The MIG competition brings together about three hundred college students from over two dozen Illinois colleges to debate actual bills that are before both the Illinois Senate and the House. Students act out the roles of House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, lobbyists, budget analysts, staffers, and journalists in the elaborate simulation. A moot court, considering a pre-determined appellate case, is also conducted with students serving as attorneys and justices. The whole simulation is run by a nine member, student-elected executive board composed of Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer, House Speaker, Senate President, and Chief Justice, together with a panel of faculty advisers.
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Politics and Government Majors
Aaron Hughes and Dan O'Donnell
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For the 2004-05 session, Aaron Hughes (senior Politics and Government major from Kewanee) was elected Assistant Minority Leader and won the award for Best Senator in a Committee; for the 2005-06 session, Hughes was elected Treasurer and Dan O’Donnell (junoir Politics and Government major from Oak Lawn) was elected Governor. Dana Van de Walker (snior Politics and Government major from Danville) was elected Whip and wrote original legislation mandating internships for College graduation, which passed overwhelmingly.
Members of the team noted the opportunity to participate in MIG helped develop leadership skills and a greater understanding of how parliamentary procedure is conducted. Mark Swenson, a junior who participated in MIG for the past two years, explained the event as an opportunity for networking, as well. “Graduates and alumni from previous programs hold political positions now, and some work at the Capitol,” he said. MIG is one way for students to interact with persons in politics before interviewing to enter the field, an ambition many participants hold.
The project has been overseen by Professor Barry Colvin. Colvin was approached by Hughes and Sara Einfeldt after the students found out that MIG had lost its funding and needed a faculty advisor to have its status reinstated. Colvin agreed to lead the group, then inspired Politics and Government student Nick Miller to join MIG. The team faced adversity when Colvin suffered a stroke mid-semester. While deeply concerned for their professor’s health, the students did not want to let Colvin down by not participating in the event. Fortunately, Professor Nancy Lind stepped-in as the team’s advisor just a week before they left for Springfield.
"The students had to face more adversity in this simulation than any other group, losing their advisor to a medical condition and having some of their committee assignments changed the night before the simulation began," Lind explained. "I am very proud of how the students performed and extend my congratulations to each of them."