Marion Brumer, a third-year student and member of the College Democrats at Oakland University, demonstrates that “political” issues aren’t remote from the student body, but begin with campus resources and textbook costs.
Brumer, a political science major, ran on a slate for vice president to the Oakland University Student Congress with then OUSC presidential candidate Jimena Garcia. After the slate won, Brumer became vice president for the 2024-2025 term before running as a legislator for the next term.
Her leap into a spokesperson role began with attentive listening.
What initially caught her ear were the murmurs concerning affordability.
While this might evoke mounting tuition debts, Brumer’s approach always begins at the fundamental level—with smaller, more solvable issues.
“Affordability on campus isn’t just about tuition. It’s also about ‘what other things are you paying for that are making it harder to afford that tuition in the first place,’” she said.
Brumer found these hidden costs to be course materials and basic goods.
To address the problem, she presented an ingenious method of delivery. This was the current vending machine in the Oakland Center—not stocked with snacks but supplies—to create an experience of accessibility and leisure.
When Brumer first joined the OUSC, she pitched the idea to her colleagues. However, it wasn’t until she became vice president that the vision materialized. Using her connections with nonprofits like Advocates for Youth and other on-campus resources like the Graham Health Center, Brumer, in conjunction with the administration, finally debuted the machine.
Now stocked with medical resources, Bluebooks and Scantron sheets, the machine is a well- frequented monument.
Brumer called it a “hub for resources that we know students are looking for and probably paying for.”
“If we can get those to students for free, why not?” she said.
Clover DeVore, president of the College Democrats at Oakland University, shares that it isn’t just about mobilizing free resources, but making them accessible.
“We have people coming in that office [OUSC’s headquarters] all the time, coming to pick up stuff that they need … that otherwise they might be too intimidated to get or wouldn’t have the funds to go get,” DeVore said of products like birth control pills that students might be hesitant to purchase over the counter.
Brumer’s work also focuses on uniting administration, faculty and students around affordability.
DeVore said of Brumer’s strength as an organizer: “I wouldn’t be able to get my feet off the ground without her connections…without her input on things.”
The Affordable Course Material Initiative (ACMI), which Brumer helped coordinate, is one such example.
It brands certain courses listed in the OU registration system as NCM (no-cost materials) or LCM (low-cost materials). The initiative expands affordable purchase options for curriculum materials that might otherwise be costly.
Currently, Brumer is an organizer for U.S. Army Veteran Alex Hawkins’ campaign for the Michigan House. In her role, she serves as both a communicator on behalf of campaign interests and a resource to a volunteer base.
According to DeVore, involvement starts with giving students something to care about.
When she isn’t tabling or collecting signatures, Brumer is linking volunteers to other opportunities they can get involved in—with clubs like the Rochester Area Democratic Club, nonprofits and other campaigns.
In this way, Brumer builds upon the individual volunteer’s capacity.
“You have to make engaging adaptable,” she said.
She hopes these early experiences with organizing will encourage more young people to run for elected office.
Brumer’s advocacy approach understands the cosmos within the small issues. Her accomplishments as an organizer find that progressive thinking and compassion can win over students, constituents and policymakers alike.
