(By Marina Biltcliff ’26, staff writer)
On Tuesday, April 9, two LVC students went to the Capitol in Harrisburg to promote private-school funding. The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) has a lobbying event annually in Harrisburg. At this event, students from independent colleges or universities discuss the importance of funding towards private education.
The two students in attendance this year were Reinhold Louis, a junior accounting major, and Marina Biltcliff, a sophomore political science major. While at the event both students emphasized how AICUP funding impacts students on campus, and how without this funding many students’ independent institutions would be unobtainable.
Also, while at the Capitol, both students met and interacted with representatives from their home districts and LVC’s district. When meeting with these representatives Louis and Biltcliff were able to advocate for themselves and their fellow classmates. Also, both students were able to form connections with these representatives and gain knowledge of the political process and how the budgeting system works.
The AICUP lobbying event happens yearly, and it is vital that LVC students represent the college and independent institutions. While the event is typically opened to political science students first, students of all different majors are welcome to attend this event and experience this unique opportunity.
If students have any questions regarding this event, they can contact the LVC coordinator Jocelyn Martin at jomartin@lvc.edu.