Student Government Association Pres. Brooke Dugas attended two conferences in Washington, D.C., last week.
Dugas listened to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Barak Obama and many others address the American-Israeli Political Action Committee.
“It was a very informative conference.  I was blown away,” Dugas said.
She said she gained a new level of understanding about the conflicts in the Middle East.  Dugas said the trip was an “eye-opening experience.”
Dugas also attended a conference for the Council of Student Body Presidents.  The Louisiana delegation went to Washington to meet with law makers from around the state.
“I’ve come home with a stronger understanding and more confidence that the voice of the students matters,” Dugas said about the trip.
Dugas reported that in meeting with Sen. Mary Landrieu, the senator and she discussed the role of the students in the legislative process.
According to Dugas, Landrieu said that the legislators in Baton Rouge and Washington are listening, and want to hear from students.
Dugas said that she is planning a trip to Baton Rouge with the student government presidents of Louisiana Tech and Grambling.  She hopes to tackle issues such as the budget cuts to higher education.
Dugas said she also had the chance to meet with the Commissioner of Higher Education Jim Parcel.
“I’m going to work harder to be more vocal at a state level,” Dugas said. “When issues come up, we need to be vocal about it.”
She said in higher education, students should be extremely vocal about their goals for the systems so their legislators will hear them.