Civic Engagement – Page 2 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Learning from Best in the West: the Council of State Governments

Written By: Olivia McCaughan

LEAP has had a wonderful time exploring the many sights of Utah and learning numerous facts about Salt Lake City, but the fun hasn’t stopped there. Today was our first official day attending the Council of State Governments Western Legislative Conference. Throughout the day, we attended many interesting speaker sessions, including diverse topics such as Rural Healthcare Transformation Planning, AI in Education, Identifying Human Behavior, the Housing Crisis, Building the Grid of Tomorrow, and Geothermal Energy.

Conference Sessions

Though we had the opportunity to attend several sessions, we did have a few favorites!

One such session was the Rural Healthcare Transformation Planning presentation featuring Ben Eikey, Manager of State Training and Development for the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, with Representative My-Linh Thai (WA) and Representative Matt Soper (CO) moderating. Over the past 20 years, rural hospitals have faced financial crises, and Eikey offered a template to concerned citizens and legislators for how to encourage serious discussion of the issue.

He encouraged a four-step process: (1) becoming as knowledgeable as possible about the issue, in this case, rural healthcare, (2) creating a list of open questions, (3) using the answers to those questions to find evidence, and finally (4) identifying resources, advocates, and committees that are necessary to stimulate a solution for the lack of funding.

This outline provided a guide to what goes into the creation of legislation. As future lawyers- and potential legislators- we all found this very intriguing.

While Jacob, Isis, and I were learning about rural healthcare, Robin and Allie were attending a session on AI in the classroom. With moderation by Carrie Butler of SchoolAI…

…Representative John Arthur (UT), Senator Kirk Cullimore (UT), and Caleb Hicks, CEO of SchoolAI, discussed the impact of a recently passed Utah Bill that will require school boards to create and implement a “best use guide” for software– including AI.

We were surprised to learn that 20 percent of high-school students have had a romantic relationship with AI, and that 80 percent of high-school students use “Shadow AI” (as far as we can tell, this means unapproved AI platforms). With these facts in mind, the panelists were in agreement that: AI had to be incorporated into curriculum, schools and teachers had to teach students how to use this software effectively, honestly, and transparently, and the school systems had to ensure that the software they approved is safe and good for children.

Lunch

For lunch, we all came together to converse, learn more about the CSG, and to hear the keynote speaker of the day, former NYPD Officer, former Secret Service Agent, and author Evy Poumpouras.

The lunch highlighted the work done by many of the leaders of the Council of State Governments (West), including Chair Senator Todd Weiler (UT), Vice-Chair Rep. Lauren Matsumoto (HA), Chair-Elect Senator Loki Tobin (HA), and Past-Chair Rep. Mike Yin (WY), as well as Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks. These discussions culminated in some groan-worthy “dad jokes” by Senator Weiler, as well as an award presented to him by Executive Director of State Government Affairs Council, Beth Loudy.

The highlight of the lunch was keynote speaker Evy Poumpouras. Drawing from her experience in law enforcement, her knowledge of six languages, and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, Poumpouras spoke on the importance of understanding how to converse with others by responding to their headspace. Using techniques taught to her in training, she discussed the different kinds of behavior that a person can exhibit: the warm, social Monkey, the leading Lion, the patient Mouse, or the frank T-Rex.

Each of these “behavioral types” can be exhibited by someone, depending on the situation, and each should be responded to in a different way. While the Lion and the Mouse complement each other, a Monkey responds best to a Monkey, and a T-Rex to a T-Rex. Central to Poumpouras’s argument is that (1) these behavioral characteristics are not permanent, (2) the members of the audience have agency, and they can adopt behaviors that advance their goals, and that (3) good faith behavior fosters trust. Accordingly, the key takeaway was that we should learn to regulate our own reactions to make conversations and meetings more productive. While we may not be using these tools to interrogate terrorists, we are very curious to see how implementing this style affects our communication!

The Red Iguana

Continuing our theme of exploring ethnic food in Salt Lake City, we tried out what our hotel described as the “Best Mexican Food in Salt Lake City,” The Red Iguana. Established in 1985 by Ramon and Maria Cardenas, the restaurant now has three locations in the city, and is a fixture among locals. As noted by Eater, “The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so arrive early to ensure you snag a table or be prepared to wait.”

