Students get inside insight into legislative process

On an invitation from Assistant Prof. Aaron Weinschenk, state Rep. Eric Genrich was on campus last week to speak to students in Weinschenk’s Congress: Politics and Policy course. Genrich provided students with information on the evolution of the state legislature and also answered questions. He spoke on a wide range of topics, including polarization, representation, redistricting, the importance of interacting with constituents, and the sources of policy ideas. Weinschenk’s class focuses on federal-level politics, but he also likes to show students what legislative politics are like at the state level. Genrich has visited Weinschenk’s class every semester that it has been offered; Weinschenk says students seem to enjoy the chance to interact with a state legislator. Genrich concluded his talk with suggestions on how students could get involved in civic life.