News
Fall 2010 Symposium program coming together
It's that time of year again! The Fall 2010 Lou Frey Symposium titled "Florida's Future: The Space Program & Beyond," will be held Monday, September 27, 2010 in the Student Union's Pegasus Ballroom. Topics include the future of the Space Program and its effects on Florida, bio and nanotechnology and its influence on the economic impacts on Florida, as well as an in-depth examination into Florida's role in the scientific community. The day's event will be keynoted by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. Please check back often for schedule updates and registration information. Aside from attending the symposium in-person, the event will be webcast on http://loufrey.org.
Institute announces Civic Leadership Academy transition
After three years of providing a dynamic, exciting, and challenging two weeks to Floridas best and brightest high school students, the Civic Leadership Academy at the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida is going to transition from a residential summer program to an academic year co-curricular program to be offered in high schools.
Beginning next year, students will have the opportunity to be a part of the CLA in a variety of ways during their high school career. There will be opportunities for community service, community problem-solving projects , and political involvement. Under the guidance of a Cities in the Classroom teacher (http://www.floridacitizen.org/cities.php) working with the Frey Institute, CLA students will work towards several benchmarks, including completion of the Florida State & Local Government (POS 2112) online class. Students who complete all portions of the CLA will receive dual enrollment credit.
We will begin the transition next fall, working only with Volusia County Schools. The following fall, we expect to scale up across several areas of the state. Our goal, as always, will be to support young people who care about Florida and who want to develop the civic knowledge and skills that are required to shape the future.
For more information about the Civic Leadership Academy, please check back often. You can also contact John Phillips, the Institutes Program Manger, at 407-823-2088 or jhphilli@mail.ucf.edu.
2010 Spring Symposium a success
On Monday, March 22nd, 2010, the Lou Frey Institute held its 15th symposium in the UCF Student Union's Pegasus Ballroom. Attended by over 800 high school students, UCF students and faculty, and members of the community, the symposium was titled "Congress and Bipartisanship: Can't we all just get along?" The event was also streamed live on loufrey.org. Congressman Frey kicked off the day's events that included former Congressman Bill Frenzel and Larry LaRocco. Dr. Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute and Dr. Jon R. Bond of Texas A&M University also lead sessions. The day's events concluded with a round table moderated by Congressman Frey. He was joined by Congressman Frenzel, Dr. Bond, and Pamela Bresnahan of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP. The event was made possible by generous donations by the Mahaffey Apartment Company, Collegiate Village Inn, Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., the UCF Department of Political Science, the UCF College of Sciences, UCF Foundation, and many more.
2009 Fall Symposium coming October 12 to UCF's Student Union
In looking to repeat the success of their Spring 2009 symposium titled "The First 100 Days: Policies and Approaches for the New Administration,"the Lou Frey Institute will hold its Fall 2009 symposium on October 12, 2009 in the UCF Student Union's Pegasus Ballroom. Titled "New Generation. New Economy. New Opportunities?"the daylong event will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing the Millennial Generation. Aside from attending the symposium in-person, the event will be webcast on http://loufrey.org. For more information concerning the symposium, including a schedule of events and reservation information, visit the symposium page
"Political Rules of the Road: Representatives, Senators and Presidents Share their Rules for Success in Congress, Politics and Life" released
"Political Rules of the Road: Representatives, Senators and Presidents Share their Rules for Success in Congress, Politics and Life," written by Congressman Lou Frey and UCF Political Science Professor Dr. Aubrey Jewett, was recently released. Said Congressman Frey, "The book is based on political 'rules of the road' and life that were given to me over twenty years by Presidents, Senators, and Members of the House. I got the idea for the book when I became intrigued by what rules friends and colleagues of mine use in the biggest league in the world. I have only two rules, and they are pretty simple. The first rule is: Don't get in a fight with someone who buys their ink by the carload, i.e., the Press. The second rule is: If you have to explain, you are in trouble. Most of the rules in the book are incredibly practical and take into account the fact that the world can be cruel and unfair, but you still have to deal with it."The book is available at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
First Fall 2009 Civics Connection Webcast will stream September 23rd
The Civics Connection - a partnership between the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government and the United States Association of Former Members of Congress with support from the U.S. Department of Education - will broadcast its first fall 2009 webcast on September 23rd from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Available at LouFrey.org, the webcast will be titled "Choosing Congress: Pursuing Public Service on the National Stage"and will feature former members of Congress discussing civic life. The webcast, which is designed for classroom use, is open to the public. More information, as well as reservation information, is available here
Students, Staff Eagerly Awaiting 2009 Civic Leadership Academy
The 2009 Lou Frey Institute Civic Leadership Academy is less than two months away, and it is already shaping up to be a wonderful two weeks. Staff mailed out acceptance packages to students several weeks ago, and students are eagerly anticipating the intense program that is scheduled to run from July 11th through the 25th at the University of Central Florida. In the two weeks, CLA students will be exposed to countless political figures and insiders, community leaders, and much more as they tackle Florida politics like no other program in the state. For more on the Civic Leadership Academy, click here.
