Global Campus Students Advocate for Positive Change on Coug Day at the Capitol

On January 26, 2026, over one hundred Cougs from across the WSU system convened in Olympia, Washington, for Coug Day at the Capitol, an annual event in which students meet with their state representatives to discuss potential legislative changes that can positively impact the WSU community.  

Preparations for the big day began months in advance, with student directors of legislative affairs (DOLAs) from each WSU campus gathering feedback from their peers about the issues that matter to them most. These executive representatives then met weekly to discuss their findings, identify shared priorities across the WSU system, and come to a consensus about how to best address these concerns come Coug Day. “By the time we finalized our agenda,” said Alexiis McLean, Global Campus’ Associated Students of WSU Global DOLA, “every item had gone through multiple rounds of discussion, refinement, and cross-campus input.”  

Upon determining which issues were the most pressing to the WSU student body, the DOLAs researched current bills that, if passed into law, would help to address the respective concerns. House Bill 1343, for instance, would protect students’ rights to free speech across campuses, while Senate Bill 6227 aims to support students who are also parents. Seeing how these initiatives align with the needs that their peers expressed, the DOLAs familiarized themselves with the scope of these bills and prepared to share their support with their representatives.  

Students were also able to prepare for Coug Day by learning more about lobbying in McLean’s “Pathway to Coug Day” online sessions, a series of Zoom meetings that centered WSU’s Global Campus students. At these sessions, the group unpacked the legislative process and refined their personalized approaches to discussing the issues at hand to ensure their readiness. McLean shared that not only did this bring Global Campus students together before meeting in person, but that “by the time we arrived in Olympia, [they] already felt prepared, supported, and part of a team.”  

According to McLean, the responses from legislators were “overwhelmingly positive,” saying that “[they] appreciated hearing directly from students and were especially engaged when we shared personal stories that connected policy to real experiences.” She described how one representative said that the Cougs’ passion and advocacy affirmed their commitment to maintaining the Washington College Grant, while many others expressed appreciation for the clear amount of effort, preparation, and professionalism that the students displayed.  

When asked about what it means to Global Campus students to participate in an in-person event like this, McLean answered that Coug Day gave her fellow online students the opportunity to feel fully seen, heard, and connected to the WSU system as a whole. Having the opportunity to participate, said McLean, reinforced the message that—regardless of where and how you study—“you belong; you are a Coug!”

About the Author

Emma Seckington is a writer for WSU Global Campus, working alongside the Marketing and Communications team to spotlight the unique accomplishments of Global Campus students, faculty, and alumni.