Meeting Story: WSU Young Democrats Plan to Advocate for Healthcare Awareness in Pullman

WSU Young Democrats Plan to Advocate for Healthcare Awareness in Pullman

College-age political activists announced their plan to bring the pressing issue of national healthcare to the public eye on the Pullman campus at a Sept. 21 meeting of the WSU Young Democrats.
The meeting buzzed with political banter as a diverse group of students gathered in CUE 407 to discuss upcoming projects and events, all with a “left-wing” theme. The officers leading the meeting introduced themselves using pseudo-middle names based on famous politicians associated with the Democratic party, demonstrating both the political knowledge and intelligent humor of the group.
The Young Democrats’ latest project will be a series of small efforts, such as demonstrations, debates, and informational booths, that aim to increase awareness about healthcare issues in the United States among WSU students. The Young Democrats are concerned that many students are uninformed about the seriousness and relevancy of the issue.
Young Democrats President Angel Ojeda said that a major reason that young people are in the dark is that information about healthcare reform is difficult to find. Students trying to find information have to do their research because any available information isn’t very user friendly.
“The bill is pretty long and convoluted,” said Ojeda.
While in college, it’s easy for students to rely on their parents’ insurance policies and forget that in just a few short years, they will each be responsible for paying for their our own healthcare on entry-level level job salaries. Even students who don’t have healthcare through their families can rely on WSU Student Health for basic medical needs while in school, which is considerably less expensive than care at a typical doctor’s office.
Healthcare has certainly been on the minds of WSU students since the semester started about one month ago. The WSU Pullman campus has made local and national news for being a hotbed for H1N1, or swine flu. Although the exact number of confirmed cases of H1N1 is unknown, the threat of contracting the virus has many students concerned for their health and their wallets.
The Young Democrats think that perhaps the H1N1 scare will be the political call to attention that is needed on this campus. Elizabeth Walker, a Young Democrat officer, says that with no presidential election this year, many students will cease to follow political events.
“We find that our campus becomes very apathetic during campaign-off seasons,” said Walker.
The Young Democrats don’t feel, however, that the absence of an election is an excuse to be uninformed about current events in politics.
“It is your duty as a citizen to be informed. Knowing what you’re voting for is so important,” said Hannah Tyo, another Young Democrats officer.
Tyo said that it is important for all students, regardless of political affiliation, to be informed about healthcare.
The Young Democrats, meet in Cue 407 at 7:05 pm on Mondays. The issue of healthcare and campaigning on the WSU campus will be discussed at future meetings.
“Everyone should care. It’s a human rights issue, when you really get down to it,” said Tyo.

Contacts:
Angel Ojeda ojedangel@gmail.com
Elizabeth Walker emwalker@wsu.edu
Hannah Tyo hannah.tyo@gmail.com


OUTLINE:
Outline:
A. Lede: healthcare
- atmosphere of meeting
- “middle names”
B. Latest project
- how
C. Angel quotes – info hard to find
D. Students rely on parents
- unreal costs of Student Health
E. Swine flu in Pullman
F. Swine flu a good thing?
- not an election year/apathy quote?
- quotes from Hannah & Elizabeth
G. Where they meet
- end w/ “human rights” quote