Badger Boys State invites governor to campus

EAU CLAIRE — For a group of young journalists visiting UW-Eau Claire, their government simulation became very real when the governor of Wisconsin was in the room. High school students from around the state gathered as part of the Badger Boys State (BBS) Press Corps, and Gov. Tony Evers answered topical questions from the group Monday. When it came to the opportunity for the students to practice being press, Evers says it was a good experience. “It’s a hard business, and it’s difficult, and financially it sucks, but if we don’t have a good media, we’re not doing our job,” Evers said. Badger Boys State is in its 83rd year, and Monday represented the fifth time it has been hosted at UW-Eau Claire. This year, 682 students, as well as 147 volunteer staff, are involved with BBS. Assistant Director of Program Austin Evans describes BBS as a government simulation, where officials are elected for city, county and eventually state positions as the week progresses. For Evans, the experience comes very close to offering the ins and outs of the government experience. “As we go through the week, we turn over a mythical 51st state to them, and they pass their laws. They have courts that enforce them, they have government executives that veto things, that appoint people to positions to make their governments better,” Evans said. “The magic of that program is having them do it hands on and seeing how it works, and really seeing the beauty of democracy.” Within Evans’ position, he helps prepare the government simulation for the students involved, making sure they have the tools to become an autonomous force by the end of the week. When it comes to mentorship, the assistant director says the instructors at BBS who give their time for the program are experienced when it comes to facets of leadership. “We have people that are leaders in education, business and law and government,” Evans said. “We have a fair amount of people that are government staffers here too, and for local legislators, for folks in D.C., so it’s a really high caliber of folks that come by.” Cedarburg High School student Colton Kerslake aims to work in elementary education after high school, and while Kerslake says his career plans don’t necessarily fall in line with civics, he believes the skills he learns in the short time he’s been involved with the week will have use in the future. “I think the leadership aspect of some of the roles could definitely prove useful, especially in hindsight. I think it was a really good choice to come here and try out all the leadership things,” Kerslake said. “Even just speaking in front of everyone multiple times for the different kinds of campaigning, or when you’re going up to be a nominee for one of the roles on one of the parties, it was good practice coming up in front of people and speaking on them.” Another student, Colton Lucht-Couillard, sees himself going to school to study philosophy, and while he admits he’s introverted himself, the BBS participant found the event a way for students his age to branch out. “I think if you’re given the opportunity and you think you can make friends well, if you don’t mind being out of your comfort zone, then yeah, this is a wonderful, amazing opportunity that everyone should take,” Lucht-Couillard said. With the high school students approaching college age, Evans says the ability for students to work on their own ideas means the simulation of BBS could prepare them for the real thing. “They’re almost all 17 years old. They’re all going into their last year of high school, and so they’re about to enter their adulthood and have that own authority within themselves to make their own decisions,” Evans said. “It’s good for them to have that mentality here, but certainly respected as adults here. They’re certainly given that autonomy, and it’s good to see the creativity in this.” As the next generation of journalists, Evers said the diversity of ideas in Wisconsin was exemplified through the student’s questions. “These kids are a reflection of who we are as a state,” Evers said. The Badger Boys State program continues through June 20 at UW-Eau Claire with other elected officials, as well as business and community figures expected to visit throughout the week. A Tribute to Veterans is also set to take place on the campus Thursday.