The Sinclair Ohio Fellows sponsored a trip to the Ohio Statehouse where political science students from Charles Curran’s state and local government class had the chance to experience government in action.
Their professor, Charles Curran, and Sinclair Ohio Fellows advisor, Tom Roberts, joined twelve students and lead them on their tour of the Statehouse sharing their experiences with the group.
Curran and Roberts both previously served in the Ohio legislature. Roberts, D, served from 1986 to 2000 in the House, and in the Senate from 2001 to 2008. Curran served as a Democratic State Senator for the 6th district from 1979 to 1983.
The group made stops to listen in on hearings before the Transportation, Commerce and Labor committee where the Transportation and Public Safety Budget was discussed.
Students had the chance to chat with two lobbyists after the hearings were completed and learn about the history of the term lobbyist. Roberts explained that the term originated when petitioners would meet legislators in the lobby to discuss issues.
“They had a chance to talk with some lobbyist and see a committee hearing, that’s really where the guts of the legislature are. It’s not out on the floor, out on the floor is after the fact,” Curran said.
Before making their way to the Senate and House sessions the group enjoyed lunch at the Capitol Café in the Statehouse.
“My favorite part besides the meal, because lunch was really good, would be actually hearing the vote pass on the House floor,” said Deborra Hill, a real estate major and small business owner.
After lunch students had the chance to hear House Bill 4 pass and experience a Bill pas through the House. House Bill 4 makes Naloxone, a drug that reduces the effects of other narcotics, more available. Naloxone is most specifically used in treatment of heroin overdose.
Hill, who in the past worked in hospitals, was happy to see the Bill pass.
“I’ve seen people addicted to heroin and it’s not a pretty site,” Hill said.
“We could end up with a situation where … we’re encouraging addiction itself because we’re building in all of these protections,” Rep. Ron Young, R said.
While walking the halls of the Statehouse, students met Rep. Fred Strahorn, D, who is Minority Leader and represents Ohio’s 39th district, which includes much of Dayton.
Governor Kasich stopped to say hello to Curran and Roberts after speaking at a fundraiser.
Teresa Fedor, D, represents the 45th district, and talked with the group about her work with human trafficking.
“I’m very confident in what we have to begin to really eradicate this human rights violation in the state of Ohio,” Fedor said in a Columbus Dispatch report after the End Demand Act, which boosts paying for sex with a minor from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third- or fifth-degree felony, was passed.
Students were exposed to many different ideas throughout the day. After the tour Curran spoke with his students in the lobby of the Statehouse before they returned to the bus.
“I hope there was little bit of exposure to the State government structure, number one. Number two, I hope there were some connections made with personalities they have heard about,” Curran said.
Tara Poteet, a political science major, has been a Sinclair student for two years and plans to attend the University of Dayton after graduating from Sinclair. She shared her thoughts on the trip.
“I think it was great for everybody because most people don’t even know this is open so they are probably more likely to come back and experience it again versus being completely oblivious to things that are going on around them,” said Poteet.
Poteet explained that she isn’t a political science major to become a politician, but that she is interested in working in military intelligence.
“I’m hoping that I will make some connections once I get to UD. We have a great intelligence area here,” said Poteet.
Hill expressed why the trip was important to her.
“I never would have come here on my own,” said Hill. “A lot of the laws I was unfamiliar with, so I’ll be able to apply what I’ve learned to my real estate career, and some of these laws are important and how to amend some of those laws if you come across some of those laws that you want changed.”
Sinclair Ohio Fellows will continue to sponsor the trip to the Ohio Statehouse. Roberts said the trip will be offered to students every other year.
“It’s a part of citizenship… It gives them a chance to see what they heard in the classroom. You vote for those people, now you get to see what they do,” Roberts said. “It’s democracy in action.”
Curran spoke about the experience being beneficial for students to actually see government in action.
“This is a wonderful laboratory,” Curran said.
Matt Sells
Executive Editor