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Michigan Student Political Issues ConventionDeveloping a Political VoiceandMaking Politics RelevantHenry Bowers, Eric Rader, Cynthia Stiller and Robert YahrmatterfromHenry Ford Community CollegeDearborn, Michigan

Rationale for the ConventionsTeaching democracyFoster democratic skills central function of academic institutionsSPIC demystify democratic politicsEngage students around issue of concernTeach participants that their concerns matter and provide them with a launching place for future political participation

Overview of the Agenda Process

Building a Consensus AgendaWorking collaboratively to develop effective political voiceLearn how to expand a coalition for more successLearn how to create a message and a strategy for success

The Agenda Setting model has three core areas:

The development of a list of concerns-limited in number, -students engage each other through direct dialogue in class and indirect discourse through course electronic discussion boards.-issues are societal in nature and require societal and/or governmental responses.2) Define the issue(s) and the building of evidence to support the concerns legitimacy that can be used in advocacy activities. -students develop persuasive essays before/after the convention to promote their concerns more widely.3) The development of a strategic plan for pushing the issue(s) on the political agenda for wider discourse and attention.

The Convention

Opening Plenary

Issue Workshops:

Voting Caucus

Final Plenary Session: Report of Caucus Vote, Vote of Final Agenda, and Elected Official Response to AgendaPre-Convention and in Workshops Student Posters to Promote Issues

Posters range from the global

To the Local Concerns

Students championing their concern with family and friends.Schedule of ConventionTimeLocationRegistration8:30-9:30 a.m.Lobby of Forfa Mazzara BuildingOpening Session9:30-10:00 a.m.Forfa AuditoriumIssue Workshops I10:10-10:50 a.m.Various Locations See program guideIssue Workshops II10:55-11:35 a.m.Various Locations See program guideCaucus: Voting on Issues11:40-12:10 p.m.Assigned rooms onWorkshop insert Final Session12:20-1:30 p.m.Forfa Auditorium

Opening General Plenary

Student hear keynote, overview of the workshops and vote on the caucus voting rules

Former US Congressmen Bart Stupak provided the Keynote Address while Congressmen John Dingell responds to the student agenda at the final plenary session

Students Promoting their Concerns inIssue Workshops

Participating Higher Education Institutions Attendance Includes Students and/or Faculty from:Eastern Michigan UniversityHenry Ford Community CollegeMacomb Community CollegeMarygrove CollegeMonroe Community CollegeOakland Community College-Auburn HillsOakland Community College-Royal OakSchoolcraft CollegeUniversity of Michigan-DearbornWayne State UniversityWashtenaw Community College

Caucus Voting Rules for ConventionEach Voting Caucus group will tally the students vote for presentation at the Final Plenary Session.

For an issue to be considered for a vote in the caucus each issue that can be voted on in the caucus must receive a nomination by one student, and a minimum of two students must second the nomination.

Each student is allowed to nominate only one (1) issue, but has no limit on the number of issues they can second.

Issues receiving a nomination, but not receiving the required seconds can only be considered one time for inclusion in the caucus vote.

Once an issue has been nominated and seconded two times, then the caucus coordinator will write the issue on the chalk board. [This will indicate the issues eligibility for being voted on.]

Caucus coordinator shall announce three (3) times that the nominations are closing before accepting no more nominations and proceeding with the voting.

Each student can cast up to 3 votes. The votes can be cast towards a single issue or can be distributed for up to 3 issues.

Based on the number of votes each issue receives in the caucus, the top seven issues will be placed on the final Michigan Student Political Issues agenda.

If fewer than seven issues are reported out of the caucus, then those issues will be the only issues considered during the vote of the final agenda.

All issues receiving votes, but not making it upon the final agenda, will be listed in an addendum indicating their support.

After the report of the caucus sessions, a vote will occur during the final session on the final agenda.

A motion must be made by a caucus (made by caucus coordinator) and seconded by another caucus to begin the final vote or for any other modification to the final list of issues (combining or eliminating issues can occur in the final session; however, additions will not be accepted).

Honorary Steering CommitteeMichael J. BouchardOakland County SheriffIrma Clark-ColemanMichigan State SenatorJohn Conyers, Jr.U.S. CongressmanMike CoxMichigan Attorney GeneralGeorge Cushingberry, Jr. Michigan State RepresentativeGeorge Darany Michigan State RepresentativeJohn D. DingellU.S. CongressmanDavid DoyleMarket Research GroupRobert A. FicanoWayne County ExecutiveJennifer GranholmMichigan Governor Cynthia Gray HathawayJudge, Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan

Morris W. Hood, IIIMichigan State SenateKurt HeiseMichigan State RepresentativeTerri Lynn LandMichigan Secretary of StateCarl LevinU.S. Senator Thaddeus McCotterU.S. CongressmanJohn B. OReilly, JrMayor, City of DearbornDaniel S. PaletkoMayor, City of Dearborn HeightsL.Brooks PattersonOakland County ExecutiveMartha G. ScottMichigan State SenatorDebbie StabenowU.S. Senator Gary WoronchakWayne County Commissioner Promoting IssueTaking the issue and promoting it:Honorary Steering CommitteeMediaBuilding larger-and-larger coalitions Using social mediaNational Student Issues Week and Related Agendas and ConventionsIllinois, etc.Linking the Convention to the classroomHistory of ConventionsUrban Agenda Conventions at Wayne State University 1987-2003Single UniversityHigh School and Middle SchoolPromote Urban Issues in electionsHenry Ford Community College2004-present

Building the 1st Student Political Issues ConventionPart of National Student Political Issues Week

Institutional SupportLogisticsConvention HallWorkshop RoomsAV and Technology SupportPrint ShopParkingFood and BeveragesHospitality SuitePartnershipsUniversity of Illinois-ChicagoProfessor Dick SimpsonSt. Marys College, Houston, TexasProfessor JP FalettaLeague of Women VotersMivote.org Rock the Vote