With us having a “working dinner,” we avoided the wait by getting the food “to go” and eating at the hotel. Olivia and Allie got the “Killer Nachos,” and we learned that the “killer’ may have referred to the size of the nachos—the portions for which were as large as they were scrumptious. Similarly the quesadilla—which resembled a burrito more than the Tex-Mex quesadilla—had more fillings than were expected and beef that was particularly flavorful. Robin and Jacob had the steak a la ranchero, which, received a strong thumbs up from Jacob and a “so-so” from Robin. The sides were a major plus, with the queso and the chile poblano con queso being standouts.

There are many who are suspicious of Mexican food outside of Mexico or Texas, but this is nonsense. Chefs can be developed anywhere, and chefs can emigrate to any city as our experiences in Salt Lake City have attested—with excellent results.

Conclusion

We had a very educational and insightful first conference day, learning about a vast array of topics that have already begun to spark debates and conversations among the Ambassadors. We are all looking forward to the sessions that tomorrow holds and are sure that they will be just as engaging and exciting as today’s!

A Fourth of July Celebration to Remember!

Written By: Nataly Elizondo

The Fourth of July came early at the Walker County Senior Center as LEAP students and volunteers gathered to celebrate with local seniors! We arrived around 9:30 a.m., ready for a fun day filled with games, prizes, and music. The event allowed us to spend time with members of the community while helping to create a festive holiday celebration.

We kicked things off with our regular game of Bingo. Before the game began, Luke and I helped pick out prizes for the winners. It was exciting seeing all the different prizes we had to pick from, and knowing how happy they would make the senior citizens. With Brittlyn and Olivia calling numbers, we added in a few bonus rounds in celebration of the upcoming holiday!

As Bingo wrapped up and lunch preparations began, Brittlyn gave an amazing performance of The Star-Spangled Banner. We all loved her performance and gave her a huge round of applause as the National Anthem concluded. Throughout the morning, everyone enjoyed spending time together by taking silly pictures, playing checkers, and even competing on the Wii. It was so much fun seeing people of all ages laughing and talking to one another.

Before lunch started, we had one more special reason to celebrate… it was Ron Mendliski’s birthday! Everyone gathered around to sing Happy Birthday, and Ron smiled as he blew out his candles. As lunch was served, the LEAP students and volunteers took group pictures with Dottie Fulton, Director of the Lions Club, and Meals on Wheels: Walker County CEO, Stacey Loll. By the end of the event, this celebration was about much more than bingo and prizes. It was about building connections, sharing joy, and making the Fourth of July special for everyone!

From Signed Books to Political Insights: A Night with Mike Pence

Written by: Ruthie Passmore

Even with summer kicking into gear, LEAP students have managed to stay active in furthering their understanding of public affairs! Recently, we were honored to hear former Vice President Mike Pence speak on his new book, What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience at an event hosted by The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston.

In his book, Pence advocates for enduring conservative principles over the appeal of big-government populism within the Republican Party, and we were all thrilled to receive signed copies at the start of the event.

The night began with Sandija Bayot, the Chief Development Officer of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, introducing Kenneth Tubman, the Chairman and President of PPA Resources, who offered a glimpse into Mike Pence’s “multifaceted” career. Pence took the stage alongside exceptional Ronan O’Malley, Chief Programs Officer, who served as the moderator for this event.

Pence opened by highlighting the foundation 1960 Conservative text, The Conscience of a Conservative, by Barry Goldwater, which inspired his decision to write his new book. He discussed how politics in America are going through a dramatic change, and brought up modern marginalization of traditional values.

Pence reflected on his role as a member of the Republican Party, discussing how he went from being a Democrat to a Conservative after realizing that he wanted the values he grew up learning from his grandparents for himself. Pence also spoke about the importance of economic freedom and how he thinks that it is “morally wrong” to look at his children and grandchildren and say to them, “the debt is your problem, not mine.”

As the audience portion of the discussion began, Pence was asked what advice he would give to young people interested in politics. His answer was both simple and impactful, especially as students with an interest in the law: “Show up, don’t wait to get asked.”

