NEWS RELEASES

NEWS ARCHIVE

EXPERTS GUIDE

FEATURED PHOTOS

IN THE NEWS

LOG NEWSLETTER

CHANCELLOR'S FYI

INSIDE MAGAZINE

In the News Archive - Year:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998

Reprinted from: Green Bay Press-Gazette
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/

March 25, 2005

School Zone:
Students get hands-on experience in government

By Cynthia Hodnett
chodnett@greenbaypressgazette.com

Thirteen University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students recently spent five days in Washington, D.C., learning about the workings of the federal government and leaders.

The trip was part of a class assignment for a political science course. Students, mostly political science and communications majors, visited historical landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

While no trip to the nation's capital would be complete with out visiting such sites, the main goal of the trip was to provide students the opportunity to meet officials in charge of running federal agencies, learn how they function and how employees at the agencies obtained their careers, said Scott Furlong, an associate professor of political science at UWGB.

Rachel Abhold, a senior, plans to attend law school next year. Abhold said a highlight of the trip was meeting a lawyer who works at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

"He could be making a lot more money in private practice but he chose a more rewarding career in government," Abhold said. "He's able to see how the policy he works with can have an impact. He can feel like he's doing something important that will affect society."

Junior Nathan Petrashek said the trip provided him a glimpse of what it would be like to work for one of the agencies.

"I'm interested in graduate opportunities but I'm not sure what I'm interested in yet," he said. "It's good to know there are so many different options that I could look into after I graduate."

Students also met with staff at several federal agencies including the U.S. State Department and attended a taping of the "Crossfire" television news program and a congressional hearing.

"We watched the House (of Representatives) voting and I thought they would actually cast a vote with paper but it's all electronic," said Kristin Neveau, a sophomore. "You could look up (at a screen) and see the congressmen's names and see how they voted."