“It is essential for higher education institutions to work with our officials on a local, state and national level in order to see continued growth in academic programming and funding,” said Katie Frye Hammond, AC director of government and foundation relations, in an email.

The event featured local candidates seeking judicial and legislative seats in the Nov. 4  election.  Michigan House of Representative candidates for the 57th district Nancy Jenkins (R) and Harvey Schmidt (D); state senate candidates for the 16th district Bruce Caswell (R) and Douglas Spade (D); and judicial candidates for the Lenawee County 2nd District Court John Glaser and Laura Schaedler were on Friday’s program.

Candidates were given five minutes for an opening statement, time for answers to three submitted questions and five minutes for closing comments. Questions were selected from those given to the office of government and public relations by AC students, faculty and community members. Students are encouraged to participate in the election Nov. 4.

Nancy Jenkins (R), candidate for the 57th district. (Photo courtesy of Janet Creque)

NANCY JENKINS

Jenkins has previously served as a district representative for Lenawee County under Sen. Cameron Brown in the 16th district.

“By far, the top concern is jobs,” she said.  “We need to make the state business-friendly. We (also) need to find some kind of tax structure that’s consistent.”

In addition to reduced business taxes, Jenkins is concerned about agriculture, Michigan’s second-highest source of income. As for her stance on other public issues, she is an advocate for the pro-life movement and would not be opposed to building a freeway in Lenawee County.

“I want to use this experience to be a voice for the people of Michigan,” Jenkins said.

HARVEY SCHMIDT

Harvey Schmidt (D), candidate for the 57th district. (Photo courtesy of Janet Creque)

Schmidt, a pharmacist, currently serves as the mayor of Tecumseh. He owns three pharmacies in Tecumseh, Blissfield and Clinton, respectively.

“I understand the challenges of our residents and our businesses,” he said. “I believe the government needs to get out of the way of small business.”

Schmidt said the political structure in Lansing should be reconfigured and tax dollars spent should be posted online. He also is committed to creating more small businesses in Lenawee County and making education affordable for all residents.

“I’m the voice you need to get things done,” Schmidt said. “We deserve a better government and we deserve it now.”

Bruce Caswell (R), candidate for the 16th district. (Photo courtesy of Janet Creque)

BRUCE CASWELL

Caswell, a graduate of Michigan State University, has served as supervisor for Adams Township in Hillsdale County for 20 years.

“We have to get people working again in this state,” he said. “We have to make things much more efficient. We have to go back to free enterprise.”

In addition to jobs, Caswell believes students at risk are a top priority in education. He also advocates for building a superior infrastructure, thinks unnecessary government funding should be slashed and supports programs for citizens who are mentally challenged.

“I want solutions to problems,” Caswell said. “[But] no matter how things work out, we’re American first.”

DOUGLAS SPADE

Douglas Space (D), candidate for the 16th district. (Photo courtesy of Janet Creque)

Spade, an AC alumnus, served as a state representative for the 57th district from 1999-2004 and is a partner in four local businesses.

“We are at a very challenging time at our local, state and federal level,” he said. “We need to get this economy turned around and we to get jobs [in the state].”

Spade believes needless government policies should be eliminated and legislative pay should be lowered to save money. He is also concerned with educating Lenawee County youth.

“I’m not running for this position to make money,” Spade said. “I’m running because I want to serve the 16th district.”

Laura Schaedler, candidate for the Lenawee County District Court. (Photo courtesy of Janet Creque)

LAURA SCHAEDLER

Schaedler is a Lenawee County resident with 30 years of experience in trying domestic cases and who has also worked as a county prosecutor.

“I do believe there are some things [in the district court] that can improve,” she said. “We could improve on the way we handle drunk driving in our county.”

In addition to minor adjustments to the district court system, Schaedler believes the Constitution should be preserved for its worth, but interpreted for modern technology and troubled youth should be given flexibility in the judiciary rule.

“The zest for volunteerism was handed down by my parents,”  said Schaedler, who grew up in Blissfield and has been active in a variety of local philanthropy and community service groups.

JOHN GLASER

John Glaser, candidate for the Lenawee County District Court. (Photo courtesy of Jante Creque)

Glaser has served Lenawee County as assistant prosecuting attorney and currently co-owns a private practice in Adrian.

“I think our district court and our whole court system runs well,” he said.

