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Oakton to host congressional town-hall meeting

The Oakton Community College Student Government Association, in concert with Young Invincibles, is hosting a town-hall meeting with 10th Congressional District candidates Robert Dold, a Kenilworth Republican, and Brad Schneider, a Deerfield Demorat, at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, in Room 1604 at the college's Des Plaines campus, 1600 E. Golf Road.

The candidates will listen to audience views about the Higher Education Act, which has been stalled in committee since 2011. Students and the general public are invited to attend the free town hall event.

"The Higher Education Act directly affects students, and our job is to represent the student body and be an advocate for them," said SGA President Krisi Aglikin. "We are trying to bring our stories directly to the candidates through this town hall in an effort to get our voices heard."

Oakton students prepared for the event by attending an informational workshop Sept. 21, where they learned about the act and its various elements, and also were provided guidance about how to tell their stories with impact.

Mychael Vanarsdale of the Young Invincibles helped educate students at the workshop, leading approximately 15 students in a discussion about the issues that affect them the most.

"It is important for students to tell their story to legislators because this is their fight. These are their issues," Vanarsdale said.

"All this is to raise awareness around the bills and to have students rally behind them and share their perspective on how to make change for the better."

Vanarsdale's presentation to the students included the following eight issues pertaining to higher education and student debt:

• Modernizing the Pell grant program to better help low- and moderate-income students complete college.

• Simplifying the financial aid application process to increase access to federal grants, loans and work-study funds.

• Combating state disinvestment in higher education.

• Improving federal work-study by updating the funding distribution formula and increasing access to the program.

• Expanding support for student parents to better assist the 26 percent of students who have children.

• Reforming data.

• Incentivizing colleges to keep costs down and to be more accountable for graduation and employment rates.

• Reforming student loan repayment options.

"Events like this give legislators the opportunity to hear about the struggles students face in earning the degrees that help them become a vital part of the workforce and society," Director of Student Life Ann Marie Barry said.

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