The Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee announced initial plans for a student leadership summit with representatives from the University of Wisconsin System to discuss the state’s economic future.

Plans to meet with city officials about possible locations of a high-speed rail station in Madison were also announced at the meeting.

The student leadership summit would focus on what current students can do to improve the state’s economy in the future. This improved economy would then lead to more money being available for colleges and students, Chair Adam Johnson said.

“I think it’s irresponsible for us to be asking for money when they don’t have money to give, and I think the better solution is to get the state more money,” Johnson said, “How do states get more money? The economy has to improve.”

LAC’s original plan had been to hold a rally at the Capitol building to raise awareness about lack of funds for student financial aid.

However, there were several problems with this, including UW-Milwaukee’s plans to hold a similar rally in April, Johnson said.

“This tactic has been the thing students have been doing for years: they hold a rally in front of the Capitol and ask for more money in the budget,” Johnson said, “I think for the most part legislature wants to fund higher education more, but they will say, ‘Where am I going to get the money for this?’”

Johnson added students are going to be future leaders and workers in the state and must be involved in the planning process of moving forward.

Johnson hopes to have the meeting at the end of this semester but believes it would more likely be next fall.

“This is going to be our state in 15 to 20 years, so how is Wisconsin going to provide us with jobs so we don’t have to go New York to find work?” Johnson said.

The summit would be for campus leaders from schools around the UW System.

LAC intern Mudit Kackar said leaders could bring ideas from their campus to the summit and hold an open forum for UW students to talk about issues and give ideas.

The committee is also working on bringing in city planners to discuss where the new Yahara high-speed rail station would be.

The city is currently looking at either the airport or the intersection of East Washington Street and First Street for the location, Vice Chair Sam Polstein said.

LAC has stopped working on a plan to organize volunteers to clean up after the Mifflin block party because a local church uses the clean up as a fundraiser every year, Johnson added.