Wrapping up, Pence reminded us that the American people are some of the most caring and innovative people, stating that America deserves to have a government just as good as its citizens.

The event ended on a memorable note as we were able to meet and take a photo with Mike Pence, who expressed his confidence in our generation by calling us the “future of politics.”

We concluded the evening with a delicious dinner and dessert from Katz’s Never Kloses, where we shared our thoughts and reflections from the event, a wonderful end to a fantastic and informative evening.

Twenty-Four Hours With LEAP

People often ask, “What do LEAP students do?” It’s difficult to answer, because LEAP students do many things, and many of the things they do differ day-to-day–as a recent twenty-four-hour period demonstrates.

Misery can be Fun (if you are a movie goer!)

With finals over and the summer session not quite underway, LEAP students opted for a little fun, with some popular culture and historic knowledge thrown in. Thus, we went to River Oaks Theatre to see “Misery,” a 1990 film directed by Rob Reiner, written by the great William Goldman, and starring Kathy Bates and James Caan and, of course, based on a book by Stephen King.

This trip was motivated in part by the desire for a fun group activity, but it also ties in to our upcoming visit to The Alley Theatre to see “Misery.” As a very pleasant surprise, we ran into the stars of the play at the theatre! Chris Hutchison and Elizabeth Bunch were there to see the film in advance of their play version (begins at the end of this month!) and also to do a post-screening discussion of the movie and play.

It was a nice night-cap to a fun and, at times, frightening movie, which seemed to be universally enjoyed by the students, and a nice tool to amp-up the anticipation of our June 12 attendance at the Alley.

Chris Hutchison, Elizabeth Bunch, Ashley Winstead, and Keaton Patterson Discuss “Misery”

Commissioners Court Can Also Be Fun (if you aren’t a Commissioner!)

We were able to get back to Huntsville before it was too late, which was a good thing because we had a fairly early morning scheduled. LEAP students regularly volunteer at the Senior Center, and with May being “Older Americans Month,” the Walker County Commissioners Court prepared a proclamation recognizing “Older Americans” and the Walker County Senior Center.

This was a good opportunity to teach the students about local government, the difference between a “consent agenda” and a “statutory agenda”, and why the County Judge–who is not a judge in any traditional sense–is called “Judge.”

The program was brief and pleasant, with LEAP students standing alongside Senior Center Board members and the Executive Director, Stacy Loll, for a photo. For the students, it was a positive introduction to local government, and it was a chance for the students to meet the Commissioners Court, some of them for the first time!

Trials Can Be Interesting (if you aren’t the defendant!)

The Commissioners Court meeting was brief, which was convenient because the students had the opportunity to stop by the District Court and watch the first day of trial in the case of The State of Texas v. Kenneth Eugene Giddens. The defendant was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of retaliation/obstruction.

All the students were able to stay for the voir dire, which was fascinating. Malori Martin was at her best, relating with the potential jury, discussing the law, and providing an effective overview of the prosecution’s view of the case. For the defense, Rane Riley was also effective, offering different graphics to explain the defense’s view of “reasonable doubt,” while also reminding the potential jurors that family conflict are common, suggesting perhaps, that not all such conflicts need to lead to criminal justice outcomes.

Mikaela Baires was able to return and watch the trial for the whole day, which provided her with some unique opportunities…

Brittlyn Jackson headed for lunch; Professor Yawn had to get to KBTX to do an interview;

…Nataly Elizondo headed to the Senior Center, where she often volunteers.

LEAP is Fun and Interesting (most of the time!)

In less than a full day, LEAP students made the most of their unique opportunities, engaging with popular culture–literary, cinematic, and theatric–participating in local government and volunteerism, and watching their criminal justice system at work.

In many ways this day will be different from the days to come, which includes participating in the Lions Club’s “Flag Project,” a tour of Huntsville, and a World Affairs Council event. But each of these days will bring new learning opportunities, high-quality civic engagement, and enjoyable community building–all of which form the core of the LEAP experience.

