While most UMBC students spent the first weekend in May relaxing, a group of four young politicians spent it drafting legislation and debating bills at the Annapolis State House. They may not be actual delegates and senators, but members of the UMBC's Maryland Student Legislature (MSL) prepared themselves for politicking in the future through a weekend of networking events with state and local politicians and debate on pertinent issues to the state.
UMBC's MSL delegation received a special distinction at this spring's legislative session when two of the six positions on Maryland Student Legislature's Council of State were elected from the UMBC group of four. Kathleen Mettle, a junior Political Science major, and Paul Schuman, also a Political Science major, were elected to the positions of Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor, respectively. The statewide council consists additionally of student Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, Attorney General, and Comptroller. These positions were open to students representing universities from across the state and having two coming directly from UMBC is a great honor, sophomore Political Science major Andrea Thomson, another member of UMBC's delegation, remarked.
When a large group of college students from eight universities receive free reign of the State House to debate legislation that they have both written and persuaded others to support, things can get very impassioned. "It's a good mix of debating the death penalty, Israel, and serious things, plus debating, say, whether we should pass a resolution to honor Chuck Norris." Chuck Norris legislation might not be feasible in the actual state legislating bodies, but such mood-lightening bills are necessary to counter the serious issues discussed during the majority of MSL. About 80 bills made it to the floor for debate and consideration during the last legislative session.
Michelle Santos, the Student Governor for 2009-2010, represented the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Santos has had a great experience with MSL since she began participating. "It's amazing to see a piece of legislation that you have written being debated by other students and if passed being read by an actual legislature who might get an idea for a real life bill. To me, that is amazing," Santos said. Debate, the bread and butter of law-making and MSL, is Santos' favorite part of the organization. Santos explained, "Being able to hold a good debate and knowing all the rules and the process of passing legislation will help these students not only better understand the actual legislature but also prepare them for future careers within the legislature."
Mettle spoke about her experience at the legislative session, mentioning that just sitting in the seats of delegates and senators had encouraged her to run for General Assembly some day in the future. And as for taking the oath of Secretary of State and standing at the podium of the Speaker of the Assembly, Mettle remarked, "I felt like I was playing dress up and playing pretend swearing in for the President. It was awesome."
As for next year, Mettle said that she and the other members of the Council of State will be trying to fill all of the seats in the House of Delegates chamber. UMBC's MSL meets during free hour on Fridays and students interesting in joining will be eligible to receive credit for participation.
Devon Chamberlain, a member of UMBC's delegation remarked, "You get to meet people from different schools who are just as passionate about things as you are and you build relationships," remarked Chamberlain. "In general, it's kind of good, clean, nerdy fun," said Mettle, who went on to say, "We're cut from the same cloth...I felt a bit like I had found my tribe."
Schuman and Mettle will be carrying on duties for their positions this year, and Brian Griffiths, MSL Chairman of the Board, remarked, "UMBC has a long history of outstanding leadership in MSL, and I expect Paul and Katie to continue that tradition." Santos said of Lieutenant Governor of MSL Schuman, "I am extremely happy to have Paul as my Lieutenant Governor. He is MSL and represents it well. His passion to make MSL a great organization and to expand it leaves me in awe." She went on to express her happiness with the election of Mettle, saying, "She shows tremendous potential as being the new Secretary of State and by being so inquisitive on the aspects of MSL and having the ability to learn her job so quickly will surely make her an amazing [Secretary of State] for the upcoming year."
UMBC has participated in the annual Legislative Session in the Senate and House of Delegates chambers at the State House regularly since 1996. The Council of State also saw representation from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Salisbury University, and McDaniel College.
by Dinah Douglas, The Retriever Weekly