The ASWSU Senate welcomed Senator Mark Schoesler of the 9th Legislative District of Washington to their weekly meeting to speak about his work in higher education funding.

With the addition of more Republican senators, higher education has fared better in legislative planning, according to Schoesler.

“We’ve recognized that as a priority of our caucus, whether it is tuition or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) funding,” Schoesler said. “We view it as a better answer.”

When asked by Senator Dakota Renz how college students can get involved in making higher education funding a higher priority, Schoesler said thanking representatives from both sides of the aisle goes a long way.

“It shows that their work in a specific issue is appreciated,” Schoesler said.

For his continued work in supporting higher education, ASWSU presented Schoesler with the “Legislator of the Year” award.

“I can look back someday after my career is over and say ‘we showed that we’re not the other Washington,’” Schoesler said. “We showed that higher education has a value.’”

Schoesler, a wheat farmer from Ritzville, has represented the 9thLegislative District of Washington – which includes Adams, Asotin, Franklin, Garfield, Spokane and Whitman counties – since 2005.

At the end of their meeting, ASWSU Senators announced that they will begin asking students what they feel should go into the Old Bookie, as a part of President Jared Powell and Vice President LaKecia Farmer’s developing plan to renovate the currently empty building, according to Farmer.