Three Morrisville State College students recently participated in the New York State Model Senate Session Project, a dynamic program for students interested in public service.
Participating were: Shanique Carmichael, a journalism student from Brooklyn; Melody Rodriguez, a health-related studies student from Syracuse; Darleny Brito, a criminal justice student from Manhattan; and Silvia Bliss, of Chittenango, assistant professor of liberal arts, the group’s advisor.
The New York State Model Senate Session Project is an annual leadership development program sponsored by the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force of the New York State Legislature and the City and State University of New York (CUNY/SUNY). Morrisville is one of only seven SUNY campuses that participated.
More than 60 CUNY and SUNY students are chosen every year to participate in the program, which involves intensive training seminars on state policy formulation, legislative processes, representation and leadership. Prominent NYS legislators and guest lecturers also participated.
The event enabled students to enhance their organizational, research and public speaking skills, and introduced them to a “hands-on” approach to involvement in the political and policy processes that affect them, their families and their communities.
“This was truly a transformative experience for students,” Bliss said. “They learned about the legislative process and strengthened their leadership skills and self-confidence as they listened to current leaders encourage them to prepare to be the leaders of the future and to engage in public service.”
The project culminated with students debating bills on the floor of the New York State Senate Chamber in Albany. This year’s debate was on the issue of family leave.
“This is the kind of experiential learning that Morrisville is known for,” Bliss said. “Students had to think critically and work on effective ways to communicate their ideas clearly to an audience as they advocated for their position regarding the passing or not of the Family Paid Leave Act.”
“This was a lifelong experience,” Brito said. “I learned about proposed bills, discussed them with senators and had the opportunity to network with other students and politicians.”