Michael Sklar

Major: Political Science

Michael went behind the scenes at the second 2016 Republican Presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in nearby Simi Valley, CA.

What did your volunteer experience at the GOP debate entail?

Through my participation in the Cal Lutheran College Republican club I was able to attend the Republican Presidential Debate at the Reagan library. I volunteered in the spin room and was able to assist the staff by guiding the candidates into the spin room and guiding them to the different media outlets located throughout the spin room.

During the first debate at 3pm I was assigned to follow Bobby Jindal’s campaign manager and during the second debate I was assigned to follow Ohio Governor John Kassich. I bumped into former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger walking through the area where the volunteers were watching the debate or shaking hands with Ben Carson as me and another volunteer bumped into him walking down to the volunteer meeting.

It was an amazing experience to be able to see these candidates in person and get to hear them speak to the media.

In the spin room at the GOP debate

Did this experience relate to your career goals?

My career goals entail transferring to law school and working in the legal field. This experience did not directly relate to my goals but as many of the candidates, such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, were lawyers at one point and law does relate directly to politics it was a unique experience that allowed me to further my knowledge of public policy through hearing these candidates speak both at the debate and to the media. I would have never heard many of the post debate interviews with smaller media outlets having not been working the spin room.

Any advice for future students?

As a poli-sci major [volunteering at the debate] gave me the opportunity to have a firsthand look at a crucial part of a political campaign. Without being involved in extracurricular activities on campus I would have never had this opportunity.  There are so many opportunities to get involved especially in the Political Science department. We have an excellent Model UN club on campus as well as several other political science clubs. My suggestion to any student is to get involved as much as you can because you’ll be afforded a lot of opportunities to further your education and give you experiences you can’t get anywhere else.

Olivia Marcey

Major: Global Studies, Political Science

Why did you choose to double major?

I chose to double major after participating in the CLU Program to study abroad in Oxford, England. Prior to this, I was much more focused on American government and politics, but developed a more holistic view of governance and interdependency between countries and regions while I was abroad. This piqued my interest in international affairs, so I decided to add a Global Studies major to expose myself to the study of new (to me, at least), complex issues I was becoming more and more passionate about.

How does your double major express who you are?

I think that I strive to achieve a broader understanding of the world around me, and how I fit into that world. I perceive the opportunity to double-major as a way for me to realize this goal. In addition, the complementary nature of Global Studies and Political Science allows me to view current issues and events through two distinct lenses, while still creating a cohesive and critical understanding of their significance.

What’s your career goal?

To specialize in international economic development, and build a career as an analyst or consultant for a bilateral or multilateral organization (i.e. United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department for International Development (DID), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Bank), or to work in the Foreign Service.

How will your double major impact your career goal?

For my specific goals, it is important to have an understanding of world politics, economics, sociology etc. and to be able to use skills and knowledge developed through the study of these disciplines to manage a variety of potential professional responsibilities in the field. Political Science is an important part of this, but for me it was imperative to incorporate different areas of study into my academic “arsenal.” In particular, I think that the non-western focus and foreign language requirements of CLU’s Global Studies major will help me immensely in my future career in the international arena.

How do you manage the extra study load?

With an interdisciplinary major like Global Studies, it is relatively easy to find classes that will satisfy both a major and Core 21 requirement. For example, I am taking Current Issues in Marine Biology this semester with Dr. Huvard, and this counts as a science and major requirement. Other than that benefit, I was able to fulfill a large number of upper division Political Science requirements abroad.

Anything else you’d like to say about double majoring to prospective Cal Lutheran students?

If it seems like a feasible option for you in your academic pursuits, I don’t think there are really any drawbacks. It will only serve you well in the long run.

What are you most passionate about in school? In life?

I have found through my experience on the Oxford Program that participation in tutorial-like classes (one-on-one to three-on-one), or other personalized learning experiences are by far the most effective method of promoting critical thinking among students. Especially in courses within the social sciences (I’ve found), discussion-based learning allows for a deeper understanding of issues and collective problem solving. Some of my passions in life reflect my academic interests. I love to read and write, as well as discuss theory, current events and even somewhat far-fetched solutions to the problems facing future generations.