Thirteen Union University students will compete at the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, held at the Tennessee state capitol on Nov. 17-20.
TISL is a model government competition for schools across Tennessee. Its purpose is to educate college students on government proceedings and politics. To help educate these students, TISL creates an entire congress in the form of the Tennessee state legislature. The students learn through active participation.
Each school sends a team of delegates and the winning bills are sent to the actual Tennessee State Legislature for debate.
There are several areas of the program, including general assembly, senate, house, AMC3, lobbying and media. Senators and house representatives will debate bills in the congressional floor. Their bills and arguments will be informed by students who are lobbyists. Media teaches the importance of media to the government process, while AMC3 is a moot court competition, where students argue a court case.
Past partcipants attest that intense and educational processes like TISL often create strong bonds between students and many come away with new friends.
Seth Reid, a junior history major, encourages students to join TISL because it “gives people the opportunity to make meaningful connections with diverse groups of people from Union’s campus and other schools throughout Tennessee. TISL also gives you the chance to discuss ideas with people looking towards the future.”
Eddie Echeverria, a senior political science major and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House said that not only do students form meaningful relationships, the process is educational and exciting.
He said that students should compete at TISL, “if you want a better education on how the government works, interesting people and a free trip to Nashville.”
Students interested in joining TISL should send their applications to Reid at seth.reid@my.uu.edu. Applications are due Nov. 3.
