Students address U.S. budget committee

Students worrying over the growing national deficit and the bleak future of entitlements received the opportunity to testify at a congressional hearing on Friday afternoon. U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee Chairperson John Kasich (R-Ohio) and several members of the committee came to Villanova University to speak to more than 800 students during a hearing entitled "Today's Students and the American Dream: Their Concerns, Their Solutions." Budget Committee members Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), Robert Walker (R-Pa.), Jim Kolbe (R-Az.), Marin Hoke (R-Ohio) and Patsy Mink (D-Hawaii), were present for the hearing. Rep. Jon Fox (R-Pa.), who serves the district in which Villanova is located, also attended the hearing. After eight students, who were chosen in advance, testified individually about issues that concerned them, students from the audience were invited to voice their concerns to the committee through an open microphone. Kasich said he believes these sessions are important because they allow members of congress to hear directly from their constituents. "In Washington, we hear from the special interests all the time," he said before the forum. "It will be refreshing to hear from students whose concerns are valid and whose solutions, I believe, will be creative." But many students were not convinced that the forum provided them with an opportunity to be heard. "It seems like you sit up there and you don't really know what's going on," said a Villanova junior from the open microphone. "You make little notes and side comments, but you're so far removed from what's going on." Several students directly attacked Kasich, describing his behavior as condescending and offensive. Often, Kasich would whisper to a staffer during testimony, angering some of those present. "I've been here for about twenty minutes," said Villanova junior Karen Sharikon. "I would say in about that time, maybe about twice or three times I've noticed that you were actually looking at us and listening to what we've had to say." Other students felt compelled to focus on budgetary issues. Villanova freshman Jeff Walsh asked Kasich why the budget was over seven months late for passage. "If I hand in a paper here that's three days late, I get a zero," Walsh said. "The budget was seven months late. Why can't Congress do its job on time?" Kasich explained that it took time to create a budget that had the largest cuts since World War II.

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