Students

Penn State's Lion Caucus engages student leaders in Penn State advocacy

Lion Caucus members, joined by other Penn State students, travel to Harrisburg every year for Advocate Penn State Capital Day to advocate for Penn State funding.  Credit: Jimi WernerAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Making connections and getting involved on campus has proven vital to the overall success of college students. As the fall semester starts, thousands of Penn State students are on the hunt for those opportunities that lead to enriching college experiences.  

Penn State’s Lion Caucus offers students an opportunity to improve Penn State’s future through advocacy while also developing unique professional skills and providing rewarding networking opportunities.  

The student advocates and leaders often find themselves advocating for Penn State directly to their elected officials in a variety of settings, from the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg to Old Main at University Park. 

“Lion Caucus has enabled me to build personal connections with community and state leaders while representing the Penn State community,” said Ben Brauser, Lion Caucus president. “I am looking forward to starting off the new semester and welcoming new students into Lion Caucus.” 

Lion Caucus is a University-affiliated student organization connected to the Office of Government and Community Relations (OGCR). Its mission is to educate, advocate and resonate with students and elected officials while also providing its members with the tools and resources to knowledgeably engage with federal, state and local elected officials and staff.  

Only in its fourth year, Lion Caucus has already made its presence known in Harrisburg and across the commonwealth with several successful advocacy campaigns, including helping to organize and participate in Advocate Penn State Capital Day.  

While many members tend to have an interest in political science, Lion Caucus' membership ranks represent a wide range of skill sets, majors and class ranks at Penn State. Previous and current members have included THON captains, a Homecoming Court honoree, thespians, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) representatives, and a host of other backgrounds.  

This year, members are eager to engage with their peers and other student organizations to discuss what is happening at all levels of government, something they have not had an opportunity to do recently due to COVID-19 precautions. During these outreach meetings, members will talk about how actions, legislation and policy affect students and the University. 

“As outreach director, I am so excited for Lion Caucus to engage and connect with other student organizations on campus to ensure that students have the opportunity to advocate for Penn State and become involved with the legislative decisions that could directly impact them,” said Amber Gorden, Lion Caucus outreach chair. “At its core, fostering these connections with other student organizations is imperative to expanding Lion Caucus as an organization and fulfilling its purpose.” 

Members work within their committees on various projects throughout the year, but their focus is on the annual Advocate Penn State Capital Day. This day of advocacy in the state Capitol building is the culmination of a year of work on behalf of Lion Caucus, OGCR staff, and additional Penn State stakeholders such as UPUA and Council of Commonwealth Student Governments members, Commonwealth Campus chancellors, and faculty and staff members.  

Last year was the first time since 2019 that a large group of students from across the commonwealth met with their state representatives and senators in person to advocate for Penn State’s general support appropriation.  

Prior to the event, members of Lion Caucus held mock meetings with OGCR staff to prepare the students for their legislative meetings in Harrisburg.

“Lion Caucus enables students who are passionate about representing our Penn State community to develop strong leadership and advocacy skills through internal training opportunities and direct meetings with state legislators,” said Brauser. 

Lion Caucus is comprised of a six-seat executive committee, a general body of members, and an official University-affiliated adviser in the Office of Government and Community Relations.   

“I am thrilled to embark on my first full year as Lion Caucus adviser,” said Jimi Werner, advocacy and communications specialist in the Office of Government and Community Relations and Lion Caucus adviser. “These student leaders showcase what it means to be a Penn State student and why it is so important for their voices to be heard in the Centre Region, Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.”  

Lion Caucus will be looking to welcome a new class of student advocates this fall. Interested students should look for the Lion Caucus booth at the Involvement Fair in front of the HUB-Roberson Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 24 or reach out via email at lioncaucus@gmail.com.

Additional information on Lion Caucus can be found at govt.psu.edu/lioncaucus or by following the caucus on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.  

Last Updated August 19, 2022