By Edy Hernandez, July 31, 2012
Touring university campuses and learning about politics would be the last thing to do during summer break for many people but not for this group of students.
A group of young student senators from Senator Alan Lowenthal’s Young Senators Program took a tour of Cal State Long Beach on Friday. The tour was part of a three-hour program where students from various universities learned about immigration politics between Mexico and the United States.
“I am using the Young Senators Program as an internship to start a career in politics” said a student participating in the program from Cal State Long Beach. “There are students from other majors participating in the program, from majors in music to engineering.”
Chicano/Latino Studies Professor Armando Vazquez-Ramos from CSULB hosted a presentation at the Chartroom about California-Mexico Issues and discussed the importance of improving relations between Mexico and California, especially in student exchange programs in higher education.
“How do we open up that channel of communication between universities and colleges in California and Mexico?” asked Vazquez-Ramos. “How do we expand the flow of student exchange and how do we plan for the future that connects California and Mexico?”
These were some of the questions students were asked to consider. The young student senators also learned about Mexican politics after a controversial Mexican presidential election and the importance of Latinos and Asians in the future of California.
Sen. Lowenthal’s Chief of Staff John Casey also spoke to the aspiring students and talked about his experiences working with the senator.
“He was able to get things done… and well liked,” said Casey. “Even a former member of the minutemen said he’s never met anyone he’s respected more in his life.”
The young senators adjourned at 1:00 p.m. and left the university to continue their program at the Museum of Latin American Art.