The Byzantio Cafe and Bar was filled Friday night, as lawyers, entrepreneurs, architects, political figures, alumni and host committee members gathered at the UH Young Professionals for Political Action’s happy hour event.
UHYP works to assist UH through its emphasis on educating alumni on the Texas legislative process and works as a subsidiary of the UH Political Action Committee, which focuses on giving non-partisan support to incumbent legislators and politicians who support higher education in Texas and the UH System. This support goes beyond monetary donations and often sends members to Austin in order to meet with legislators.
“Each one of our events has the combined purpose to educate folks, to energize them and to send them out ready to take action and to take ownership of the legislative process,” said Andrew Cobos, the group’s board chairman.
UHYP holds about four events a year where members can relax, meet each other and network.
“These events aren’t so much geared at fundraising. What they’re geared towards is generating excitement and enthusiasm and educating people, so should we in the future need them to call on their legislator, we can do that,” Cobos said.
In the only formal words given during the night, Cobos thanked the members present for attending the happy hour and spoke briefly about the Young Professionals and introduced some important people there that night.
Student Government Association President Cedric Bandoh, who was elected the same morning, also spoke about changes that are happening within the University and thanked UHYP for its support.
“I’ve sat on the host committee for many of (UHYP’s) events, so my job is just to really spread the word about events like this. (These) events help to continue our Tier One efforts,” Bandoh said.
“The chancellor does (her) part (and) the Board of Regents does their part, but I believe we need to get more young people, involved in the political process.”
