State Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) hosted a workshop for high school students to get a taste of the legislative process Thursday. 46 students selected by their teachers or principals participated in the day-long Youth Advisory Council at Bradley University.
Senator Weaver says one of the workshop’s themes is collaboration.
“Right now people would say we have cultural problem all across our leadership in Washington and in Springfield with regard to people sitting down and collaborating," Weaver said. "That’s about leaders stepping up and deciding they’re going to change that culture.”
The Council began when students took turns answering this question: “How do you feel about Bernie Sanders’ recommendation for free college education?"
Peoria High School junior Jasmine Lowmack says her table reached the consensus free tuition isn’t practical. But Lowmack says she sees some exceptions.
“They should look at students who work really hard, and look at their grades and their background," Lowmack said. "If they don’t have enough, I feel like they should at least think about considering sending them to college for free. Some people will take advantage of it and not work as hard.”
Lowmack says her parents couldn’t afford to go to college and neither can she. But she wants to go to medical school.
“I know that if I get accepted to college I will have to get a scholarship or loans, so it’s going to be really hard I know to pay for college,” Lowmack said.
Lowmack says she chose to attend the conference to learn more about state politics and have her voice heard.
Weaver says students select, debate, and craft a bill that they’d like to see discussed in Springfield. He says they will reconvene in the Spring to debate the issue in a mock committee. Weaver says he’ll also present the bill on the Senate floor.
The Youth Advisory Council is modeled after a similar program started by State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington).