HSLP 08 Day 10, Monday July 21

High School Leaders Program Class of 2008
Day 10, Monday, July 21
Reported by: Ladi Smith and Kevin Xiao

     The day began as any other day, except for one thing.  Some would say that the special thing is the fact that everyone was wearing business-professional clothing for the group picture. But one glance at the group showed evidence of sunburns on everyone; the tubing excursion left battle marks on backs and burns on fronts.  The group trooped to the classroom at 8:45am. The lecture/seminar with Dr. Shields picked up where we had left off the previous Saturday:  do we, as citizens, value the security of our communities or do we value the liberty that the Constitution provides us?  We then discussed the Dilon's Rule, where we got into a debate if local governments should only have the power that the state grants them, or if they should have all powers except those that the state reserves for itself. Both sides made convincing arguments.
     After the deliberations by our class, we looked into the different flavors of local government (city council with manager/mayor, town council with manager, and board of supervisors with county manager) as well as the staggered-terms phenomenon and small councils. We also looked at annexation and two sections of the Voting Rights Act.  Then the fun, big debate came: "strong" mayor or "weak" mayor? The class was evenly split, and an ad hoc panel was created (Team Mitch-David for the "strong" mayor and Team Colin-Emily for the "weak "mayor).  Again, both sides made amazing arguments and analyzed the issue thoroughly.  In the end, we finally realized the real world of politics and came to a bipartisan solution – neither was better.
     After our morning session and our delicious lunch (we Sorensen students never get tired of sandwiches!), we listened to Gordon Walker, our guest speaker for today.  He has been the executive director and chief executive officer of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) since 1982. He educated us on aging and the rising danger America’s health care system faces if we do not make drastic changes while we still have the chance. He told us about the 2020 plan which, among other things, promotes coordinated and accessible health care, supports maximum independence for the elderly, and enhances transportation opportunities for the elderly.  (Props to Mitch for knowing the details of the book Boomsday).  We were also introduced to the budget game by our professor. In this game we face the task of balancing the state budget. We were put on either the Senate or the House teams and must collectively work together to balance the budget and make it as fair as possible. We nominated chairman (Ladi for the House, Emma for the Senate), a recorder (Andrew for the House, Khadeeja for the Senate) and also an assistant recorder (Caitlin for the House, Sirishia for the Senate).
     After our speaker  talked to us and the budget game had been announced, the Sorenson group went to the Rotunda to take our individual and class photos. While standing on the Rotunda steps, we were all instructed to run down it while the photographer took the picture. The group flocked down the stairs; girls weary of their heels, guys tired of their ties! Tonight we will finish by working fiercely on our culminating projects.

— Ladi Smith of Charlottesville, St.Anne's Belfield School Class of 2009
     Kevin Xiao of Glen Allen, Maggie Walker Governor’s School Class of 2009