State Representatives Mike Osburn and Mike Sanders to speak about U.S. debt crisis

Students across the Oklahoma Christian University campus are emphasizing the need to ask elected officials to find national debt solutions as part of an Eagle PR campaign taking place this month. State representatives Mike Osburn and Mike Sanders, both Oklahoma Christian alumni, will speak on the issue during chapel today at 11 a.m.

Oklahoma Christian students scheduled the event because they want their peers to show elected officials in Washington D.C. it is time to solve the nation’s federal debt crisis, which is now more than $20 trillion.

“While our work is at the state level, we believe seeking a balanced budget should be a priority for all elected officials,” Osburn said. “This is especially important for people of faith who feel called to be responsible managers, and we’re excited to see ambitious students take action to solve problems they did not create.”

Partnering with the national organization Up to Us, Oklahoma Christian students will hold public events to educate students and the community about ways the growing national debt will harm current and future generations. In addition, students are providing tables where voters can send a message directly to their elected officials in Washington.

“We were shocked to learn that our national debt is at a staggering $20 trillion,” Event Coordinator for Oklahoma Christian’s Up to Us team Haleigh Evans said. “If things keep going the way they are, we will reach $33 trillion in debt in the next 10 years.”

Up to Us is a nonpartisan organization, which encourages students all over the nation to take action against the national debt crisis. Funded by both Republican and Democratic groups, Up to Us encourages all voters to take a pledge asking elected officials to address the problem. Those pledges will be sent to each student’s legislators in Washington, and Oklahoma Christian students are trying to make it as easy as possible for others to get involved in solving the debt crisis.

Student team leader Christian Franklin said he believes the campaign will help more people realize that national debt is an urgent issue.

“The ballooning national debt will have a profound impact on the next generation if we don’t take action,” Franklin said. “Every college student is affected by this issue because of expected cuts in education and infrastructure funding for interest payments alone.”

Students held a kick-off event earlier this month, and after today’s presentation, students will celebrate My Two Cents Day Nov. 8. This event is a national day organized by Up to Us to register more voter pledges, which will be sent to each person’s elected officials according to zip code.

The Up to Us team encourages all individuals to take the pledge. More information about Oklahoma Christian’s campaign is available online.