2nd Year Advocacy Project Notes

I thought Courtney Dunn’s post on housing affordability was very thought-provoking. I think this is a topic not heavily covered or talked about in politics, news, or other forms of media. I think this can be chalked up to the fact that it’s not as flashy as other political topics, such as free public college or Medicare for All. Nonetheless, there is a housing crisis in America as rent prices spike due to landlords seeking to make access profit, gentrification as wealthy real estate developers look to create trendy new homes, and the rate of homeless citizens continues to be alarming. Housing is a human right. Full stop. Courtney’s post touched on how the history of housing in America has led to disparities we see today, which I think is an important point to make. Her post inspired me to research more on this topic. I don’t think we can even start to think about creating equal opportunity for a fulfilling life for all Americans if we can’t get housing right. Being able to go home at night, somewhere you feel safe and somewhere you can afford, is essential. I believe everyone should be an advocate for affordable housing. I’m really glad I could read Courtney’s forum post, I really learned a lot.

November PSL Question

The size of the House of Representatives is not set by the Constitution. The number of Representatives would increase with each census until the 1920s. After controversy surrounding the 1920 census arose, a resolution passed in 1929 that stated the size of the House of Representatives would stay as it was in 1910 – 435 – no matter the population. (Greenberg 2017) While some nowadays believe that the system set in place is just, others find this way of government problematic. I believe the current apportionment of Congress is unjust; in a government that says it stands on equality there should be a more adequate way to distribute Congressional representation. 

First, it is important to point out why the current apportionment of the House of Representatives should be altered. Basing the current federal representation off of America’s population in 1910 is wrong because it leaves too many Americans underrepresented. As FairVote.org lays it out, “U.S. population has tripled since 1910, and the fixed number of seats creates serious disparities among states in the number of people per representative.” (Greenberg 2017) There is the popular example of Wyoming and Montana both having one congressional seat even though Wyoming has a population of 568,300 while Montana’s population is almost double at 1,043,000. These facts prove that it is time to seriously reconsider how the House of Representatives should be apportioned. One alternative method that has recently come into discussion is an idea called The Wyoming Rule.

The Wyoming Rule would restructure federal representation in the House through a method where apportionment would be based on the population of the smallest unit: Wyoming. This method would use state’s populations based on the 2010 Census. Wyoming’s population of around 560,00 would be rounded down to 500,000 and every other state’s population would be rounded down to their nearest 500,000. Then, each state’s population would be divided by 500,000 and the number calculated would be the number of representatives that state receives. As DailyKos.com points out, implementing the Wyoming Rule would be a legislative process since the size of the House of Representatives is not set by the Constitution. As a result of this new method, 36 states would see an increase in federal representatives. (Daily Kos 2018) To summarize, this is a problem of unequal representation that can be simply fixed. To solve this injustice, the Wyoming Rule should be implemented.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

  • Global Awareness: Reach out + be assertive so I can make friends who bring different points of view and perspective to my life. I also want to participate in activities outside of my comfort zone.
  • Original Inquiry: Participate in research concerning gerrymandering, economic issues, race relations, and public policy.
  • Academic Experience: I want to study abroad somewhere in Europe. I want to make sure I participate in classes that expand my knowledge and challenge me. This could be accomplished by participating in hard classes or taking unique electives.
  • Leadership Development: First, I want to befriend and learn from various leaders around campus. I want to gain experience and knowledge from these people. This can lead to me becoming one of those leaders on campus. I could be a leader in a club that I am passionate about or I could lead a group of people while doing non-profit work.
  • Service Engagement: I want to be involved in the community by participating in clubs, discussions, protests, campaigns, and organizations that I feel a passion for. This will help me gain experience and knowledge all while I get to help the community.

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

Meet my Peer Mentor: Vanessa Frank!

Quick Facts

  • Major: Biology
  • Year: Junior
  • Involvement at Ohio State: Alpha Xi Delta, OSU CHAARG
  • Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
  • Career Aspiration: Patent Law

As Vanessa enters her third year of college at Ohio State, she is starting to focus on shaping her life after graduation. She wants to go into patent law because it combines her interest in science and in law. Vanessa is starting to take classes to prepare for the LSAT, which she takes in May. Pitt, OSU, Chicago, and Boston are all on her radar for law school. Her desire to go to college and law school in populated areas stems from her dislike of attending a small high school. Vanessa has also been preparing herself for her future career through internships. This past summer, she interned with a county judge back in the Cleveland area. She loved this experience and says it was very impactful. This semester she is interning in a research position at the university, which she also enjoys very much. A major focal point in Vanessa’s life is her involvement in her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. She likes being apart of this sorority because it has created many friendships and it has also helped her academically due to the development of study groups with her new friends. Lastly, Vanessa advises to keep working hard in college and to “keep pushing through” even though there will be times that it seems easier to give up. I’m grateful to have a supportive, friendly, and compassionate peer leader like Vanessa!

 

About Me

Hi! I’m Kayla Arnold. I am a political science major on a pre-law track. I also have academic interests in history, public policy, non-profit studies, and economics. Some goals I have set for myself for my time here at Ohio State include getting good grades, participating in clubs, gaining experience through internships, and making new friends. I am so excited for these next couple years of my life as I believe they will help mold the person I am, my future relationships, and my passions.