The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore keynotes LFI Spring Symposium
On April 15 in UCF's Pegasus Ballroom the Lou Frey Institute held its Spring 2009 symposium. Titled “The First 100 Days: Policy Initiatives and Approaches for the New Administration,” the event featured many distinguished guests throughout the day including Dr. Stephen Wayne, Professor of Government at Georgetown University and author of The Road to the White House 2008.
In the evening, Mr. Larry Wilmore, “Senior Black Correspondent” for Comedy Central's Daily Show with Jon Stewart discussed the new administration, race relations, and his experiences in show business as the symposium's keynote speaker. Over 500 high school students were in attendance, as well as a large contingent of UCF students and members of the Central Florida community.
For more, read the Central Florida Future's article.
The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore to keynote LFI Spring Symposium
On April 15 in UCF's Pegasus Ballroom the Lou Frey Institute will hold its Spring 2009 symposium beginning at 9:30 AM. Titled "The First 100 Days: Policy Initiatives and Approaches for the New Administration,"the event will feature man distinguished guests throughout the day including Dr. Stephen Wayne, Professor of Government at Georgetown University and author of The Road to the White House 2008.
Beginning at 7:00 PM, Mr. Larry Wilmore, "Senior Black Correspondent"for Comedy Central's Daily Show with Jon Stewart will discuss the new administration as the symposiums keynote speaker. Below is Mr. Wilmore's biography courtesy of the Daily Show:
Larry started his career as an actor and stand-up comic before transitioning to television writing and producing in the early 90's. He's written for shows such as In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and The Jamie Foxx Show. He co-created the animated show The PJs with Eddie Murphy and a few years later created "The Bernie Mac Show" starring Bernie Mac. Most recently he was a consulting producer on NBC's "The Office." "The Daily Show" has marked a return to performing for Larry and he is currently developing a sitcom for himself at HBO. He also wrote his first book entitled "I'd Rather We Got Casinos and Other Black Thoughts" from Hyperion Books. Larry has been nominated and received numerous awards including an Emmy, a Peabody, Humanitas, TV Critics and NAACP Image Award.
CLA alum Stephanie Solove selected as a Park Scholar at North Carolina State University
2008 Civic Leadership Academy alum Stephanie Solove, who is a senior at Atlantic Community High School, was recently selected as a Park Scholar at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Stephanie was one of 1,200 applicants, 230 semifinalists and 104 finalists. Of the 50 recipients, Stephanie is one of 15 students who are located out of state. The extensive process included letters of recommendation, transcripts, essays, phone and in-person interviews.
Park Scholars at NCSU receive four years of tuition, room and board, meals, books, as well as funds for travel expenses and a new laptop. But, as Stephanie noted, "this scholarship is so much more than just the money. It provides its scholars with personal advisors, provides grants for any study abroad programs, and gives resources to start up any service projects."
For more information about NCSU and the Park Scholars, visit here. Also, for more information about the 2009 Civic Leadership Academy at UCF, visit here
More Than 125,000 Florida Students Vote in Mock Election; Obama Wins State, Nation
ORLANDO, Oct. 30, 2008 -- More than 125,000 Florida students in grades K through 12 learned about making democratic choices this week by casting their votes for president during the National Student/Parent Mock Election.
