensure that we expand it in the future.”
Colombini said Cal Poly needs to have more access to financial aid for students who need it.
“A university degree is a public good,” Colombini said. “It betters the country as a whole.”
Young said Armstrong, Colombini and Capps also discussed the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a program under the United States Department of Agriculture.
“They’re looking to see how Cal Poly and ARS can enhance cooperation, and how the congresswoman can help facilitate that relationship so that ARS has additional information and Cal Poly can use some of the research services that are available through the program,” Young said.
Colombini said other topics discussed were the $750,000 grant Cal Poly received to study wave energy research, as well as research for the new California Strawberry Commission on campus.
“It was a good meeting,” Colombini said. “It was a good balance between government relations, President Armstrong’s view of Cal Poly and the student’s perspective, too.”