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AHS students seek political voice By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings A grassroots movement is underway. Students at Ashland High School are banding together to form the Ashland Associated Union of Students, which is designed to give a political voice to those who are unable to vote. Directly impacted by continued cuts to school funding, students like AHS senior Evian DiStefano are no longer interested in sitting idle. "We can't vote but we can lobby, we can talk to our leaders and we can show we care," DiStefano said. DiStefano started to organize the union after he attended the statewide rally- held in Salem Jan. 20 - in support of education funding. After viewing politics in action, DiStefano began brainstorming a way to collectively unify students in a formal way that would bring to light student concerns, which center on adequate funding and quality education. Sending e-mails throughout campus to gauge interest, more than 60 students from all grade levels responded to DiStefano's plight. "Never have we really had a say in any of this (school funding)," AHS junior Micah Canal said at the union's first meeting Monday. AHS sophomore Ursula Barton joined Canal in the AHS library as students formalized a mission statement and tentative short-term goals. "I was just sick of hearing everyone complain. I saw this as a way to voice my opinion, stop complaining and to do something," Barton said. After some collaboration, the union's official mission statement reads: "We, the students of the Ashland School District, in order to fulfill our educational and lifelong goals, have created the Ashland Associated Union of Students to compel change in policy that directly affects our education." With the mission statement in place, AHS freshman Lucy Claire Curran feels it's time for students to take action. "The students are among those most afflicted by decisions in state funding, but we also don't have a lot of say which I think is unfortunate," Curran said. "It's time for all of us to be heard and to show through our actions that we do care." Three short-term goals for the union include: student recruitment; support of the Youth Activities Levy; and research on accreditation requirements. Beginning with recruitment, union members will provide information about the union in guide classes - similar to a homeroom period - to garner more support. A second union meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 4 in the AHS library. The next steps - supporting the Youth Activities Levy, which raises $1.7 million annually for extracurricular activities and researching accreditation requirements - will follow as the union continues to gain momentum. While the union is solidifying on the AHS campus, union officials said the association is open to all ASD students. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -