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Illinois Senate President Visits Class
Senator Emil Jones, Jr.
with Politics and Government
Chair Jamal Nassar
On February 15, Senator Emil Jones, Jr. spent class time with Politics and Government students to discuss “realpolitik” on the state level—the actual workings and political tensions that occur in state government debates. Senator Jones, President of the Illinois Senate, serves as one of the most influential political leaders in Illinois and sets the agenda for business before the Illinois Senate. Senator Jones met with Bernard Sieracki’s POL 221: State Government class, which is designed to provide students with a theoretical grounding in the dynamic form of state government systems and concomitantly provide a sense of "realpolitik." Senator Jones provided examples of the "realpolitik" that takes place in Springfield and is taking place presently as the State debates serious budget deficits. "It is truly an honor to have Senator Jones on campus," said Dean Olson. "The fact that he would take the time to speak to students is testament to Jones' commitment to and belief in our educational system."

 

 


Senator Jones addresses POL 221 students

Senator Jones candidly addressed the tensions government officials face concerning funding allocations. He explained that “everyone comes down to Springfield with an agenda” and that it is a function of leadership to extract from all those agendas funding and taxing processes that will benefit the most people in the state. Professing his commitment to public service, Senator Jones emphasized that a good public servant needs to be “careful of not playing to the cheers of the crowd.” He reiterated his devotion to education, which led students to ask detailed questions about school funding issues. Student questions also prompted discussions about possible Amtrack cuts and funding for stem cell research.

Sieracki has arranged for students to meet with guest speakers from the legislative, judiciary, and executive branches of state government throughout the semester. Some scheduled visitors are State Representative Daniel J. Burke (Chicago), State Representative Dan Brady (Bloomington), Supreme Court Justice Rita Garmon, and Chairman of the Illinois Pollution Control Board J. Phil Novak. Sieracki hopes these speakers will relate to students a sense of how state government functions and how important state government is in relation to their daily lives.

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