House minority leader, Vic Miller, came to visit the Emporia State Associated Student Government (ASG) last Thursday to discuss his own experiences with ASG and his opinions related to the faculty and department cuts at ESU last fall.
“I want to cry when I see what happened to my beloved university and what is happening,” said Miller during the meeting. “And part of it is because there is not a strong enough voice in Topeka right now saying that’s wrong.”
While Miller spoke to ASG about his own college experiences, he also looked back on the powerful lobbying influence he and other Kansas college students had back in the 1970s while participating in the Associated Students of Kansas.
“Had an organization representing students still been in existence, you would not, I don’t believe, have seen the debacle that occurred here last fall,” Miller said.
During his lecture, he emphasized that time in college matters because it prepares you for the rest of your life. He discussed how his political career began in college and how he learned valuable lessons while in school.
“When you are asking people to vote for you, make sure you treat every single person as being important,” Miller said. “And a lot of people aren’t used to being treated as being important but that will appeal to them. But everyone you ask to vote for you is as important and has as much power as the next person.”
He also noted that both house leaders, he and Mark Schreiber, hold degrees from ESU, along with the editor and chief of the Kansas Reflector, Sherman Smith, to explain that significant people graduated from this university.
“That’s why I’m here, I wanted to come down here and tell you that you can and probably will be somebody regardless of what you do,” Miller said.
After his lecture, ASG president, Bella Price, presented him with a gift filled with treats from the Sweet Granada.
“It meant a lot to me to be back at Emporia State, and particularly the ASG meeting,” said Miller’s office in a statement given by email. “My alma mater holds a special place in my heart and I am always happy when I’m able to return for a visit. A lot has changed, but not the quality of its graduates.”
Raiden Gonzales, president of Emporia Young Democrats, also attended and sat in the audience to listen to Miller speak.
“He’s a true inspiration to me and to a lot of people,” Gonzales said. “I am glad he got the opportunity to come back to his university and speak on issues that other members of the state legislature haven’t.”