by Mike | 5 Jun 2012 | Featured Stories, 2012
Chairman Vic Covalt and Chairman Mark Fahleson
On Monday morning, Chairman Vic Covalt of the Nebraska Democratic Party and Chairman Mark Fahleson of the Nebraska Republican Party visited the delegation of Cornhusker Boys’ State to discuss their respective party platforms and positions on current political issues. These issues will be among those debated by the delegates later this evening and tomorrow morning when delegates attend their own party meetings to create and amend official platforms.
In their opening statements, both gentlemen presented their party’s philosophical groundwork in simple statements:
Covalt (D): “Government is not there to do it for you, but rather to help you do it yourself.”
Fahleson (R): “Every time the government steps in, you give up part of your freedom.”
Belleau Wood Mayor Charles Bogatz inquires about same-sex partnerships
The first question asked of the chairmen was about their respective positions on same-sex partnerships.
Fahleson (R): Traditionally marriage has been defined by being between one man and woman. The Republican Party does not support gay marriage. We do, however, support the decision of businesses and corporations to provide benefits to same-sex partners if they so choose, so as not to limit the freedom of these entities.
Covalt (D): Why shouldn’t you be free to love who you love? We should not be able to create artificial barricades between same-sex partners. This type of discrimination is very similar to the racial discrimination of our past, and we feel that no citizens should have to “ride at the back of the bus.”
Further into the session, one delegate highlighted the problem of obesity and obesity-related deaths. He then asked how each chairman felt about taxing sugary drinks and fast food items.
Covalt (D): While we have a lot of great ideas like this, the details would be tricky to manage and enforce. Likewise, would citizens consider this tax to be fair? This would be something to consider in the long-term, but for now we have other issues to focus on.
Fahleson (R): The more that government is involved with our lives, the more they are able to restrict what we can and cannot eat or do. It’s none of the government’s business as to whether or not I want a sugary soda. If we continue down this path, menus will become more and more restricted because it could increase health costs, which a government healthcare system wouldn’t want to pay for.
Towards the end of the discussion, one delegate asked the chairmen about their positions on the Citizens United Act regarding campaign contributions.
Fahleson (R): You can put as many restrictions on money going in and out of campaigns, but it just isn’t going to stop the flow of money. Creative people will always find ways to keep it moving. Corporations are made up of people and should therefore have the same rights and responsibilities. Along these lines, however, there needs to be some accessible place for people to be able to view campaign transactions so they know where all of the money is coming from.
Covalt (D): Corporations are not people; you are people. You have the right to vote, not corporations. You should not be forced to make contributions to any candidates to further your manager’s political business and/or aspirations. I feel that this is unconstitutional and needs to be reversed.
The chairmen weighed in on many other issues during Monday’s session, including gridlock in Congress, the national debt, the importance of local versus federal government, foreign policy and the Middle East, religious freedom, the role of the Constitution in politics, and government healthcare. Despite their differences in opinion on many of these issues, there was one thing that both chairmen easily agreed upon: the importance of joining a political party. They noted that turnout at the polls for independent voters is considerably lower than for those registered with a political party.
Cornhusker Boys’ State was delighted to welcome back Cornhusker Boys’ State alumnus and counselor Mark Fahleson in this session with Chairman Covalt.
Chairman Vic Covalt addresses delegates
by Dan | 11 Jun 2011 | Top Stories, Featured Stories, 2011
During their last session in Kimball this Friday evening, the delegates were privileged to an address by former U.S. President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. Of course, this was not the real president, but a historian and impersonator, who shared the key events from the American hero and legend’s life. While our soon-to-be graduates are focused on using their abilities to create a better future for our State, our Nation, and our world, it is also important that they remember the triumphs and tribulations of the past.
“Teddy”
The former “President” addresses the delegates.
The delegates watch the “President” with excited interest.
by Dan | 10 Jun 2011 | Top Stories, Featured Stories, Towns, 2011
Early this Friday morning, after a welcome from UNL Chancellor Harvey Pearlman, Howard W. Buffet, Director of Agriculture Development at the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations at the United States Department of Defense, addressed the delegates in Kimball Hall. He shared his personal experiences and tips for success and answered questions from the delegates. In addition to his own incredibly successful career as a public servant, innovator, advisor, philanthropist, and even photographer, Mr. Buffet happens to be the grandson of Nebraska’s famous investor, industrialist, and philanthropist, Warren Buffet.
by Dan | 10 Jun 2011 | Featured Stories, 2011
This Thursday morning, after participating in an intense gubernatorial caucus, the Boys’ State delegates assembled in Kimball Hall to hear a presentation from Clay Anderson, a Cornhusker Boys’ State Alumnus and NASA Astronaut. Joining the Boys’ Staters again were the brilliant young ladies of Cornhusker Girls’ State. Anderson related his experiences, including astronaut training on earth, launching and landing in the Space Shuttle, and living and working in the International Space Station. He then took questions from the delegates about issues ranging from the future of the space program in the U.S. to daily life in space. He urged delegates to dream big and to never stop working to achieve their dreams.
