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About two dozen George Mason University students took part in the ninth annual Mason Lobbies on Wednesday, Feb. 3, discussing issues with lawmakers from across the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring and Secretary of Education Atif Qarni.
This year the program was virtual but still featured opportunities for interaction with state leaders.
Herring and Qarni are Mason alumni, and Filler-Corn hails from Northern Virginia and is a long-time supporter of Mason.
“You are the future leaders,” said Filler-Corn, who has served in state office ever since Mason Lobbies began. “I’ve always been inspired by you all. Challenging times, but I know that we’re going to get through this together. And I just feel better knowing that you all are going to be at the helm.”
Organized in part by Maria Hernández and Nicholas Sheets of Mason Student Government’s Government and Community Relations team, this year’s Mason Lobbies also included student body president Shelby Adams and vice president David O’Connell as well as Mason President Gregory Washington, among others.
Washington encouraged the student lobbyists to be “not just lifelong learners but lifelong engaged citizens,” and to understand the impact of their advocacy.
“It begins with individual leadership,” Washington said. “You all have shown that today by putting the time and the effort into this event. Our legislators love hearing from you. I’ve heard personally from them that they really appreciate the ability to engage with you all.”
Washington shared his legislative priorities, including funding for financial aid and to address Mason’s state-leading enrollment growth, increased compensation for faculty and staff, funding to cover costs incurred during the pandemic, and support for Mason’s “Tier 3” management status, which would offer the university the greater financial and administrative flexibility enjoyed by peer universities in the state. Washington also voiced support for a bill that would enable Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students to qualify for financial aid.
In addition to their discussions with legislators throughout the morning, students posed questions to Qarni about Title IX, international students, pay raises for educators, food insecurity and other issues.
Acknowledging his fondness for Mason, Qarni said that his admiration goes beyond his personal ties.
“We’re supportive of [Mason’s] efforts because the leadership is doing great work,” Qarni said. “You all really care about all of your students, you fight hard for them, and you’re doing all the right things.
“We want to support your work, because the values are right.”