Social Work students meet with Senator Dave Hansen
Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) visited with UWGB’s undergraduate Social Work students last Friday (April 8) to discuss an advocacy project the students are developing on the topic of “Educate Your Vote” — designed to educate voters through social media on the candidates’ views for the 2016 presidential election. Senator Hansen discussed specifically the need for better understanding of reproductive health and other services and recent defunding reproductive health agencies. He also described the need for continued collaborative conversations within the State Legislature and Senate; and that much of the debate has centered only the “right for life and right for choice” dichotomy, rather than the positive impact of the majority of services provided by the medical provider. Lecturer Dana Strohm said students posed questions to better understand the political process, explored the budgeting aspects of refunding Planned Parenthood, and other pending legislation that will impact Green Bay and the 30th Senate District constituents. Students were surprised to hear that the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate have adjourned their 2016 legislative sessions until early spring of 2017, sparking debate as to whether new legislation would be heard on topics such as reproductive health. Social work students are creating an online video to “Educate Your Vote” for the 2016 election cycle. Those interested can check out the Educate Your Vote Facebook page to watch their progress: https://www.facebook.com/EducateYourVoteUWGB/.
