Students, WWU president share ideas with Rep. Rick Larsen in D.C.

Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard and several student leaders met with U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen in Washington D.C. Thursday to discuss legislative priorities and new initiatives at Western.

Iris Maute-Gibson, the Associated Students vice president for governmental affairs; AS President Anna Ellermeier; and AS Legislative Liaison Joseph Meyer thanked Larsen for his support of the DREAM Act, which would allow eligible immigrant students who were brought as children to the U.S. by their parents to seek legal residency.

Maute-Gibson also asked Larsen to support the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2011 to combat harassment on college campuses. Larsen agreed to become a cosponsor.

“I really appreciated hearing from the students directly about their priorities and goals for the university,” Larsen said in a press release. “I am always impressed with the caliber of the students at Western. They are using their voice to speak for equality and fairness not just for themselves, but for young people around the country.”

Shepard told Larsen about the university’s efforts to revamp its business model to make it more self-reliant; he also highlighted its new renewable energy degree program as an example of innovation on the campus.

Larsen presented Shepard with a copy of the resolution he authored and introduced with the rest of the Washington House delegation honoring Western's first Division II NCAA national basketball title. Shepard gave Larsen a shirt recognizing that win.

Steve Swan, Western's vice president for University Relations, also attended the meeting.