West Virginia Students' Resolution

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 26
(Sponsored by Senator Robert H. Plymale, D-WV)
Adopted by the Senate February 27, 2004

Recognizing the achievements of the students working on the West Virginia Raise Your Voice Forums.

Whereas, The West Virginia Raise Your Voice Forums have been established for young men and women of West Virginia’s institutions of higher education to engage their communities in discussion on the issue of how to create a better future for young people to live, work, and prosper in the state, and

Whereas, The student leaders will report the ideas and concerns expressed at the forums back to the state as a whole, informing policymakers on what citizens are saying demonstrates advanced levels of civic responsibility and leadership; and

Whereas, The ability to voice opinions on public matters is an inherent right granted to all citizens under the United States Constitution, and, the utilization of this practice by the citizenry upholds the strength of our democracy, and

Whereas, We should remember the words of President Woodrow Wilson who said, “The whole purpose of democracy is that we may hold counsel with one another, so as not to depend upon the understanding of one man, but to depend upon the counsel of all. For only as men are brought into counsel, and state their needs and interests, can the general interests of a great people be compounded into a policy suitable to all,” and,

Whereas, West Virginia Raise Your Voice Forums is sponsored by West Virginia Campus Compact and West Virginia Center for Civic Life showing their commitment to improving the state’s civic culture; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the students leading the West Virginia Raise Your Voice Forums as civic leaders in the state.