Pictured from left to right: (front row) Christine Danh, House Representative Delegate; Alternate Senator; Colby Denton, House Representative and Head Delegate; Quentin Murray, Assistant Clerk, AMC3 Competition; Hannah Chamberlin, Primary Senator; House Representative Delegate. (back row) Rachel Bennett, Primary Senator and Shane Delaney, Assistant Clerk, AMC3 Competition.
Cleveland State Community College had several members of its Student Senate participate in the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL) in Nashville.
TISL is a forum for the top echelon of campus leaders and political science students to exchange ideas and express their opinions on state, federal, and local issues. TISL’s General Assembly, which first convened in 1966, meets in the legislative chambers of the State Capitol each November.
“TISL was a great experience, and I would not trade it for anything,” said Quentin Murray, Student Senate president. “It opened my mind to how the government works.”
“I really enjoyed myself while I was at TISL,” said Christine Danh, vice president of Student Senate. “I was able to meet new people and made a couple of friends during my experience when I served as a delegate for the House of Representatives. I am going to do it again next year and encourage my colleagues to partake in this wonderful journey to meet new people and to learn more about our government, as well as to enhance leadership skills. We have freedom of speech and in my opinion, TISL is the best way to express that right we have.”
Dr. Michael Stokes, vice president of Student Services, said, “We’re excited for the opportunity that these students had to go and participate in TISL. The students who have gone in previous years have always enjoyed a great learning experience and have represented Cleveland State well; this year’s group is no exception.”
Colby Denton, Student Senate Parliamentarian, said, “I was representative for the House of Representatives, alongside my alternate representative, Christine Danh. We sat in on the House at different intervals and debated our sides on numerous bills and voted on them, as well. Being the only one in our group to return to TISL, I was asked to be the head delegate and mediate certain roles for our school as a result.
“My favorite experience at TISL was when we began debate on our school’s own bill, which was TISL 50. Our bill sought to introduce the concept of Planned Parenthood into middle schools, high schools and colleges in an effort to raise awareness on the matter.”