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Students in a course on global sustainability traveled to the Iowa capitol in Des Moines last month to lobby lawmakers about environmental policy.

MUM Class Photo At Lobby Day

The student’s lobbying efforts were part of Environmental Lobby Day, an annual event organized by the Iowa Environmental Council that this year involved over 250 people and 35 organizations.

“The capitol is currently in its legislative session, and the class members were fascinated by the energy or ‘buzz’ throughout the building,” said John Collins, who taught the course. “They understood the whole process to be Iowa collective consciousness being collapsed into specific legislation and other policy measures.”

The students spoke to various environmental pressure groups and met Senator Bolkcom, the leading environmental legislator. They discussed water issues and a possible increase in the gasoline tax.

Professor Collins said the students weren’t entirely impressed by everything they saw, including what appeared to be wasteful expense and a ponderous legislative system.

“They felt that the capitol isn’t legislating for the changes students want to see in Iowa,” Professor Collins said. “But overall they felt it was a valuable experience, and two students want to look for internships with leading politicians.”

Jim Karpen is a writer by trade, with a special focus on technology. He has a Ph.D. in English and studied the impact of the computerization of language. In addition to writing for iPhone Life magazine, he has also been writing a column about the Internet for the Iowa Source since 1994. He also edits and publishes the MUM Review.