Approximately 530 students from across the state traveled to Jefferson City and created a mock government for the YMCA's 2014 Youth in Government (YIG) program on Friday.
"This is a model government program for eighth- through 12th-grade students," said Ken Hussey, state director for the YIG program. "It is a really unique experience to get this age group into the actual Capitol building. They discuss some really important issues to them. ... They have some passionate debates. It is kind of exciting to watch their enthusiasm for government and wanting to make the state a better place."
The students were led by about 70 teachers, volunteers and YMCA staff. The "YIG-sters" fill the both chambers of the Missouri Legislature, while voting on legislation they drafted in committees the previous night. They also conduct mock trials with student judges, lawyers and witnesses. There is even print and broadcast student media to cover all the happenings.
One of the first items of business on Friday was hearing campaign speeches from candidates for the student governor position. This year's program yields two candidates to lead the student-run program for the coming year. The first being Patti O'Brien, St. Joseph's Academy delegation.
"I believe I bring the passion, experience and dedication necessary to create and carry on the traditions of this positive YIG environment," O'Brien said.
O'Brien's experiences include three years of volunteering for the judicial branch, two of which she was a judge, and being selected as one of 25 people to participate in a national legislative conference. She is also the class president and the editor for her high school's newspaper, she said.
The second governor candidate was Cameron Lundberg, of the Francis Howell Central delegation. Lundberg said he believes the governor should represent the people's ideas and listen to meet their needs. He also said he would follow through with his promises.
"I believe Youth in Government should be in the hands of the people," Lundberg said.
Lundberg is a member of the Athletic Council, National Society of High School Scholars, Eagle Scouts and a National Honors Society officer.
The YIG governor will be elected today.
The Judicial Branch of YIG ended its first case Friday and began the competition rounds. Participants in these mock trials have only had a day to prepare for the cases.
Competition rounds began at 2 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. The judges decide on four different teams of four students, two lawyers and two witnesses to be the semifinalists. After that, two teams will be selected to be the finalists, then one winning team will emerge.
"I get to see things from both sides of the bench," said YIG first-year attorney Sophie Radetic, of the St. Joseph's Academy delegation. "And I get to understand what I've been taught in school about the Constitution."
The work is stressful, but most judicial participants agree that it's worth it. The tireless work ethic will pay off, as there are awards for best attorney and best witness that will be presented this afternoon.
Each year, there are several proposed bills in the YIG legislature to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 in Missouri. This year, it is Student House Bill 161.
Connor Eigelberger and Connor McClew of the Rockwood Summit High School delegation authored the bill. Eigelberger and McClew both said they were inspired by the death of a friend from binge drinking and alcoholism.
The bill summary states that 17.5 percent of all alcohol purchases are by minors. A 2006 study reported that 72.2 percent of high school seniors have tried alcohol at some point in their lives, but it does not state to what extent, according to the summary.
"We would like (law enforcement officers) to focus more on DUIs than just kids walking around with a drink," Eigelberger said.
The bill's authors said they also aim to boost the economy and lower the numbers of people driving under the influence, minors in possession, as well as the deaths and injuries from alcohol-related car accidents.
The bill did not make it past the House; 80 student representatives opposed it, two abstained and 69 voted in favor.
Some other popular topics for bills this year are the legalization of marijuana and prostitution.
Elizabeth Finck, Sophie Lodes and Zach Zimmer are YIG student reporters. Fink, 15, is a sophomore at Mexico High School, and she says she plays tennis and runs track, she and plans to attend the University of Missouri to study broadcast journalism. Lodes, 15, is a freshman at St. Joseph's Academy in St. Louis; she says she enjoys politics and theater and plans to study writing, history or politics in college. Zimmer, 17, is a senior at Fulton High School; he says he enjoys wind-surfing and soccer, and plans to attend the University of Missouri for engineering.
Information for this story was contributed by News Tribune reporter Landon Reeves, [email protected].