Pictured: Kiki Fausel, Political Science/Computer Science double major '16, and New York State Assemblyman Dan Stec from the 114th Assembly District (Queensbury) during Fausel's internship in the New York State Assembly Picture from Clarkson University's Alumni Magazine | Last year, I got an email from a professor asking me to introduce a student to a couple of organizations I was associated with. This student came from Connecticut with an interesting career path in mind. Kiki Fausel, Political Science and Computer Science double major, wants to work in politics but has a knack for computers. We sat down and talked at a Clarkson eatery to discuss The Integrator and the Gay-Straight Alliance. I was astounded by her knowledge and interests which were very similar to mine. And since The Integrator is always looking for new writers, I scrambled to get her to our next storyboard meeting. Three articles in, she had impressed all of us and was officially a staff writer. But just as soon as our new writer became a staff writer, she was gone. |
Her duties as an intern ranged from administrative work to observing the actual politics going on in the capitol. In Assembly Member Stec's office, Fausel answered the phone as well as prepared his work for the day. But what she found most interesting was the constituent assemblies - a meeting of representatives to discuss a change to the constitution/law in focus - that she was allowed to attend and observe. Here, she felt like she actually observed the democratic process happening. Not much got done according to Fausel. The two-party democracy we have set up in America polarizes people's stances on issues, even on a small level. As part of the learning experience, Fausel and the other interns were given issues to debate in mock-constituent assemblies. In a particular mock assembly meeting, the interns debated whether or not counties should create registries for people with disabilities. Fausel ended up winning an award for her argument. When telling me about the issue, Fausel stated that, "It also pulled a lot of patient security into question as the members who held these lists could hold personal information ranging from physical disorders or diseases to mental disorders that they wouldn't want to become public knowledge."
What impressed Fausel most about working with a Republican was how humbling the experience was. As an independent, she doesn't have specific allegiances to either party. She had her agenda set on LGBT rights when looking into working with either assembly members Glick or Russell. But she found herself relating more to the conservative viewpoint Assemblyman Stec held as the semester went on. Whether it was the environmental policy they discussed, the lower taxes he advocated for, or the local demands of a more rural community, Fausel began to see the justification for a more conservative use of finances and resources. Her future plans include working with government and technology, both areas in need of people who can adapt to new circumstances. And even with her own reservations about working with a more right-leaning politician, the experience turned out to be enlightening for Fausel. The sorts of bills Assembly Member Stec lobbied for were for the sake of the people he represented which Fausel admired. | Assemblyman Dan Stec's stance on a policy that would take up public space in a rural town for counting absentee ballots. Via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXK3Ltq2gpA |
I like studying politics, not practicing it. And with the primaries having just passed (link to results below), someone still has to practice it to keep the cycle going. I greatly respect those who are their own kind of activist, just with less picketing and ranting blog posts. Kiki Fausel has the knowledge of a political scientist and the technical skills of a computer scientist. Originally, she thought she wanted a career in intelligence, working for the Department of Defense, the NSA, or the CIA. But she is now considering other career paths in the tech world such as coding video games. I admire Kiki for taking the initiative early on in her professional career while also keeping her options open. Politics may not be in her future, but her experiences in the New York State Assembly will ultimately guide her towards a more enlightened view of the world. And with an internship coming up with IBM, Kiki Fausel will be unstoppable when she enters the post-graduate job market.
The Social Scientific Method will be updated once a week with posts involving the happenings on campus, in the HSS department, and my experience as a student. Please comment, share, and enjoy for many weeks to come!
Clarkson University Alumni Magazine:
http://www.clarkson.edu/digital/alumni_magazine/summer2014/files/assets/basic-html/page24.html
Clarkson's Political Science Program:
http://www.clarkson.edu/humanities-ss/undergrad/politicalscience.html
NY State Assembly internships:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/internship/
NY State Assembly members:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
Assembly Member Deborah Glick:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Deborah-J-Glick/
Assembly Member Addie Russel:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Addie-J-Russell/
Assembly Member Dan Stec:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Dan-Stec
NY Sate election results:
http://nyenr.elections.state.ny.us/home.aspx
Note that any writing or opinions on this blog do not reflect the views of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences or Clarkson University.