Political Science Students Participate in "Monarchs in D.C. Legislative Tour 2007"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 3, 2007
MARIA SIKORYAK-ROBINS
DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS

FAYETTEVILLE, NC—Four political science majors and one history major participated in the Department of Government Studies’ “Monarchs in D.C. Legislative Tour 2007” held March 25-27. The two-day intensive tour, scheduled to take advantage of the congressional calendar, included meetings with U.S. House Representative Bob Etheridge and legislative staff; attendance of live House and Senate floor debate; tours of the White House, Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol buildings; and sight-seeing throughout the Capitol area. Participants lodged at American University’s Tenley campus and used the Metro for transportation.

Co-sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society, the annual event-filled tour provides students the opportunity to experience national politics first-hand as well as gain basic street knowledge of the Capitol area. Students nearing graduation may also explore internship or full-time employment opportunities.

“The best by-product of this tour is students’ learning their way around the Capitol area and experiencing the Metro,” said Dr. Jennifer Purvis, director of the Tour and faculty advisor for Pi Sigma Alpha. “Anything that helps prepare our students for future work in D.C. is an asset, and they really seem to appreciate getting into the political climate.” A highlight of the 2007 tour was students’ having the opportunity to sit in on portions of the Senate debate on the Iraq spending bill and House debate on extended Hurricane Katrina disaster relief measures.

While students are encouraged to visit the offices of legislators on both sides of the partisan aisle, the group has taken advantage of Congressman Etheridge’s office as an unofficial host in the Capitol complex. Etheridge represents NC District 2, which includes the Methodist University campus.

“Congressman Etheridge’s staffers have been extremely helpful in offering us staff-led tours for the past two years, and they are a pleasure to work with. It’s terrific to be welcomed to the capital by North Carolinians.” Purvis noted that the 2006 tour included a visit with Congressman Robin Hayes (R, NC District 8) and Congressman Mike McIntyre (D, NC District 7), but time did not permit meetings with the full Cumberland County delegation this year. Students used limited free time to explore House and Senate office buildings, visiting the offices of many prominent lawmakers.

“Together, we’ve got quite a collection of business cards,” said Purvis, whose own collection includes that of at least one current presidential candidate.

The D.C. Legislative Tour is a win-win program for students and the University, according to Political Science Program Director Dr. Frank Trapp and Department of Government Studies Chair Dr. Drew Ziegler. Not only do students get exposure to the nation’s capital, but also the nation’s capital gets exposure to some of MU’s brightest students.

Rhyan Breen (senior, Wilson, N.C.), Spencer Martin (junior, Virginia Beach, Va.), Drew Dempster (sophomore, Fayetteville, N.C.), Randy Crabtree (junior, Sanford, N.C.) and Brett Walden (senior, Ramseur) participated in the 2007 Tour. The Tour was funded in part by participant fees, grants to Pi Sigma Alpha awarded by the Student Government Association, and support from the School of Public Affairs and Office of Academic Affairs.

Methodist University is an independent four-year institution of higher education with over 2,100 students from 41 states and 30 countries. Methodist University offers over 70 majors and concentrations, three master’s degree programs, and 19 NCAA III intercollegiate sports. For more information contact the Office of University Relations at (910) 630-7043/7114.