June 2, 1999
Jeanne Haas, director of Sunflower Girls State from Gridley, said that Kansas is the third state to offer college credit for Girls State participation. Diana Carlin, KU associate professor of communication studies, known for her research of political rhetoric and presidential-candidate debates, will teach a short course called "Women in Politics and Government."
Girls State delegates are selected from their high schools throughout Kansas to be sponsored by their local American Legion auxilary units to partcipate in a week's study of government at all levels. The week culminates with a visit to and working in the offices of state government in Topeka.
Haas said, "After hearing the success two other states have had with offering college credit, we decided to work with an offer that KU made a few years ago to provide college credit to the delegates. We felt it would be an opportunity for the delegates to earn college credit through their Girls State experience."
Carlin's bibliography for the short course includes books written by women in government, including Bella Abzug, Barbara Boxer, Lindy Boggs, Shirley Chisholm, Geraldine Ferraro, Barbara Jordan, Susan Molinari, Elinor Burkett and Patricia Schroeder. Carlin is co-author and co-editor of a 1994 book, "The 1992 Presidential Debates in Focus."
The Hon. Deanelle Tacha, U.S. circuit court judge, will open the weeklong annual event by speaking to the delegates and volunteer staffers at 7:10 p.m. in the Lied Center at KU. Sally Frost Mason, dean of KU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will welcome the delegates and staffers.
On Monday, Kansas Rep. Barbara W. Ballard, D-Lawrence, will speak at 1 p.m. in the Lied Center. Linda Graves, Kansas' first lady, will speak at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Lied Center.
During the week, the Girls State delegates conduct an election, which concludes on Wednesday. On Friday, the Girls State representatives travel to Topeka where their newly-elected officers will meet their counterparts in government. Gov. Bill Graves addresses all the Girls State delegates in the Kansas House Chamber after they join the legislature in session at 11:45 a.m. on Friday.
Sunflower Girls State has been offered through the American Legion Auxilary since its inception in 1939. No sessions were held from 1943 to 1946 because of World War II.