A&S students join ACC peers in support of higher education

College of Arts & Sciences undergrads Kevin Grout (Political Science/History) and Victoria Allen (Political Science/History), and graduate student Brandon McReynolds (Sociology) were part of a group that headed to Washington, D.C., over spring break to meet with legislators and discuss important issues in higher education.
A&S students join ACC peers in support of higher education

From left: John Weber (Law school Student Bar Association section representative), Brandon McReynolds (Sociology), Tyler Poteet (Speed School SGA Council President), Kevin Grout (McConnell Scholar and SGA Political Coordinator), Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-03), Sam Gentry (Business School senator), Victoria Allen (McConnell Scholar and SGA President), and associate general counsel Amy Shoemaker.

College of Arts & Sciences undergrads Kevin Grout (Political Science/History) and Victoria Allen (Political Science/History), and graduate student Brandon McReynolds (Sociology) were part of a group that headed to Washington, D.C., over spring break to meet with legislators and discuss important issues in higher education.

“Our goal was to put a student face to the University of Louisville and express to legislators how UofL benefits us,” said Student Government Association Political Coordinator Kevin Grout. “We had the opportunity to meet with all eight of Kentucky's offices—six congressmen and two senators—and they all seemed very responsive to us.”

Six students and associate general counsel Amy Shoemaker were in the Capitol March 12-15 as part of the fourth, annual ACC Academic Consortium Advocacy Trip. Grout, who scheduled the meetings with the decision-makers, said topics discussed included federal funding for students and research.

“A liberal arts education encourages students to read widely and deeply, write with an argument, and think critically. These important skills can be applied to any career path, and I think that a solid liberal arts foundation should be the basis of any education,” Grout said. “To understand a problem, I think it is beneficial to understand multiple approaches and concerns.  The multiple modes of inquiry gained in a liberal arts education give students the tools to do that.

Student participants in addition to Grout, Allen, and McReynolds were Tyler Poteet, SGA Speed School student council president; Sam Gentry, SGA business school senator; and John Weber, law school Student Bar Association section representative.

The 2016 advocacy trip was hosted by Virginia Tech and strives to give the 15-member ACC schools a collective voice in support of higher education and related issues.