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After visiting the three presentations completed by 2^nd year PSL members, I was left to reflect on the information I had just received. The projects in which I visited were not random. The choice in viewing the three separate presentations came with a shared interest in what each presenter had to share. My hometown of Chillicothe, OH is one of the many towns affected by the opioid epidemic that is present in Ohio, this being the defining reason in myself becoming the most in engaged in the words written by the two “PSLers” who shared their knowledge in their presentation titled, The Opioid Epidemic: What Can We Do?. Throughout the later years in high school I was an ambassador for a group that over 1,200 plus students, across 6 schools, that pledged to be opioid free, so it was good hearing about organizations at Ohio State that I can join that share common interests at a more complex and involved level of advocacy. I also visited a presentation given regarding deforestation. The information shared in this presentation, which talks about the importance of our trees and the effect of not having them on our climate, is an ideology myself and the presenter share. Now more than ever is the advocacy for our environment the most important. We cannot ignore our environment and its state of being. Ultimately, a common point made in the two presentations discussed earlier was an included note about the power people can have when they advocate for their cause. Advocacy can be to their friends, family, local representatives, and various other people. Students like me have many ways to let our voice be heard, by getting involved in organizations that share the common goals that each unique individual at OSU has. Overall, the presentations were very well presented, and all the information shared pertains to most of the aspects in my life that I too would like to advocate for. While thinking about my own advocacy project next year, I am looking forward to spreading awareness that all the presenters did this year. I am even considering composing a presentation similar to the topics I viewed this year.

November

 Is there a way to change Congressional apportionment in the House to make it “fair”?  If yes, how?  If no, why not?

Unlike the senate, which has 100 seats total and two senate members per state, the House of Representatives has 435 seats where they divide number of representatives based off the population of the state. However, it is known that not all the resident population is accounted for which includes those residents in District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other U.S. Island areas. As far as the non-represented U.S. territories, these places do deserve a representative or representatives in the “House”.

Before 1940 there was no specified method of apportioning the House of Representatives but there were four methods that were known to be justifiable. The Hamilton/Vinton Method sets the divisor as proportion of the total population per house seat, and each population is divided by the divisor. The first surplus is given to the most populous state, and that continues until the least populous state. The Jefferson Method avoids the result being a surplus or a deficit of House seats by using a correct divisor. Like the Hamilton/Vinton method the Webster Method by rewarding those states who have a remaining decimal 0.5 or above an extra seat, while those with a remaining decimal below just have the fraction dropped. The last method named the Huntington-Hill Method being a modified version of the Webster method has a different rounding method. The Huntington-Mill method rounds at the geometric mean, whether the state is below or above this mean determines if they receive an extra seat or not.

If the way we apportion the number of representatives shall be fixed, first we should a decision would need to be made to change it, and to ratify what was set in 1940. A possible solution may be to get rid of all the math involved together, and to have the seats be 1oo and 2 representatives per state just like the Senate. The main issue with this solution is how long this process may take, as based off how divided this country is today completing a task like this will take even longer than the original change to the way we apportion the House of Representatives. Although it would be a beneficial outcome if we changed the method, as of now in the United States it something that must wait. The political landscape right now has much more important tasks at hand, and we should focus on who represents us first. The change will come but now is not the right time.

I had the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with my mentor to get to know more about them.

First of all, my mentor’s name is Clayton Thebert and he is from Louisville, Kentucky. Clayton is a Sophomore here at the Ohio State University majoring in finance, and he is also participating in his second year of PSL. Clayton chose to come to OSU because he knew it was a school where he would be able to be a part of a good academic program in his major. Another reason why  Clayton came here is because it is out of state, which was something he was looking for in a college.

As of now, Clayton is enjoying his second year here, and his school year is going well for him right now. He is taking his hardest math class that is required for his major, and he feels that it is going well. In the future, Clayton plans on finding a job after he graduates with his 4-year bachelor’s degree  with an intent on attending graduate school to receive his M.B.A. later on. By not going directly to graduate school Clayton hopes that a future employer will help with the cost of receiving his M.B.A.

Clayton chose to join PSL as he wanted to know more about politics, and how to get more involved with politics. He was also made aware of the dorms that scholars students were able to live in, and this was a good incentive for joining as well. In his first year, Clayton enjoyed the three field trips that he took with his PSL class, as he found these trips very informative. He also enjoyed the guest speakers that shared their experiences in regards to politics, society, and law, during Tuesday meetings. Currently, Clayton enjoys PSL as he made his good friends through the program, and he gets to spend a lot of time with them.

Outside of PSL, Clayton enjoys hanging out with his friends, and playing video games. Right now, Clayton is learning how to make sushi. In his free time he is a part of an organization called Empower Mentoring. Through this organization Clayton is able to travel to local Columbus schools to teach young students about  the importance of finance.

At the end of the interview Clayton told me: “Don’t get involved in clubs you don’t care about”. I found this bit of information very important as this is my first year at OSU and I am still trying to find the things I do care about. Overall, I had a good conversation with my mentor, and I’m glad I was able to get to know him better.