Students lobby for N.J. fiscal change

Freshmen Grace Huang and Caitlin Sullivan will lobby town councils in New Jersey to reform fiscal policies between now and Election Day.

Their objective is to end so-called pay-to-play, a monetary practice where tax dollars — including money spent on college tuition — are exchanged for lucrative government contracts at the taxpayer's expense.

Sullivan and Huang are part of a student lobby group composed of 13 students from Middlesex County College, Rutgers and Princeton. The team is led by Maya Enista, a junior at Rutgers, and is under the auspices of New Jersey Common Cause, a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen group that advocates involvement in campaigning and politics.

During the next two weeks the group will present in 13 towns, including Princeton Township, urging them to adopt a bill that reforms the pay-to-play policy. The bill has already passed in 10 other towns.

"The proposed ordinance has specific guidelines that would separate government contracting from political fundraising in order to increase the competition for contracts, ensuring that merit and cost-effectiveness become the primary factors considered," Huang said in an email.

Sullivan and Huang joined the effort to fulfill requirements for their freshman writing seminar, "The Power and Influence of Non-Profits," taught by professor Lisa Ratmansky. Freshmen could choose from five community-based seminars this fall, where they use hands-on experience in community service as the topic for their writing.

"Coming to Princeton, I would have never guessed I would become involved with political lobbying," Huang said. "The staff at New Jersey Common Cause are incredibly supportive and encouraging, and with their training and guidance, I hope to aid in the realization of their goal by participating in lobbying efforts."

Heather Taylor, Common Cause spokeswoman, described the girls as "totally enthusiastic."

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Enista said she was particularly impressed by Huang and Sullivan's commitment to empowerment. "From the first day they came here they have been really involved," Enista said. "They've done above and beyond what is required for their class. They are the most attentive members of this college lobby."

Enista said the student lobby was energized last spring, when, after a large budget cut, Rutgers raised its tuition. When the president of Rutgers tried to speak on behalf of the students, he was told that until the students themselves mobilized nothing would happen, Enista said. As private university students, Huang and Sullivan do not face the same issues involving tuition as state university students face.

Enista joined Common Cause because "It was an organization that was doing more than just registering voters," she said. "They were taking the next step . . . the college lobby team works on issues important to them."

In this case, rising tuition is an issue relevant to all students, regardless of their academic interests. Enista said it was important to her to show that, contrary to popular opinion, today's younger generation cares about activism. "We have to destroy the myth of the passive uncaring youth."