EOU Students Travel to Salem to Advocate for Higher Education Funding

LA GRANDE, Nearly thirty Eastern Oregon University students, faculty, staff and trustees will travel to the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, to take part in University Day at the Capitol alongside representatives and presidents from all seven of Oregon’s public universities. The delegation will press for Oregon’s continued investment in access, affordability and student success and seek a hands-on experience with the legislative process.

University Day is designed to give students direct exposure to how policy is shaped. Participants will meet elected officials, connect with advocates for higher education, network with peers from other campuses and learn about how public policy impacts higher education. The event gives rural students a platform to share perspectives and raise concerns that affect small communities across Eastern Oregon.

“For EOU, being visible and present alongside our peer institutions matters,” said Diego Vergara Zuber, EOU Student Government President. “University Day shows that EOU students, whether they are studying on campus or online all over the state, are part of the statewide higher education conversation. It’s an opportunity to share our perspectives, advocate for our communities, and ensure rural student voices are heard at the Capitol.”

“This is a meaningful extension of EOU’s commitment to civic engagement,” said Tim Seydel, Vice President for University Advancement. “By bringing students from across Oregon into the Capitol and giving them direct access to lawmakers, we are helping them understand how public policy impacts higher education and empowering them to be informed, engaged citizens. These experiences reinforce EOU’s role as a steward of leadership and advocacy for rural Oregon and the state as a whole.”

The EOU delegation will include students from the La Grande campus and EOU’s online population, reflecting the university’s statewide footprint. A regional-focused meeting is scheduled with Rep. Bobby Levy, R‑Echo, and Sen. Todd Nash, R‑Enterprise, providing a chance for the group to ask questions about legislation and to learn about career paths into public service. Presidents from all seven public universities will also be in Salem and will spend the day advocating collectively for state support.

Student advocacy trips to Salem have precedent. In May 2023, student groups including ASSOU traveled to Salem to press lawmakers on higher education funding and to discuss increases in state investment; that visit is part of a pattern of student-led lobbying in recent years. Statewide coordination is supported by the Oregon Council of Presidents, which notes that legislators want to hear from students, alumni, faculty and staff about the value public universities provide and offers help drafting testimony, talking points and letters to the editor. “If you’ve never been an advocate before, don’t worry! We’ll be here to help you every step of the way,” the council says.

For Union County residents, the trip matters beyond campus budgets. Continued investment in higher education affects local economies, workforce pipelines and access to professions such as rural healthcare and teaching. EOU’s presence in Salem aims to ensure those regional needs are part of the statewide conversation. Readers can expect follow-up reporting after University Day as presidents, student leaders and legislators return to La Grande with any developments or next steps.