Luther College Student's Fiscal Initiative Draws State, National Attention

Our Driftless region deserves more than postcards — it deserves a watchdog. Be that support. DECORAH — A student-led initiative at Luther College brought conversations about federal budgeting and civic responsibility into classrooms, dining halls and residence halls this past fall, engaging more than half of the college's student body and drawing attention from state and national leaders. The multiweek effort was led by Luther junior Mansur Kasali and focused on helping students understand the federal budget, the national debt and the long-term consequences of fiscal decisions. The campaign culminated in a Day of Action on Nov. 1 and was later highlighted by Up to Us, a national nonpartisan civic engagement organization, as a model for how small campuses can foster serious civic dialogue. Kasali, a political science, international studies and economics major, said the initiative reinforced the idea that fiscal policy is a civic responsibility. "My motivation came from seeing budgets as moral documents that reflect how a society balances its constraints with its values and what it is willing to pass on to the next generation," Kasali said. "Through my earlier involvement with Up to Us, I was exposed to a broader ecosystem of institutions working on long-term fiscal governance. That experience reinforced the idea that fiscal responsibility is a civic obligation that must be sustained by durable institutions beyond electoral cycles." The campaign combined classroom instruction, informal conversations and public events. Materials were displayed across campus, dining halls hosted brief discussion prompts such as "What would you do if you had the chance to run the U.S. budget for one day?" and faculty members in economics and political science incorporated Up to Us resources into their courses. A parallel digital campaign generated about 50,000 views over four weeks, primarily among people ages 18 to 24, with many students first encountering the topic online before engaging in person Mansur Kasali, a political science, international studies, and economics major at Luther College. The Day of Action featured interactive stations explaining how the federal budget works, including differences between mandatory and discretionary spending and the impact of rising interest costs. Iowa State Rep. Mike Bergan attended the event, and more than 540 students, over 50 percent of Luther's student body, made a public pledge related to fiscal responsibility. Kasali said "the level of engagement came from meeting students where they were, without lowering the seriousness of the conversation," and that the initiative shifted how students thought about fiscal policy. "The most important shift was qualitative," he emphasized. "Students moved from 'I've heard about the debt' to 'I understand how budget choices shape future opportunity.'" The campaign also received written acknowledgment from Sen. Chuck Grassley, president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate. "For students, this reinforced an essential democratic lesson: the strength of a republic depends not only on those in office, but on citizens willing to take public responsibility seriously," Kasali said. Following the campaign, students launched Up to Us at Luther College as a permanent organization, the first fiscal policy-focused student group in the college's history. Its centerpiece will be the Luther Fiscal Forum, which plans to host an annual Fiscal Responsibility Week, debates, and policy workshops. Kasali said the effort reflects Decorah's longstanding civic culture. "Decorah has a strong tradition of civic engagement rooted in thoughtful dialogue and institutional responsibility," he said. "In that sense, the campaign fit naturally within both Luther College and the wider Decorah community. It was local in execution, but national in relevance." Luther College students discuss fiscal responsibility. Mansur Kasali Your weekly dose of local life! Subscribe to the free newsletter and enjoy news, analysis, and stories you'll actually look forward to reading.