COLLEGE LEADERSHIP RHODE ISLAND

Community Leadership and Public Service

Session Three of the College Leadership program is designed for students to engage in experiential learning about how to advocate for change through government involvement, including working on political campaigns, working in a government position, or serving in elected office.

In 2004 and 2005, students visited the Rhode Island State House to learn firsthand the legislative process.  They became State Senators for the day, debating and voting on actual live bills pending in the Rhode Island General Assembly.  Prior to the session day, the students are assigned to different political parties and met to determine their party’s position on the pending legislation.

At the 2005 session, the students discussed (and soundly defeated) the West Warwick casino referendum, while they learned how the legislative process works and heard testimony from state leaders on a number of issues related to the casino proposal.

Acting President of the Senate for this session was John Roney, himself a former State Senator and a 1990 graduate of the Core program. While at the State House, the student Senators were also addressed by Governor Donald Carcieri and Lieutenant Governor Charles Fogarty, LRI ’88.

Click here to view photos.