The Committee for Political and Legislative Action (CPLA) is a standing committee of College Government, and exists as Wellesley’s exclusively non-partisan political organization. As a non-partisan committee, CPLA seeks to promote political awareness, increase activism and encourage civic engagement among the members of our campus community. CPLA is dedicated to educating the Wellesley community on political issues of local, national and international interest and concern.

CPLA is a student-led and directed committee, consisting of the CPLA Chair, CPLA Core, residence hall representatives and members at large. The CPLA Chair serves as the chief spokeswoman for CPLA, and is elected each spring in an annual student-wide College Government election. In this capacity, the CPLA Chair also serves as a College Government Cabinet member, acting as a liaison between the two bodies. The Chair oversees both general CPLA meetings and the Student Organizations and Appointments Committee (SOAC) appointed CPLA Core.

Collectively, the members of CPLA plan numerous events throughout the year, including an annual voter registration drive, pizza and brown bag lunches with professors on “hot button” issues, lectures with prominent speakers, and screenings of important televised presidential addresses, among other politically relevant events and activities.

CPLA also serves as a resource for various student organizations with a political and/or legislative orientation. CPLA supports the programming efforts of organizations that seek to present issues and coordinate activities that are political in nature. CPLA works closely with the Wellesley College Democrats and Republicans student organizations, especially, to promote bi-partisan programming.

Created By: Kate Reece and Karolina Gorska
Last Updated: April 27th, 2006