Recent News

August 3, 2006

SLIP students testify at mock legislative hearing

Should anti-harassment policies be implemented in school districts and community schools throughout Ohio to tackle the concerns of bullying? That is what eleven students participating in the Summer Leadership Intern Program (SLIP) addressed when they testified before Senator Ray Miller, Representative Larry Wolpert, Representative Dan Stewart and Representative Larry L. Flowers at a mock legislative hearing at the Statehouse.

House Bill 276 would protect victims of bullying and require schools to have an aggressive policy towards anti-harassment. The bill passed in the Ohio House of Representatives and is now in the Ohio Senate. Students were randomly selected to testify as proponents and opponents of the bill and spent several weeks researching the issue prior to presenting their testimony. They were fortunate to have assistance from John Sanford, lobbyist for Columbus Public Schools, who helped the students shape their ideas and understand the proper protocol for testimony before a panel of legislators.

In addition, on the morning of the hearing, Theodore L. Adams from Limited Brands, Jo Ellen Cline from the Supreme Court of Ohio and Stephan W. Stover from the Ohio State Bar Association stopped by the statehouse to give the students some last minute tips about their testimony. Students assigned to speak in support of the bill included Julie Dulaney, Mario Hughlett, Konesha Kimbrow, Shanae Kincannon, Tabbatha Scalf and Hope Sturms. Those opposed were Nicolette Antonio, Daisy Ansah, Jessica Harlin, Toretha Johnson and Lekeyta Williams.

Established in 1994, SLIP is a partnership between the Columbus Public Schools and the Columbus Bar Association. The program is organized by Jenetta Bell, SLIP Coordinator, with assistance from Judge James E. Green and Vicki Jenkins, general counsel of the State Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Employers for the 2006 program include Baker & Hostetler, Bloomfield & Kempf, Bricker & Eckler, Chester Willcox & Saxbe, Frost Brown Todd, the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, Thompson Hine, Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease, Ward Kaps Bainbridge Maurer & Melvin, and Wiles Boyle Burkholder & Bringardner.

For more information about the SLIP program contact Donna Sweet at 614/221.4112 or donna@cbalaw.org.

Click here for photos from the event.