Last modified: Thursday, April 14, 2005
Future state leaders benefit from Capitol Forum Indiana program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 14, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- More than 100 students from 16 Indiana high schools will participate on Monday and Tuesday (April 18-19) at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis in an Indiana University-supported program on international issues, foreign policy and the role of the United States in the world.
The Center for the Study of Global Change at IU Bloomington is the statewide coordinator for Capitol Forum on America's Future, a program that is based at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. Eight other states have similar programs.
Project Coordinator Julie Patterson said the program is an experiential civic education initiative designed to give high school students a voice in considering current international issues. Leading up to next week's events, another 500 students in social studies classes have been involved in class projects on the topics for discussion.
"It gives students a voice in the world around them and makes them aware of global issues," said Patterson, a former school teacher in Bartholomew County. "It gives the community an opportunity to see what teenagers think about these issues."
Among the topics up for debate are the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, outsourcing and the role of the United Nations. Students will discuss immigration, global trade and environmental issues and terrorism. They will act as representatives of their schools and classmates and be polled on their views in a questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire will be included in a national report that is distributed to educators, politicians and the media.
The event also will include an open forum discussion on Tuesday (April 19) featuring Lane Ralph, deputy state director for Sen. Richard Lugar; Doran Moreland, regional director for Sen. Evan Bayh; Dr. J. Eric Dietz, the recently appointed Homeland Security Director of Indiana; William Masters, a Purdue University professor with background in U.S. aid efforts, food policies, trade and agricultural environment; and John Broyles, an immigration attorney. The panel will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Government Center South.
Sherry Ricchiardi, senior writer for American Journalism Review and a professor in the IU School of Journalism, will speak with the student press corps from Capitol Forum Indiana about the media's role in informing the public about international issues. Students also will conduct a simulated Senate hearing on foreign policy.
A reception will be held on Monday (April 18), from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Indiana Statehouse.
Among the schools being represented are Indianapolis Cathedral High School, Columbus East High School, Lafayette Jefferson High School, Hauser Junior/Senior High School in Hope, North Daviess High School, Northwest High School in Kokomo and Silvercreek High School in Sellersburg. Other schools include those from Bloomington, Dunkirk, Evansville, Loogootee, Mishawaka, Montgomery, Wabash and Zionsville.
Note: George Vlahakis in IU Media Relations has a complete list of participating schools and contact information for school teachers for news outlets that want to cover this program's impact in their own communities.