Clay Anderson Addresses the Delegates.
Cornhuskers in Spaaace! (Image is Intentionally Upside Down)
The Boys’ / Girls’ State Joint Session.
by Mike | 11 Jun 2010 | Football, Top Stories, Featured Stories, 2010
Earlier this afternoon, two delegates involved with the press, as well as two counselors involved with the press, got the opportunity to attend the official press conference held by the University of Nebraska, announcing its plans to join the Big Ten Conference. Among the speakers at the conference were Chancellor Harvey Perlman, Athletic Director Tom Osborne, Head Football Coach Bo Pelini, and Big Ten Commissioner James Delaney. Nebraska will indeed be joining the Big Ten Conference, and the official start date for Nebraska being a part of the Big Ten is July 1, 2011. According to Delaney, the Big Ten presidents voted unanimously to accept Nebraska’s request. He went on to call this “a historic moment.” He says that he is “proud that Nebraska is a member of our conference” and is “convinced…that Nebraska will be a great addition to the Big Ten Conference.” When Tom Osborne gave comments, he said that “it is really important to recognize the Big Twelve Conference.” He went on to say that Nebraska does not look down on them. “We have had good association with [them].”
As the floor was opened up for questions, more information was released. Delaney said that this was a relatively quick integration of a school. He said that the Big Ten Conference “…is stronger today than…yesterday as a result of Nebraska’s application to the Big Ten.” When asked about interest in current Big Twelve rivalries and the interest in continuing those rivalries, Osborne responded by stating his desire to continue playing Big Twelve teams, such as Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, or whomever. The possibility of hosting a bowl game at Memorial Stadium was thrown around, but no one could say for sure whether or not that was likely. Bo Pelini was asked how he felt about leaving old rivalries and perhaps picking up new ones, to which he responded, “I’m not a really emotional guy.”
The official press release noted several academic and community benefits of being a part of the Big Ten Conference, which are copied below.
1. Big Ten universities attract 12% of all federal research funding annually. They grant 14.5% of all doctoral degrees conferred in the US each year and 25% of all agricultural doctorates each year.
2. UNL would be considered for membership in the prestigious Committee on Institutional Cooperation, a consortium of the Big Ten universities plus the University of Chicago. The CIC leverages faculty, funding, facilities, investments, and ideas to help the collective whole compete and succeed. Among its core projects are library collections and access; technology collaborations to build capacity at reduced costs; leveraging purchasing and licensing through economies of scale; leadership and development programs for faculty and staff; course-sharing mechanisms by which student may take courses at other consortium institutions; and study-abroad collaborations.
3. The Big Ten is the only NCAA Division I conference whose members all belong to the Association of American Universities, as does Nebraska.
4. Of UNL’s 10 peer institutions (by which it compares itself), five are Big Ten members (University of Illinois, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, and Purdue University).
5. The ability to recruit faculty would be enhanced. UNL already competes with Big Ten and other institutions to attract high-quality faculty; UNL would be able to offer access to CIC and other opportunities afforded by Big Ten affiliation. Similarly, new Ph.D.s and other graduates from Nebraska would find their opportunities widened through Big Ten collaborations.
6. Research collaborations with faculty at other institutions, already important and under way, would increase.
7. UNL’s alignment with the Big Ten will open doors to new investors, entrepreneurs, and others interested in expanding regional and national markets through opportunities presented by Nebraska Innovation Campus, Perlman said.
According to Perlman: “The Big Ten is a historically prestigious and stable academic community of scholars and students…The Big Ten, known for its athletic prowess, is highly regarded in academe for its academic and research enterprises. There is nothing but upside for UNL to join the Big Ten.” Below are some photos of the delegates and staff at the conference.
Boys’ State Blogger Michael Schreier, Newspaper Assistant Kyle Chesterman, and Schuyler Sharp and Aaron Hostepler, two of the editors for the Boys’ State Bulletin
The press
The podium and backdrop
Newspaper editors talking to a University of Nebraska representative
Chancellor Harvey Perlman
Big Ten Commissioner James Delaney
UNL Athletic Director Tom Osborne
Head Football Coach Bo Pelini
All of the media trucks outside
