The Few, The Proud, the USN Students Who Attend YIG Over Zoom

High School students excel at Youth in Government conference.
By Mackey Luffman, History Department Chair & Youth in Government Advisor

Usually, when the Youth In Government conference sponsored by the YMCA of Middle Tennessee’s Center for Civic Engagement meets, between 40–60 USN students opt to participate in the simulation of Tennessee State government. Students act as legislators, drafting, debating, and enacting legislation, or as lawyers, arguing appellate cases before the State Supreme Court. It’s also a great way to meet students from all over the state with a variety of political perspectives, especially those with an interest in civic engagement.
 
The coronavirus pandemic made this year's YIG conference a little different. The YMCA rose to the challenge and modified the conference to be virtual via Zoom, and the students for whom this conference remains important accepted the challenge, as well. Eighteen USN students joined more than 200 from around the state in this year’s virtual conference, and, to use a phrase from the late 20th century, they kept on truckin’ by demonstrating leadership even among other YIG devotees. 

USN’s leadership began in officer roles. Each year’s conference elects student officers for the following year’s conference. Student officers facilitate debates and moderate various components in the conference, which gives them further leadership and engagement experiences.
 
Student officers from USN at this year’s YIG included Floor Leader of the Red (Experienced) Senate Erica Friedman '21; Red Lieutenant Governor Pro Tempore Yenni Gonzalez Salinas '21, Floor Leader of the Blue (Novice) Senate Lydia West '21, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Riya Narayan '23. 

In the Blue Senate, Nicholas Tesauro '23 and Meera Boyapati '23, along with Lydia, presented a bill to offer tax incentives to promote insulating homes as a way of increasing energy efficiency; the bill passed both chambers easily and was signed by the Governor. Lydia’s work as Floor Leader in managing debate in the chamber led to her selection for the Tennessee delegation to the Conference on National Affairs this summer. 

In the Red House of Representatives, YIG veterans Lauren French '21, Gabby Floyd '21, Tate Keuler '22, Isaac Chomsky '22, and Jude Warren '22 saw their bills on the House docket with the highest rankings from their respective committees. Lauren's and Gabby's bill to institute comprehensive sexual health education in public schools passed both chambers easily and was signed into law. Tate's, Isaac's, and Jude's bill to add Tennessee to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact passed both houses but was vetoed by the Governor, basically because she had not read it, but these things happen, even in the real world.

Nevertheless, their bill won an Outstanding Bill Award, and Tate, Isaac, and Jude each won an Outstanding Statesperson Award for their participation in the debates in the House chambers. Lauren was nominated for an Outstanding Statesperson Award, marking her fourth straight YIG conference of being a standout delegate.

Finally, in the Red House, Piers Mason '22, Christopher Laibinis '22, and Jackson Liff '22 saw their bill to facilitate voter registration for first-time voters ages 18–21 make the House docket and pass in the chamber.
  
In the Red Senate, Erica's bill to provide free feminine hygiene products to public high school students passed both chambers with flying colors and was signed into law by the Governor. 
   
USN students also dominated the Court component. The two USN lawyer teams of Wiley Barzelay '21 & Lucas Heckers '21 and Arnav Reddy '23 & Kara Grace Hess '23 advanced rapidly through their rounds of argument after being chosen to argue the first (demonstration) round for the entire component at the beginning of the conference. Both USN teams qualified for the Final Round. In a tough decision, hinging on the effective citation of case law (among other authorities), Wiley and Lucas won the case, earning their second Outstanding Senior Lawyer Team of their YIG careers. Not to be outdone, Arnav and Kara Grace brought home the Outstanding Senior Brief for their preparatory documents on the case. 

Finally, while no USN students ran for office for the 2022 YIG legislature, in the Supreme Court, Riya was re-elected to serve as Associate Justice, Kara Grace was elected as an Associate Justice, and Arnav was elected to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

What great results for several hours on Zoom during a weekend filled with beautiful weather. What a spring for USN at YIG. Please congratulate these students when you see them. 
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.