Rethinking Iran with Seyed Mousavian

LEAP students had the unusual opportunity to hear from a former high-ranking Iranian official while the US is at war with the country it believes to be an active supporter of worldwide terrorism. Thanks to the World Affairs Council, LEAP students were able to hear divergent views–sometimes sharply so–on Iran’s support of terror, nuclear energy program, and other activities that affect international relations.

Following an introduction by WAC CEO Maryanne Maldonado…

…Ronan O’Malley began a moderated discussion with Mousavian. The former Ambassador is working on a book about the United States’ policy toward Iran from the perspective of Presidents Obama (negotiations), Trump (America First), Biden (benign neglect), and Trump (War).

In addition to having served in high-ranking government positions, Mousavian’s credentials also include an MA in International Relations from the University of Tehran and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Kent. He currently teaches at Princeton University.

Mousavian made several assertions, and at times, he made them forcefully:

Iran has been the most inspected country in the world, and these inspections, at least since 2015, have not uncovered any evidence that Iran has made an effort to make nuclear weapons;
Israel is the “elephant in the room,” and unless discussions about Israel are included in Iran-US discussions, no real or permanent progress will be made;
He, Seyed Mousavian, is not guilty of any crimes, nor does he support terrorism.

At least one person in the room objected to the latter point forcefully. In fact, he stood up and scolded the former Ambassador before he was removed by WAC staff and security.

For his part, O’Malley did his due diligence in digging a bit deeper into some of Mousavian’s claims–particularly about the brutality of Iran’s regime–but Mousavian gave no ground. Indeed, at times his claims were sweeping, as when he suggested that the UN always gave clean marks on its inspections of Iran (see, for example, this article).

In the end, such questions are not likely to be answered in an hour-long discussion, but for the open-minded, the discussion led to new facts to be considered, even as it may have reinforced some preexisting beliefs.

Although all of us took away different thoughts about the Iran-US War, we all agreed that this type of event is what the university experience should be: exposure to new ideas by informed speakers on provocative topics.

Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine

We discussed some of these topics at dinner following the event. In LEAP fashion, we chose a restaurant that specialized in mediterranean cuisine, allowing us to further explore Iranian culture. We chose Mary’z, which turned out to be a wise choice.

Beginning with a sampler appetizer, we were able to explore dolmades (excellent), kibbi, sfeeha (very good), and falafel (also excellent).

For dinner, we had various dishes, including beef shwarma, chicken kebab, kafta kebab, and beef kebab, and a felafel plate. In typical LEAP fashion, we sampled from each other’s plates, and there was general consensus that the kafta and the chicken kebabs were the best among an excellent sampling of dishes.

For many students, it was their first time having Mediterranean food, and even if they had enjoyed this culinary tradition, they were able to sample a new dish.

The excellent food capped off an evening of education, exploration, lively debate, and good company, all LEAP hallmarks!

SHSU’s Pre-Law Insights: Constitutional Law and More from the Texas Bar Association

One of the virtues of attending SHSU is its pre-law program, which offers a robust pre-law society, a legal studies minor, many law-related courses, and numerous extra-curricular activities. And so it was that on the last day of finals, three pre-law society members attended the Texas Bar Association’s training on “Litigating the Constitution” at the Texas Law Center near the Texas capitol building.

20 Years of Changes in Constitutional Law

The first session was appropriate for the early morning inasmuch as it was led by the energetic Chad Baruch. In 30 minutes, Baruch covered gun control, religious freedoms, the takings clause, student speech, abortion, judicial deference, affirmative action, and more–and he managed to do this while addressing major changes across all these topics.

The changes loomed larger because it was telescoped into a thirty-minute format, and while all the changes in the diverse policy areas were interesting, two areas stood out. In discussing religious freedom and, specifically, Lemon, Baruch made a comment that could have applied to the whole session:

If you are roughly my age, about 60, having taken constitutional law in college was a serious impediment to your legal education, because almost everything you learned has been overturned.

Also noteworthy were Baruch’s comments on student speech, not only because he was a high-school principal, but also because, as students, this is a topic that naturally interests us. In particular, Baruch discussed the Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021), in which a student who did not make the cheerleading team posted on social media something like the following: “Fuck school fuck softball fuck cheer fuck everything.”

Notably, Baruch was wearing a t-shirt with exactly those words, an homage to the case.