Students from all grades participated, and nearly half of the voters were in grades six through eight. The election in Florida was coordinated by the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, a partnership between the University of Central Florida's Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida.
In Florida, students overwhelmingly voted for the Obama/Biden ticket over McCain/Palin by a margin of 63 to 31 percent. Nationally, more than 2.5 million students cast ballots, and they favored Obama by a margin of 62 to 34 percent.
Reflecting the current crisis facing the nation, 60 percent of students in Florida said that it is absolutely critical that the next administration focus on the economy. Other issues drew substantially fewer votes including: the war in Iraq (43 percent), global climate change and the environment (43 percent), national security (40 percent), the high cost of energy (39 percent), the cost and quality of health care (39 percent), and the educational system (38 percent). The war in Afghanistan anchored the bottom of the issues list with only 35 percent saying that it is critical that the next administration focus on it over the next four years.
Students from many schools also cast their ballots in congressional races and expressed their opinion on key issues - such as health care, the economy, and Iraq that have been a central part of the presidential campaign.
Some schools organized large-scale events around the election. At Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School, for example, about two thousand students voted in the school's media center, two students dressed up as senators John McCain and Barack Obama and greeted their fellow students as they were headed to vote.
"Democracy is not something that we are born understanding," said former Congressman Lou Frey, the founder of the Lou Frey Institute. "It is something that must be taught to each new generation. There is no better way to learn than by doing. The National Student/Parent Mock Election is a wonderful example of how we should be working to engage the next generation of young people."
Former Senator Bob Graham agreed. "Too often," he said, "we teach civics as if it were a spectator sport. It's not. You have to learn how to do democracy." The Mock Election helps students learn the skills that they will need to be active and engaged citizens.
Major national partners for the National Student/Parent Mock Election include Google, Pearson Education, School Perceptions, and USA Today. The effort also received support from a number of other organizations, including the National Parent Teachers Association, the National School Boards Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, the American Association of School Administrators, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Secretaries of State, and the Council of the Great City Schools. The Election Assistance Commission and the Kaplan Foundation provide ongoing funding for the Mock Election.
- For full voting results, please click here (.doc)
LFI's John Phillips to Moderate Middle East Talkspace on October 23rd
Posted on 10/13/2008 at 4:41 pm
The Lou Frey Institute's Program Manager, John Phillips, will be moderating a discussion between College Democrats and College Republicans on Thursday October 23rd at 7 PM. Organized by Central Florida Hillel, the topics will include USA-Israel alliance history, the Iranian threat, Hamas & Fatah, the American role in peace, and American foreign aid. To be held in UCF's Health and Public Affairs building, College Democrats and College Republicans will be discussing each candidates positions and solutions. Check back for more information.
Civics Academy Summer 2008 Professional Development for Florida Middle School Teachers
The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, in partnership with the Florida Law Related Education Association (FLREA) and with support from the Helios Education Foundation, provided eight, week-long professional development programs for civics teachers across the state during the summer of 2008.
To help strengthen the civic health of Florida's public schools and prepare teachers for the state wide middle school civics mandate, the training curriculum was designed around two premier civics education programs from the Center for Civic Education, We the People: the citizen and the Constitution and Project Citizen. During the training teachers participated in a balance of academic and clinical experiences and engaged with scholars from throughout the country. Each day was built around a topical theme, such as: the rights and responsibilities of citizens, judicial review, the First Amendment and public policy. Teachers were trained in this content through scholarly presentations, discussion, grade level applications, mentoring experiences, and simulations.
Teachers who completed the program received free classroom sets of the two textbooks, a copy of John Patrick's book The Supreme Court of the United States A Student Companion, 34 recertification inservice hours, and various other resources. At the end of the trainings teachers often commented on feeling empowered and excited to begin the school year. They appreciated the engagement with scholars and the balance of content knowledge with practical strategies for the classroom.
