spring Newsletter Featuring the 2019 D4D National Conference

Periclean Student Delegates Inspire at the 2019 Debating for Democracy (D4D)™ National Conference  

​Read the full Spring 2019 Newsletter.

Over the course of three days in March, 57 student leaders and activists from 24 Periclean campuses gathered in New York City for the D4D National Conference, hosted by Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School in the Theresa Lang Community and Student Center. Students engaged in deep and meaningful dialogue among themselves and with panelists, as they expressed their concerns, hopes, and plans for the future. 

See the links for the conference agenda, biographies, and Letters to an Elected Official Program. 

​D4D Letters to an Elected Official Competition and Legislative Hearing

The D4D Legislative Hearing is a highlight of the conference. We were thrilled to receive so many high-quality letters as part of the D4D Letters to an Elected Official Competition. Prior to the conference, a panel of judges selected the top five letters submitted by student teams from Periclean campuses. Written to the students' elected officials, the letters proposed innovative solutions to issues including education access, the environment, immigration, mass incarceration, and universal health care.
 
The finalist teams, Macalester College, Pitzer College, Swarthmore College, Ursinus College, and Whitman College, presented at the Legislative Hearing discussing their policy proposals with a panel of former government officials: Constance Berry Newman, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; Martha Kanter, former U.S. Under Secretary of Education; and Ruth Messinger, former Manhattan Borough President.

It was such a privilege to join you once again for the D4D legislative hearing. I was amazed at the quality of the written materials and oral arguments from such young undergraduates.... It was evident how valuable the experience was for the students and their families, as well as the reviewers, board members, and philanthropists in the audience. ˗ Martha Kanter
 
The teams did an exceptional job defending their positions and, for the first time, we had a tie. The judges awarded the top prize to both Pitzer College and Whitman College. 

The Winning Pitzer College Team of Ray Hill-Cristol ('21) and Christian Cabuñag ('20)

Pitzer College ,"A Letter in Support of the Healthy California Act (S.B. 562) that would Establish a State Based Universal Health Care System"
To California State Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D)
By Christian Cabuñag ('20) and Ray Hill-Cristol ('21)   

In their letter, Cabuñag and Hill-Cristol asked Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez to support S.B. 562, the Healthy California Act, which would expand healthcare to all Californians, including undocumented community members. "We used the narratives of two undocumented Californians, Mark and Ella, to illustrate the complex needs for mental and physical healthcare for undocumented individuals," the pair wrote. "We urged our representative to support this legislation to take a stance against current federal policy and rhetoric, and to demonstrate value for our community members on the basis of their humanity."

Commenting on the D4D National Conference and the Legislative Hearing, Christian Cabuñag wrote us to say, 
I just wanted to express how grateful and amazed I am for having such a wonderful and important opportunity to participate in Debating for Democracy. It was such an empowering and educational experience, and Ray and I are inspired to put our best efforts into pushing forward the Healthy California Act.

​Reflecting on their experience Ray Hill-Cristol noted, 

Something that might not have been evident in our presentation was how much Christian and I learned from each other and about ourselves in preparation for the legislative hearing, and how this experience has helped give me ideas about the work I might want to do after graduation.

The Winning Whitman College Team with Constance Berry Newman, Mayrangela Cervantes ('20), Lizbeth Llanes-Macias ('21) Ruth Messinger, Ameliz Price-Dominguez ('22) and Salma Anguiano ('22), Jan Liss, Martha Kanter, and Noah Levitt, Project Pericles Program Director from Whitman College

Whitman College , "A Letter to Introduce New Legislation to Prohibit Insurance Companies and Employers from Discriminating Against Workers Who Seek Compensation after an Injury, Based on Immigration Status"
To Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
By Salma Anguiano ('22) and Ameliz Price-Dominguez ('22)

​In their letter, Anguiano and Price-Dominguez urged Senator Ron Wyden to introduce new legislation that prohibits employers and insurance companies from denying workers compensation based on citizenship status. 

​​Commenting on what motivated her to tackle insurance discrimination, Salma Anguiano said,

​"We must stop the exploitation of workers, and ensure that these larger companies are held accountable. It is essential to pass new legislation in order to protect all workers.  I saw first-hand the discrimination toward my father because he was undocumented and learned that the system was truly flawed. The system currently set in place is not equitable, and I decided I wanted to do something that affected my community. As a first-generation student, I think it's very important to take the opportunities given to me, such as receiving an education, and use it to initiate change," [excerpt from "Whitman First-Years Compete in Debating for Democracy: Hope to Lobby Bill" by Rylee Neville, The Whitman Wire].

The  three finalist teams and their letters are:
 
Macalester College ,"A Letter Proposing Alternate Accountability Measures for Elder Care Abuse in the Older and Vulnerable Adults Rights and Protection Act of 2018 (S.F. 3088), which would Reward Assisted Living Facilities for Taking Proactive Steps to Prevent Elder Abuse"
To Minnesota State Senator Karin Housley (R)
By Fiona Adams ('20) and Kai Akimoto ('22)                                                                     
 
Swarthmore College , "A Letter in Support of Driving 100% of Public School Funding through Governor Tom Wolf's Fair Funding Formula (H.B. 1552)"
To Pennsylvania State Representative Leanne Krueger Braneky (D)
By Zoe Jannuzi ('22) and Gabriella Vetter ('22)                               
 
Ursinus College , "A Letter in Support of the HER Act (H.R.671) to Address the Impact of the Global Gag Rule on the Delivery of International Health Care"
To Representative Anthony Brown (D-MD) 
By Sophie Auerbach ('21), Samantha Hayslett ('19), and Abigail Peabody ('22)     (Presented by Sophie Auerbach and Abigail Peabody)         

​Whitman College is our newest Periclean and this is the first time that they participated in the D4D National Conference. This was also the first time that Pitzer and Ursinus were in the finals. In addition, six of the presenters were first year students - another record.
 
The winning teams will each receive $2,000 to move their issue forward and the three finalist teams each will receive $500. We are looking forward to working with all of the teams as they  develop campaigns on their issues over the coming year.
 

​​To learn more about the D4D teams, read the full Spring 2019 Newsletter.