HippoBLOGamus

As someone who was born and raised in Iowa and attends college in Iowa, this piece of news felt personal. Iowa state senator Shawn Hamerlinck, a Republican, told a group of student leaders, some who I know, that they are wasting time coming to the state capitol to talk about education and budget cuts. 

Iowa State Senator to College Students: Go Home

Sen. Hamerlinck: “I do not like it when students actually come here and lobby me for funds…go home and graduate…your time speaking before us is kind of a tad intense…but actually spending your time worry about what we’re doing up here, I don’t want you do that. Go back home. Thanks guys.”  

The only word that comes to mind is outrageous. Sen. Hamerlinck believes that college students shouldn’t waste time caring about education cuts and tuition hikes. That students shouldn’t do that. That they should leave that up to the big guys in the capitol. Obviously tuition hikes and education cuts are something that Sen. Hamerlinck believes college students shouldn’t think about or question their elected officials about.   

College students have every right to petition their government and ask elected officials what they are doing; especially on issues that directly affect their educations. Sen. Hamerlinck should be ashamed of what he said. I hope he remembers the election in 2008 when many college students came out and voted for a guy named Obama. Maybe we should do that in Iowa for your opponent, Sen. Hamerlinck. If you won’t listen to college students like myself, then why should we vote for you? You, sir, are being just a “tad intense”. Go back home, Senator.

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