Institute Launches Pilot of Internet Video Project
The Lou Frey Institute is partnering with the United States Association of Former Members of Congress, Presidential Classroom, and several area high schools to launch an internet video initiative that will engage former members of Congress as high schools civics teachers. Video programs will focus on issues that are on the congressional agenda and will also provide an inside look at what citizens have to do to make the system work. Students will be able to hold live questions and answer sessions with former members. AP American Government teachers from Winter Park High School and University High School in Orlando and Bartram Trail High School in Jacksonville will pilot the programs in their classes this fall. They have also developed curriculum support materials for classroom use.
Joint Center Partners with National Conference on Citizenship
The National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) has led the effort to establish a Civic Health Index that measures trends in the level of civic engagement for the nation. Their most recent (2007) report found that civic engagement was down, but also found a core of American who are committed to the civic health of their communities and the nation. The Lou Frey Institute and the Bob Graham Center are partnering with NCoC to collect survey data that will serve as the basis for building an index of Florida's Civic Health. Initial results are expected to be released in October.
Civic Leadership Academy Students Write Op-Eds for Florida Newspapers
As their final task at the 2008 Civic Leadership Academy at the Lou Frey Institute, students wrote and submitted an Op-Ed to their local newspaper. CLA students Kim Bouchard, Sarah Conde, and Zach Zlatev were published.
Kim Bouchard, a senior IB student at Atlantic High School in Boca Raton wrote concerning term limits for the Florida Sun-Sentinel. Arguing against term limits Kim wrote, "Term limits force new legislators into the Legislature, not allowing them the chance to become experienced and fully learn how the legislative process works. In this way, legislators spend the first few years of their terms learning how to pass bills. Therefore, they only are productive with passing legislation and helping their constituents the last year or two before they are term-limited out. Because of term limits, legislators are often unproductive during their first few years in office and never get to make any real change." You can read the article in full here.
Sarah Conde, a recent graduate of Bartram Trail High School and current freshman at the University of Florida was published in the Florida Times-Union. On the topic of students and their political influence, Sarah wrote, "In past elections, young adults, ages 18 to 25, on educational paths have not fully proved themselves at the polls… It is time for students to start fighting the stereotypes and step up. Although the student voting population has never been an unstoppable force, they are enlarging their role. In the future, including the 2008 presidential election, students will progressively impact the political process." For the entire article, click here.
Zach Zlatev, a junior at Atlantic High School in Boca Raton had his Op-Ed published in the Florida Sun-Sentinel. Concerning the building of a new power plant in Palm Beach County Zach argued, "FPL's West County Energy Center is a power plant that, for the future of Palm Beach County's sustainability, cannot be built. There is already enough power in the county to meet the public's demands. So why do we need a 16 percent rate increase in our monthly power bill to pay for this new power plant during these trying economic times? Easy. The West County Energy Center is necessary to power new development in western Palm Beach County — development we don't need and shouldn't have."To read Zach's entire Op-Ed, click here.
Bundestag Members to Speak at University High School and to UCF Political Science Students on October 23rd.
This October, the Lou Frey Institute will join with the United States Association of Former Members of Congress to host a delegation of sitting members of the German Bundestag. Party leaders will travel to Florida to observe the state's congressional elections and to gain a better understanding of the issues that will shape the outcomes of the November election. The delegation will visit Miami and Tampa before coming to Orlando. They will meet with candidates, campaign advisors, and issue specialists from around the state. On Thursday, October 23 at 9 AM delegation members will speak to students at University High School students about their time in Florida. At 9:30 AM the delegation will move over to UCF to speak to several Political Science classes, offering an international perspective on American Politics.
2008 CLA Graduate Robert Enslen runs for UCF SGA Senate
Putting his experience to good use, 2008 Civic Leadership Academy graduate and University of Central Florida freshman Robert Enslen threw his hat into the race for a seat on the Student Government Association Senate. An Engineering student, Robert campaigned on the slogan "Experience, Excellence, Enslen" by focusing on Facebook and canvassing the UCF campus. His platform included, according to his Facebook group, more funding for Engineering clubs, a reduction of unnecessary spending, as well as incentives for carpool parking. Mr. Enslen is freshman studying Information Technology, a member of the LEAD Scholars Program, and Vice President of the Lake Claire Area Council.