A reception was held at the Alumni Center at Sacramento State on March 12 to welcome 200 students from the 23 California State Universities who will attend the 21st California Higher Education Student Summit on March 12 and 13.

The 200 CSU students will have the opportunity to meet a senator and legislators after attending a series of training workshops to learn about issues affecting CSU schools and how to advocate for more funding.

“We’re trying to connect students at the Capitol,” said Associated Students, Inc. Office of Governmental Affairs Director Patrick Dorsey. “They’re passionate about higher education and wanted to get involved.” These are people who maybe aren’t as skilled or trained, like myself or some of the other people who sit on these boards or are part of their local [ASI], so they did an outreach who got people at large,”

Councilmember Eric Guerra, who spoke at the reception, highlighted the importance of being involved.

“The important thing is you’re making a difference for the people behind you,” Guerra said.

CSU Northridge sophomore social welfare and social justice major Kenya Lopez explained why she and other students from her university decided to participate in CHESS.

“We want our voices heard,” Lopez said. “We’re all very diverse, so we want to make sure every single one of our population is represented.”

20 students from Sac State were sponsored by ASI to attend CHESS this year.