By Arielle Fleisher

It’s unfortunate that Professor Laura Stark and her students at Wesleyan, as they state in their article, “Where are the Students?” don’t think that young people are involved in the health care debate. If they had done a little bit of research they would have found that young people are in fact very active in the health care debate, that we are informed citizens who are well aware that the health care crisis is our crisis.

They would have read about the Y.I. Want Change Coalition – a group of over 20 national youth organizations including us, Rock the Vote, 80 Million Strong, Choice USA, the Student PIRGs and others that are working to ensure that young people are not only heard in this debate, but that they also have a voice in crafting a solution. Had they done a little digging, they probably would have discovered that the Coalition has been pushing specific policy priorities and is working with Congress to ensure that these priorities are included in the final legislation.

Stark outlines a lot of good points in her essay- including the fact that young people are not likely to take a traditional job right out of college. That’s why the Y.I. Want Change Coalition, with the support of young people across the country, successfully lobbied to have an amendment included in the House health care reform legislation that will allow young people to stay on their parent’s health insurance until their 27 birthday. In addition, young people are mobilizing, hosting events and rallies on their campuses and communities, collecting petitions, and writing letters to their local newspapers. Come to think of it, Stark probably should have called her article, “Students Are Active Participants In The Health Care Debate.’

Stark is right about one thing—college students do have a major stake in the health care debate. But she’s wrong to say that young people should ‘wise’ up and start thinking about the issues. We are proud of the work that young people across the country are doing to advance real, comprehensive, affordable health care reform. Now it’s time for Congress wise up and pass legislation that takes the needs of young people into account.