Glaser is focused on preserving the groundwork laid by other judges for the Lenawee County District Court system. He believes offices should have the right to enter a home without acknowledgement as long as they have a proper search warrant and is opposed to the idea of “victimless crime.”

“I think I could be an excellent judge,” Glaser said.

Adrian College students traveled to GVSU for a regional round of debate. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Lambright)

Last weekend, Adrian College went to the regional Model Arab League for the third consecutive year at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Adrian College has been sending representatives to the model every spring semester since 2008. The premise of the model is that students from all over the country meet at regional models and role-play as different countries in the Arab League, like Jordan and Lebanon.

This year, AC represented the countries Sudan, Kuwait, Djibouti and Lebanon. Students representing the countries at the regional model are broken down into five councils: the council on political affairs, the council on social affairs, the council on Palestinian affairs, the joint defense council and the council on environmental affairs.  After the regional models, some schools are invited to represent countries at the national model in Washington, D.C. This year, AC will be going to the model in Washington for the first time.  According to Phillip Howe, assistant professor of political science, the students were encouraged to apply to go to the national model by a representative from the Nations Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR). The NCUSAR is in charge of all the regional models, the national model and a few scholarship programs, in addition to other duties.

“Last year, the representative noticed how awesome Adrian is,” Howe said.

AC followed the NCUSAR representative’s advice and was put on a waiting list. Just before the regional model, AC got the news that due to a school dropping out of the model and, “based on our performance last year and a bit of luck on the waiting list,” AC was invited to the national model.

“I think it’s fantastic, especially for this being our third year in the model at all,” senior Amanda Liske said. “It shows the ambition of the students, it shows the hard work we put into it and it shows what we’ve been able to do has been recognized.” Liske has been involved in the Model Arab League since it’s introduction at AC in her sophomore year.

Students present at this year’s model were: senior Aaron Hall and juniors John Gallo, Mitch Harris, Stan Rooksberry and George Stauch representing Djibouti, senior Shawn DeMay, juniors Brian Dearing and Kyle Austene and sophomores Andy Felder and Kelly Lambright representing Kuwait, seniors JaLisha Belle and Amanda Liske, juniors Andy Fox and Sara Smither and sophomore Jordyn Shekell representing Lebanon and seniors Michael Heitman and Trey Krauss, juniors Josiah Rickards and Amber Williams and sophomores Jenn Headley and Ashley Falcon representing the Sudan. Also present were senior Shane Hinson, acting as Assistant Secretary General and junior Perry Kuiper who served as Chair of the Social Affairs Council.

Howe said the decision for AC to represent Djibouti was made a couple weeks before the regional model.

“John, Aaron, Mitch, Stan and George deserve special mention for the fact that the Djiboutian delegation was created at the last minute, once the team had learned it would be representing Djibouti at Nationals this March, leaving them minimal time to prepare.”

Another good thing to happen to the AC delegation was the election of senior Shane Hinson as the Secretary General for next year’s model. He served as the Assistant Secretary General during this year’s model. “This means that he will be basically running the model at GVSU next year,” Howe said. “It should be added that he won by a landslide, which means that some of the schools present must have voted against their own candidates in order to vote for Shane.  This is clearly a reflection of the extraordinary effort he put into making this year’s model happen.

For Lambright, this was her first time at the model and, according to her, she plans to go again if her schedule permits it, though she said she would “do it without credit hours.”

Lambright, who served on the council of environmental affairs, said some of her best moments at the model were when the council passed her resolutions. “When my first resolution went through, by consent, I was giddy.”

AC students also won awards at this year’s model. According to Howe, Gallo was awarded Honorable Mention Best Delegate to the Council on Palestinian Affairs and Smither and Harris tied for Honorable Mention Best Delegate to the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers.

Liske said students were well prepared for the model. According to her, after three years, the professors have “a pretty good idea” what the students should expect and how to prepare for the model.

She also said everyone tried their best to stay “in character” and act in the best interest of the country they were representing by basing their decisions on the research they had done on their country and not on student-to-student alliances.

The students going to the model in Washington are being funded partially through the school and partially from their own pockets. They will also be fundraising. For students and staff interested in donating money to assist the students go to the next model, contact Sara Smither at ssmither@adrian.edu or Howe at phowe@adrian.edu.