Governmental Studies
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the bulletin of the CENTER FOR IV Volume GOVERNMENTAL ı STUDIES 2001 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA Youth Leadership Initiative Brings Students Into The Political Fold In 2000 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH PARTICIPATE IN DEBATES AND MOCK ELECTION STUDENTS ACROSS VIRGINIA Youth Leadership Initiative students learned the value of political participa- not only voted in the largest online tion firsthand during the 2000 elec- mock election ever, they also staged a tion season, thanks in large part to the legislative forum, welcomed state legis- Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) at the lators to their schools, hosted Center for Governmental Studies. The Congressional debates in two districts, and participated in the most-watched Senate debate in Virginia history. From October 23 to November 2, 2000, YLI introduced voting to tens of thousands of students across the Commonwealth using a medium that is increasingly common in our schools and homes—the Internet. The Youth Leadership Initiative is on the cutting edge of technology, having developed software that allows students to vote online using secure cyber-ballots specifically tailored to each student’s home voting location. The electronic ballots included the races for President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives, as well as four pub- In September of 2000, current Secretary of State Colin Powell lic opinion survey questions. Over the joined Center Director Larry J. Sabato in Richmond to announce summer and fall, YLI registered nearly a formal partnership between the Youth Leadership Initiative 70,000 students in over 300 of and Powell’s organization, America’s Promise. Virginia’s middle and high schools, Congressional debates prior to A MORE PERFECT UNION Election Day: one in Virginia’s 2nd District between Democrat Jody Wagner and Republican Ed Schrock, and one in the 7th District, featur- One of the highlights of the ing Republican Eric Cantor and Democrat Warren Stewart. The stu- year will be the release of dents not only developed the ques- tions and format of the debate, but A More Perfect Union, an were also the ones asking the ques- tions. In addition, schools through- enhanced CD-ROM game that out the Commonwealth welcomed state legislators, including Senator capitalizes on the technology Emily Couric and Delegate Steve Landes, naming them “Honorary revolution and offers an Students” and registering them to participate in the online election. unprecedented means by which YLI was also featured prominent- ly in the October 22nd Senate students can learn about debate between Chuck Robb and George Allen, the first senatorial American politics. The interactive game will allow the user to run a Senate campaign debate broadcast live statewide on network television. Jessica Ann in the fictitious state of Franklin. The player will choose among the four potential can- Bowers, a junior from Heritage High School in Newport News, Virginia, didates of various backgrounds and ideologies, and will control every aspect of the questioned the two candidates for Senator, keeping pace with her fel- campaign, including message development, campaign issues, and polling strategies. low panelists—three seasoned and respected Virginia television journal- ists. Students across Virginia were also able to submit questions via the Internet, many of which were both public and private, to vote “The importance of this mock used during the debate. online. The Youth Leadership election is that thousands of middle In addition to running debates, Initiative also partnered with other and high school students across educating themselves about the can- student leadership programs includ- Virginia are learning from an early didates and issues, and voting, stu- ing Presidential Classroom, Youth E- age the value of civic participation— dents continue to learn more about vote, the National Student Parent that voting is an important responsi- government and history through the 2 Mock Election, and Kids Voting. The bility and a powerful tool,” Youth Leadership Initiative results were announced at a press remarked Ken Stroupe, the Director Classroom Lessons. These lessons, conference in the Virginia General of the Youth Leadership Initiative. developed by YLI and Virginia Assembly building on November Prior to voting, the students in teachers to correspond with the state 2nd. For President, 51.6% of stu- YLI prepared themselves, and in Standards of Learning, varied on dents favored Texas Governor many cases their communities, for topics from the Electoral College to George W. Bush over Vice President the election. Students in the 10th political ideology and the impor- Al Gore. In the U.S. Senate race, stu- Congressional district worked with tance of voting. dents picked former Virginia the Youth Leadership Initiative to “The students and teachers found Governor George Allen over incum- plan a legislative forum with the YLI lessons valuable in the class- 2001 ı bent Senator Charles S. Robb, 57% Congressman Frank Wolf to share room,” said Angela Stokes, YLI to 43%. To see the complete results, with him their views on the impor- Director of Instruction. “The instruc- visit the YLI website at www.youth- tant topics facing Virginia and the tional lessons help provide a histori- Volume IV Volume leadership.net. nation. YLI also hosted cal foundation for our democratic government and prepare students to contribute to the political process today.” One very important partnership was unveiled in September when the Center’s founder and Director Larry J. Sabato joined current Secretary of State Colin Powell in Richmond, Virginia, to announce a formal partnership with the Youth Leadership Initiative and General Powell’s organization, America’s Promise. The Youth Leadership Initiative is currently preparing for its most impressive and productive year yet. This February, YLI students are par- ticipating in the inaugural “Mock Congress” which is held over the YLI students give Virginia State Senator Emily Couric Internet with other schools in the a tour of online voting. Commonwealth and around the country. YLI Students will also take part in the upcoming gubernatorial The YLI staff will continue recruit- in Chicago, New York, California, race, either hosting forums or candi- ing even more schools in Virginia and Las Vegas to continue national date debates, as well as participating for the program, and are preparing expansion efforts. • in another online mock election. to build on this year’s pilot projects PROFILE Angela Stokes THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE is grow- and later as a Staff ing and Angela Stokes has joined the YLI team as Development Instructor, teach- Director of Instruction, bringing to the program a ing fellow teachers and adminis- superb blend of skills and experience. trators. Angela graduated from the University of Virginia in While there, Angela developed curricula 1986 with both a Bachelor of Arts degree in history for gifted students in the areas of social studies and his- 3 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She tory. She even participated in the first YLI programs briefly worked as a teacher with Charter Hospital of with public schools! Charlottesville, where she coordinated programs with “Quality academic teaching resources specifically other teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators linked to the unique academic standards of each state in the Piedmont region to provide quality services for are the hallmark of the Youth Leadership Initiative,” at-risk students. said YLI Director Ken Stroupe. “In preparing to launch Angela chose to continue her education and went on the YLI program nationally, it was essential that our to graduate school at the University of Virginia. In Director of Instruction have extensive teaching experi- IV Volume December of 1998 she acquired a Masters of Reading ence in the Social Studies classroom, a familiarity with degree. While a student, and after her graduation, the American political arena and expertise in curricu- Angela worked in the community with the Albemarle lum development. We could not have found a better ı County School System as a Gifted Resource Teacher person for the job than Angela Stokes.” • 2001 Center Thrives in Election 2000 ALEX THEODORIDIS, CHIEF OF STAFF largest online mock election in U.S. One month after Election Day, we history through our Youth hosted the third annual American From encouraging young people to get Leadership Initiative. More than Democracy Conference on Monday, 100,000 Virginia students from December 4, 2000 at the historic involved in politics to fostering discussion nearly 1,000 schools became Watergate in Washington, DC. Our involved in the political process by panelists, including Andrea Mitchell, participating in this remarkable pro- Elizabeth Drew, Bill Plante and of the issues facing our nation, the Center gram. Students staged candidate Congressmen Tom Davis and Steny forums throughout the state, hosted Hoyer dissected the hotly contested truly made its mark in the most dramatic Congressional debates, and partici- election and examined the health of pated in the most watched, most our democracy. Held on one of the interactive Senate debate in Virginia biggest news days of the six-week election in American history. history between George Allen and post-election saga, our discussions Charles Robb. paused several times to digest new Just one week prior to Election verdicts from both the United States ELECTION 2000 PROVIDED Day, hundreds of students and com- and Florida supreme courts. The America