He made clear his stance on this, observing that the “Court got it right,” paraphrasing the opinion as noting that, for a 17-year old student, social media was her town hall–the place in which ideas, no matter how offensive, shallow or foolish, should be offered, challenged, and debated.

The 4th Amendment, Technology, and Privacy

One of the highlights of the day was the presentation by Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Justice Kevin Yeary, who discussed how technology and the amenities of modern society have intruded on the 4th Amendment.

Justice Yeary hit on many historically key cases, including Katz v. US (1967), before highlighting big changes in the last ten years. In Riley (2014), for example, law enforcement agencies prohibited the search of cell phones without a search warrant and in Carpenter (2018) the Court held that location data from cell phone towers also requires a search warrant, limiting the third-party doctrine.

But with Moore’s Law in full effect, technology continues to advance, and the courts are struggling to keep up. Justice Yeary mentioned that one case before the Court, Chatrie v. US, will also affect how law enforcement do their jobs, as well as, of course, how lower courts rule on similar cases. And speaking of lower Courts, Justice Yeary mentioned that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals found it difficult to weigh in on these topics without clear guidance from the USSC.

A Broader View

Other valuable sessions included topics such as executive privilege, in which the Youngstown case–which we covered in Professor Yawn’s Con Law class extensively–was discussed at length.

In an interesting session on the USSC and precedent, Judge Jordan and Matthew Kolodoski, the panelists noted that, despite the headlines, the Roberts court has overturned fewer precedents than the last five courts, on average.

And while all the sessions were timely, Eric Opelia’s presentation on recent cases on voting rights was perhaps the most timely. Indeed, he mentioned that he thought that the Louisiana v. Callais (2026) case would be his late-breaking news for this presentation, given that it was decided by the Court fewer than ten days ago. The Virginia Supreme Court, however, decided in the last 24 hours that Virginia’s recent redistricting election (which passed, to the Democratic Party’s favor) was unconstitutional. This may head to the USSC, but either way, it adds uncertainty to the districts up for grabs in the 2026 mid-term elections.

We were also privileged to hear from two members of the Governor’s Staff, including Jason Bramow and Trevor Ezell, the latter of whom gave the Gregory Coleman Federalism lecture.

We also heard from Judge Farris, as well as two scholarly presentations by law professors on constitutional enumeration and originalism.

Concluding Thoughts

This was a unique way for us to supplement our constitutional law classroom experience, with presentations by practicing attorneys. That we were able to glean so much information in only one day speaks well of the presenters and organizers.

We were very grateful to attend this event, and the outgoing and incoming Presidents (Matthew Kolodoski and Judge Rossini, respectively) were very welcoming, even when they learned we were undergraduates.

A Capitol Day in Austin

It was a busy time. Sandwiched between finals and SHSU move-out day, we took a quick trip to Austin to attend a conference and visit the capitol building, where some of us would like to intern in the spring of 2027. We made the most of it.

While Jacob and Zackery had visited the capitol building, it was Kayla’s first time. But for all of us, we had a chance to learn more, armed with information from Professor Yawn’s oft-given tours.

We learned that all the hinges on doors in the TX capitol have the State Seal on them, and that they are eight-by-eight, weighing around seven pounds…

…and that even the door knobs are photogenic.

We stopped by the Treasurer’s Office, which has been restored to its early 1900s look, and has many artifacts in the space.

We also went to the Rotunda, where one individual was enthusiastically exercising his free speech rights (which endured our entire tour of almost two hours)…

The Rotunda also displays 47 of Texas’s 48 Governors, with only Abbott missing. (Governor Abbott will not have his portrait done until he leaves office.) We picked out some of the more notable ones, including Governor Bush, who of course, went on to be President…

…and, of course, we found Sam Houston’s portrait.

With each new governor, every portrait has to be moved over one spot, all the way up the rotunda…

We also learned more about Elizabet Ney and her sculptures, while also exploring the House and Senate, giving us a chance to see some of the more picturesque scenes from the statehouse and giving us a chance to practice some photography.

