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| Students (from left) Stacy Savickas, Andrew Haines, and Emily Gonce, three of the 10 [2002] Legislative Fellows, work in Legislative Hall in Dover, Del. |
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Halls of Government, Halls of Learning
an article in the spring 2002 issue of the UD publication, The Messenger, written by Jeanine McGann
Ten students are getting hands-on experience in the political decision-making process this spring as members of CHEP’s Legislative Fellows Program.
Co-sponsored by the College's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) and the Delaware General Assembly, the program links the research capacity of the University with the research needs of the legislature. The experience gives the selected students an invaluable opportunity to assist legislators in dealing with critical issues facing the state, according to director Jerome Lewis, who calls the program “a real, live laboratory with real consequences.”
Three days per week from January through June—the length of a full legislative session in Delaware—the fellows carpool to Dover to provide nonpartisan research and staff assistance in the General Assembly. There, they participate in a variety of activities that give them a window into the real-world work experience of the public sector.
“Newspapers, textbooks or rumors on the streets do not convey a comprehensive description of the work that occurs in Dover each legislative session,” former fellow Larry Haas says.
Direct involvement by the students has included such duties as writing policy papers outlining public safety and privacy issues associated with concealed weapons legislation, reviewing records analyzing responses to child abuse complaints in day-care centers, creating a web site for the General Assembly and researching the costs and impact of farmland preservation initiatives.
Although the students already have strong backgrounds in public administration, political science, urban affairs and similar disciplines, and all undergo a competitive interview process, their selection as Legislative Fellows marks the beginning of an exceptional experience in their chosen field, Lewis says.
“It is a great learning opportunity for these students,” he says. “They see different approaches and values from different people around the state—people they might not come in contact with in their University education or their backgrounds.”
Nicole Sappé, another former fellow, reports that, “Before this program, I had a picture in my head about state government procedure that wasn't exactly correct. The actual process of passing legislation was a mystery to me because I was not directly involved. Now, I have a more accurate perspective and increased appreciation for the process.”
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