Early on Friday Jan. 13, nearly thirty Benedictine College students made their way to the third floor of Ferrel Academic Center for a half an hour audience with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas).
This was the first of fifty stops on Marshall’s “4 corners, 50 counties” tour throughout the state as he campaigns for reelection this November.
Benedictine’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter headed the event and students were free to ask questions and share their stories with the lawmaker. The conversation touched on subjects such as immigration, farming, the SAVE Act, the abortion pill, trafficking and more.
“It was important for students to have this opportunity because they got the chance to see who represents the state of KS and ask questions about the American Political climate, from someone who is in it everyday,” Mason Eberle, treasurer of Benedictine’s TPUSA chapter, told the Circuit.
Marshall started the meeting by asking students why Benedictine is important to them and why they came to the school.
“We believe in our Catholic values and we want to bring the truth of our Catholic faith to everyone else as well as not just through our faith, but through how we act and show them what things are important that they are forgetting about,” Andrea Vanderzanden, president of Ravens Respect Life (RRL), said.
Marshall highlighted the importance of knowing what you are fighting for, why it is important and the need to communicate clearly.
“Communication is going to be important. I’m a physician and there’s nothing more important than communication skills,” he told the students.
Using the example of school choice, Marshall discussed why the issue is important to him.
“School choice is important to me because I think education is the bedrock of America, it’s the bedrock of the future.” Believing in the American dream “anybody from anywhere can become anything they want to be, but it typically starts with a good education,” the senator said.
Madelyn Landry, president of Benedictine’s TPUSA chapter, said that “it was important for students to gather and speak with the senator because they got to ask questions, offer their perspectives, and ask for accountability on several issues (SAVE act and chemical abortion bill).”
Eberle said his biggest takeaway was the emphasis the senator put on effective communication and respect as the best means for alleviating political tension.
“We are very grateful that we had the Opportunity to meet with United States Senator Roger Marshall!!” he wrote.
