DeFazio speaks with Oregon State students

Following a conference on harvesting clean energy, Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio spoke at a question-and-answer session Tuesday morning.

“He wanted an opportunity to meet with students,” said Dan Arp, dean of agricultural sciences at Oregon State University, and former dean of the University Honors College.

Toni Doolan, current dean of the Honors College, said they recently received an inquiry from DeFazio.

“The next thing we know, he’s going to be here,” Doolan said.

Honors College students and students from the Leadership Academy, a program in the Colleges of Agriculture and Forestry, were invited to attend the hour-long session held at the Memorial Union.

Students asked questions ranging from tuition to partisan politics. The group also touched on sustainable energy research stimulus, gun control, politics and health care.

“We’re looking at reauthorization of these programs,” DeFazio said, referring to federal financial aid.

One student asked about increasing partisanship, and DeFazio said major contributors in government include media bias, redistricting and money.

DeFazio emphasized the need to invest in new sustainable energy sources and spoke about the role of mental illness in gun violence.

McKinley Smith, news reporter
news@dailybarometer.com