STUDENTS LEARN PROCESS, BOOST UNIVERSITY IN LEGISLATIVE SETTING

JEFFERSON CITY - Three Southeast Missouri State University students are enjoying a unique opportunity this semester, learning firsthand about state government while at the same time serving as ambassadors for their school.

The three students are serving as interns for state representatives in Jefferson City, earning 12 credit hours. While the student intern program is hardly a new idea, this is the first time Southeast has participated.

Jason Norton, a senior from Gordonville, is working with Rep. Herb Fallert, D-Ste. Genevieve; Phillip Britt, a junior from Clarkton, is serving with Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett; and Krista Stevens, a senior from St. Louis, is working under Rep. O.L. Shelton, D-St. Louis.

All three students saw the internship as an opportunity to do something different for a semester and find out how the real world of government and politics compares with what is taught in the classroom.

"The textbooks provide a broad outline," said Britt. "They give you the facts and how things are set up, but there is nothing like seeing things in action."

For example, Stevens said she had learned a lot about redistricting from a course on congressional politics, but became quite familiar with the details working with Rep. Shelton, who is a member of the redistricting panel in the House. "One thing I learned is that everybody seems to have a map," remarked Stevens.

Britt added, "I always thought most of the work on legislation was done on the floor, but found out most decisions are made before it gets to the floor."

Stevens said that from classes they learn how a bill becomes law, but "there are a lot of other elements that enter into the bill process such as competition, personalities, and where you are from." Often, she noted, whether a bill moves through the process, "depends on who you know, not what you know."

Southeast started the internship program at the urging of former state representative Marvin Proffer, now a lobbyist and consultant for the university.

"We were one of the few universities that didn't have one," said Proffer. "It is a really good program because they (the students) are around the capitol, work for legislators; and it is good public relations for the university. We have a real good group of three interns this year and hope to build on that next year."

Proffer said he has heard a lot of favorable comments in the capitol about the three and pointed out that Southeast President Kala Stroup is a big supporter of the program.

"The other representatives and senators and staff work with them, and before long the reputation they have rubs off on the university," explained Proffer. "It's a good program for the students; it's good for the university; and it is good for the state of Missouri."

At some point, Proffer said he would like to see Southeast have 10 to 12 interns. Good intern candidates are students who make good grades, set goals for themselves, and have an interest in politics, he explained.

Proffer said he tried to match the students this year with active legislators who were willing to give them an opportunity to participate in the process and be more than just someone to run errands.

Stevens, Britt, and Norton all agree that they are representatives of Southeast and feel a certain responsibility to do a good job. "I think this kind of program helps the university a great deal," said Stevens. "We really are like ambassadors for the university. ... I think Southeast made a good investment sending us here."

Before coming to Jefferson City, Norton said, Peter Bergerson, chairman of the political science department at Southeast, led them to believe the internship would be an 8 to 5 type of schedule. But all three interns said that after the first week, they've been putting in mainly 14-hour days.

One of the reasons for the long days is that all three are working with active legislators, who are on key committees and handle a lot of bills. They rely on interns for assistance and try to give them as many opportunities as possible to learn all parts of the legislative process.

An orientation session was held the first week for interns, and interns attend just about all receptions to which legislators are invited. During the first few weeks, the three said, they just followed their representatives around. But after a while, they got involved in a wide range of matters.

The three have helped research legislation, attended committee hearings, handled constituent inquiries and problems, helped process public-opinion surveys, and spent time greeting visitors when the representatives were busy with other duties.

Stevens noted that she had written three amendments to bills; Norton said he has contacted members of Fallert's tourism committee to check on their support for bills before the committee; and Britt explained he has handled a lot of questions about Kennett-area National Guard troops, which were activated.

All agree that helping constituents with problems is one of the most important duties of a legislator and they have all enjoyed helping with those matters. "It's nice to be able to call a state agency and they listen to you," noted Britt.

Overall, the interns feel most of the members of the General Assembly are dedicated to their constituents and serving the people. They also agree that party lines are generally not as much of a factor as where representatives are from.

Since there was a heated race for House speaker late last year, they are all familiar with some of the actions that have occurred as a result of the race. Norton said that many of the representatives who did not support Speaker Bob Griffin's re-election bid wound up in smaller offices and lost committee chairmanships.

Norton said he was a little uncomfortable with one man having as much power as the speaker has.

Britt added, "There are so many differences of opinion within the House, there has to be some way of checking those. Whether he should have all the power he does have, I'm not sure, but somebody has to have the power to regulate the House. A certain amount of his power is necessary."

Stevens pointed out, "The speaker is king; we all learned that." She noted that political theorists have warned against having too much power in the hands of one person, but added that she has found Griffin to be "very warm and friendly."

The three interns are, at least for now, entertaining thoughts of returning to Jefferson City some day as members of the General Assembly.

"You kind of get a fever for it," said Britt.

All agree this has been a learning experience they hope to build on in the future.

"I probably learned more this semester than any other," said Norton.

"You get a flavor for it and things will be different when we get back to school," added Britt. "I think I'll have a better attitude and I'm more sure of myself now than when I came up here."

Stevens said she'll miss all the people she worked with and got a chance to meet during the last five months. "I'm really going to miss the excitement of the capitol," she declared.