MARQUETTE -- Students all across the state are being given the opportunity to participate in a statewide dialogue thanks to the Student Association of Michigan.

The collection of Michigan's 15 public universities meets once every month, rotating where the meeting is held.  This month's was at NMU where university President Les Wong spoke.

The group focuses on student advocacy as well as sharing ideas and networking.

"One of the big things that's taken S.A.M.'s attention is house bill 4980," said James Jage from Lake Superior State University.

"It's a negative supplemental for two of our universities, Michigan State and Wayne State.  It's going to take 18 million from Michigan State and 13 million from Wayne State.  And what we have here is a classic representation of what happens when the legislature and administration can't come together:  students end up paying the bill.  And we're trying to make sure the students are heard."

The S.A.M. legislative research committee focuses on the affects of legislature on students.

The conference wraps up on Sunday.