ESU American Presidency Class Visits U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Caption: Twenty-two students from ESU spent the day in Washington, D.C. recently as part of their American Presidency class experience. The students were, first row, from left: Brandon Doll, Jessica Eddy, Holly Case, Graham Kington, and Jon Black. Second row: Brian Bustin, Robert Szepietowski, James Buro, Danielle LaGuerre Raquel Medrano, and Samantha Thomas. Third row: James Maruth, Ryan Berry, Akif Can, Richard Keenen, and Conor Gillis. Fourth row: George Green, Dylan Spraguer, Angelo Pizzullo, Jr., and Corey Gensemer. The trip was arranged by Dr. Kimberly S. Adams, assistant professor of political science at ESU and was funded by the Noonan Endowment Fund, the ESU Student Activity Association, and the university's Dean for Arts and Sciences.

A group of students from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania spent the day in Washington, D.C. on October 31, where they witnessed United States Senate proceedings at the U.S. Capitol Building and toured Union Station. This special event was sponsored by the Noonan Endowment Fund, the ESU Student Activity Association, and the university's Dean for Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Kimberly S. Adams, assistant professor of political science, arranged the trip for students enrolled in her American Presidency class with assistance from Senator Arlen Specter's (R- PA) office. Twenty-two undergraduate and graduate students made the trip, accompanied by Dr. Adams and Dr. Alla Wilson, interim dean of the College of Business Management, and Economics.

According to Dr. Adams, "The purpose of the trip was to provide students with an experiential education opportunity that cannot be imparted in a traditional classroom setting. The field trip enhanced the students' educational growth by providing them with a practical understanding of governmental bureaucracy and the executive and legislative branches of government."

While observing Senate proceedings from the Senate Gallery of the U.S. Capitol, the students witnessed Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) speak passionately about the war in Iraq, the S-CHIP program, and the President's emergency funding request of $194 billion to continue to fight the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Following their time in the Capitol building, the students visited Union Station, where they ate dinner and toured the facility. Unfortunately, a planned tour of the White House had to be cancelled due to a minor security-related situation not concerning the visiting group from ESU.

For more information about this event or the political science program at ESU, contact Dr. Adams at (570) 422-3924.