We also explored the ground floor, where we saw the Medal of Honor display which seemed sort of lonely…

…the extension…

…where we saw the capitol dome through a skylight, and a bust of SHSU alum Gib Lewis, former Speaker of the TX House.

It was an educational morning, with lessons on the legislature and the capitol’s many connections to SHSU and Sam Houston the man.

Skipjack Oyster

Nestled in downtown Austin is Skipjack Oyster, about which our advisor spoke highly. Striking a balance between high-end and casual and relaxed coastal-inspired decor with lively energy, it was an escape from the busy pace of the capitol.

For appetizers, we tried some Oysters, including samples from six different locations across the United States and Canada, ranging from salty and briny to sweet to acidic, giving us a sense of how much variation can occur from the same food item!

We also tried the Salmon dip, which is smoked and adorned with chives and boursin, a creamy French cheese flavored with herbs. This made the perfect dip for chips that were delicious–indeed, we ran out of chips before we ran out of dip!

For the main entrees, Jacob and Zackery–who share a brain, apparently–ordered the Redfish, which offered a nice mixture of mild seafood flavor, supplemented by a tangy green tomato relish.

Kayla enjoyed the Seafood Tagliatelle, which featured clams, shrimp, mussels, herbs, white wine, and tomatoes. The sauce was perfect, well-seasoned, and complemented the different types of seafood.

This was, in turn, complemented by the Lobster Mac and Cheese, which was both large and scrumptious, offering a grated cheese and healthy portions of lobster.

Of course, we capped off the dinner with dessert, consisting of a banana cream pie and bread pudding, with the former winning votes as favorite.

In just a few hours, we were able to enjoy key elements of Austin: the capitol, its politics, policy, and tourism scenes, and the food, which is always a delight and sometimes the highlight!

Fun in the Sun at the CASA Kids Expo

Written by Kayla Fleming

It’s often said that the strength of a community is found in the opportunities it creates for its people—especially its youth. Building on that idea, CASA of Walker County hosted their 3rd annual Kids Expo, bringing together organizations, families, and volunteers for a day centered around connection, learning and supporting youth.

The event was organized by Laura Green, Director of Development for CASA of Walker County. Situated in the parking lot and grounds of Huntsville Church of Christ, organizations from across the community set up tents, activities, food, and entertainment, while mascots such as the Chick-fil-A Cow, the EASCO Duck, and HEB Buddy roamed the grounds.

Central to everything were a series of featured programs, beginning with a heart-melting puppet show. Families could enjoy the synchronized dances of the Huntsville ISD Drill Team, the tumbles and flips from the Pocket Aces Cheer Company, the curated styles of the Buck & Bo Fashion show and the swirling bright colors of the Ballet Folklorico.

Informational booths included emergency services, the City of Huntsville’s Parks & Recreation (Good to see you Michelle and Joseph!), the ever-present Rob Hipp, Huntsville Memorial Hospital (good to see you Brian Goldgar!), one of our favorite bakeries (Yolk and On Bakery), Cenikor (good to see you salvador Favela!), Sam Houston State University (Good to see you Courtney Chastine!), rock wall climbing, food options, and many more.

LEAP brought together 14 of the volunteers, all positioned in the Kid’s Zone, where many of the games and activities for children were housed.

There was a mini-train, run by our Laura Green’s very own Glenngineer; a foam party by the playground in the back; three bouncy-houses for different ages; face painting; archery and a photobooth. Towards the back, there was a petting zoo offering miniature pony rides and families the chance to interact with animals such as bunnies, pigs, ducks, a llama, goats, and a tortoise. Elliot’s Jewelers sponsored a Balloon Artist and a “sketches to sparkle” Jewelry design contest for the ages 5-12.

And while we were at it, Professor Yawn decided to climb the firetruck ladder…

…for some aerial shots.

To end this wonderful event, CASA did drawings for four bicycles, making some families very happy.

As the day wrapped up, the volunteers posed for a group photo, with the train as a backdrop, and we all got our first ride on a train!

We and many of the other volunteers helped take down the event, moving chairs and tables and such, and we were able to call it a day’s work. And while volunteering involves work, it was also a lot of fun, made even more satisfying by knowing that many families had a good time at an event that is rapidly becoming a Huntsville tradition.

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