A rainy Thursday afternoon did not stop about 30 students from gathering in the University Student Commons to rally for health care reform, a national issue rally organizers said deserved student involvement.
Students were invited to the rally, hosted by the VCU Chapter of the NAACP, to raise awareness of pending health care legislation.
“We go directly to the students and bring them in and give them information and all the necessary tools they need to contact their congressional members,” said VCU NAACP President Ja’Nel Edens. “We plan on doing this all year long, it’s not just a one time thing.”
Participating students were able to write or e-mail their congressional representatives, get health care facts at an online Web site station and fill out a survey. VCU NAACP members like Political Action Committee Co-chair, Donald Knight, will take the survey results to representatives when the General Assembly is in session.
“The survey lets us know what area (students) live in and their concerns,” Knight said. “The representatives really want to hear the students’ voices. What I’ve gathered from the representatives and delegates is that students aren’t involved at all. When they get any (student response) it’s good because then they’re able to go back to their other colleagues and let them know this is how students feel.”
Students are a large percentage of the population that is uninsured, Edens said.
“I just have personal stories where I haven’t had health insurance,” Edens said. “Where I was really limited (in) activities. I know (there are) a lot of people like that and they’re probably silent. They’re not being heard in the media, in the news, on the radio and so this is giving them an opportunity to speak out about it.”
Community Involvement Co-chair, Janell Baker, said many students have said the problem is not important or relevant.
“A lot of us as students are (insured) off our parents’ insurance and with the job market being how it is, you’re not guaranteed a job with insurance,” Baker said. “One of my friends found out that she had breast cancer . she also didn’t have any health coverage so . she was stuck with hospital bills even though she does have a job.”
Breanna Armbrust, an interdisciplinary studies major, said she felt students’ health care needs are not being addressed.
“Students haven’t been included at all in the congressional agenda on health care,” Armbrust said. “My concern is that any reform that might come forward might leave students out completely and particularly the ages of 18 to 26. Also, I think that health care reform doesn’t include reform for people that are in school. I think we just need to call attention to it.”
Edens said the VCU NAACP plans to organize more events in the coming academic year, which will support student activity and involvement in the national issues that might affect them.
“If we choose not to have a voice then none of the concerns that we have will be raised,” Knight said.