Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Prairie State College student Lisa Jackson now knows how President Barack Obama felt when he was a senator. Jackson, of Chicago Heights, held a senator position during Model Illinois Government (MIG), an annual statewide simulation of the Illinois General Assembly.
Jackson, along with 250 students from 20 colleges and universities in Illinois, recently took part in the MIG simulation. Students chose among various roles including legislators, lobbyists, journalists, attorneys, justices, budget analysts, and leadership positions within the parties and committees. Students were assigned political parties and districts and were placed in committees of their particular interests.
Jackson and her fellow senators deliberated a wide range of issues from the death penalty to the fee limit for bingo cards.
“These were real issues that our government debated, and I experienced first-hand how decisions are made,” said Jackson. “Model Illinois Government was a great way to develop my communication skills with other students from across the state.”
PSC student Crystal Alston, of Chicago Heights, also participated in MIG, but as a journalist filing stories for the MIG Journal.
“We received our assignments from a central newsroom, had staff meetings, conducted interviews, and wrote our stories,” said Alston, whose major is Journalism. “The experience was amazing, and I gained many skills to be a successful journalist.”
Other PSC students who participated in Model Illinois Government were Camiella Williams, of Flossmoor; Michael Baratta, of Homewood; Aron Lowe, of Flossmoor; and Thomas Schlaudraff, of Glenwood.
“The students embraced the entire experience and participated fully in the activities,” said Andy Schott, professor of political science, who accompanied the students to Springfield. “The best part of it all is watching students do things they wouldn’t normally do while seeing others exceed your expectations.”
