CLP 2009: Day 15, Saturday June 13

College Leaders Program Class of 2009
Day 15—Saturday, June 13, 2009
Reported by: Joshua Owens, George Mason University

Today was not unlike any other: filled with qualified speakers, good ideas and healthy discussion; however in many ways today was far from ordinary. We met a bit earlier than usual at a different location with new people. As we strolled through the doors of the lecture hall at 8:30am, we found our seats based on the chalkboard's instruction to “Sit with someone outside your program.” The special guests were participants from the Political Leaders Program. It was great having professional adult versions of ourselves around. It was especially refreshing to learn that they were just like us in many respects—they stayed up too late the night before, needed their coffee in the morning and loved politics. I met a number of people with very similar career goals that expressed interest in working together in the future.
     The first speaker of the day was Virginia's Secretary of Education Tom Morris. He spoke to us about what his goals for education are and some ways to go about achieving a better school system. Economist Louis Rossiter spoke with the group about the state of the health care system. He provided us with necessary background and empirical evidence to have substantive conversations about health care reform. Rossiter elicited humor from the audience as he provided us with self-deprecating jokes about economists. This was coincidental as my new PLP friend had been ragging on me all morning for being an economics major. The last speaker of the day was William Howell, Speaker of the House of Delegates. He fielded nearly an hour's worth of questions ranging from redistricting reform and the Governor's race to marijuana laws and immigration reform. I found the day to be a great success all around. I enjoyed the speakers as well as meeting new people, and I look forward to maintaining the relationships with the people I met today.
     “Economists are people that do not know what they are talking about but can say it in such a way that makes you feel like you don't know what you're talking about.” - Louis Rossiter

– Joshua Owens, George Mason University