Students set new tone, leadership for the student movement

Nearly 200 college student organizers and leaders assembled at the University of California, Los Angeles last week for the United States Student Association’s (USSA) 63rd annual National Student Congress.  Members of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most inclusive student organization met to elect the 2010 – 2011 USSA President and Vice President, Board of Directors, and pass the national agenda for students.

Lindsay McCluskey, the previous USSA Vice President and University of Massachusetts, Amherst graduate, was elected President of the organization. “I’m honored and excited to be in this role at a time when momentum is building in the student movement,” said McCluskey.  “It’s a critical time for students to be engaged in the midterm election, fighting back against severe budget cuts and tuition hikes, and defending their right to a higher education.”  Victor Sanchez, a recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz and outgoing President of the University of California Student Association, was elected Vice President.   "The real work starts now,” said Sanchez.  “I'm excited and ready to help build the student movement from coast to coast and make sure education is a right and not a privilege."

Top action agenda items to be taken up this year by USSA are passage of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, federal jobs legislation to mitigate historic youth unemployment, voter work for the 2010 mid-term elections, and student advocacy in the federal budget and appropriations process. 

The 2010 – 2011 Board of Directors met for the first time after the conference, setting the tone for the upcoming academic year and beyond.  “Sitting on the USSA board of directors with students across the United States is going to be a powerful experience” said National People of Color Student Coalition chair Tiffany Loftin, a student at the University of California, Santa Cruz.  “I look forward to the nation's reaction to our movement, because we are driven by our testimonies and empowered by each other.”

The next national conference held by USSA will be the 42^nd annual Grassroots Legislative Conference and National Student Lobby Day March 19-22, 2011 in Washington, DC.