Spotlight on Alums – Elizabeth Guernsey ('06)

Posted on March 30, 2011 by

Amanda Sweat (’12)

Policy Voice would like to recognize one of our many distinguished alums, Elizabeth Guernsey (’06), whose article on gun control is currently featured in the Hartford Courant.

Ms. Guernsey has achieved a laundry list of accomplishments that would make any Trinity graduate envious. A double major in Public Policy and Law and Economics, Elizabeth worked diligently throughout her college years and was subsequently able to acquire a highly competitive position at the Urban Institute in Washington, DC, a group of non-partisan analysts which “gathers data, conducts research, evaluates programs, offers technical assistance overseas, and educates Americans on social and economic issues.”

When asked how her Trinity education helped her gain this highly sought-after position, she recalls the former chair of the Economics department, Professor Gold, advising her “to focus on econometrics” within the major, a decision which familiarized Ms. Guernsey with data collection that would be vital to her later career. This, along with her work at the Trinity Center for Neighborhoods, gave her an edge over other potential candidates. As an employee of the Institute, Elizabeth worked under in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center. As part of her work, she traveled to Chicago, where she interviewed public housing residents, and also to the New Orleans Housing Institute, where she participated in expert lectures on local housing issues.

After three years at the Institute, Ms. Guernsey was accepted into the NYU Wagner School of Public Service, where she is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Urban Planning and Policy. Her academics and prestigious experience at the Institute afforded her a Bohnett Fellowship, which allowed her to spend the summer in New York City working for a special advisor to Mayor Bloomberg.

At the Mayor’s office, Ms. Guernsey continued her work on Urban Policy issues, including a policy initiative focused on improving the life outcomes of young men of color in the city.  The program focused especially on those who had been previously incarcerated.  The policy initiative aimed to pinpoint (1) how the city was serving these young people, and (2) what initiatives it was taking to rebuild their lives after incarceration, namely in terms of family reunification and other common issues.  The skills she exhibited during her summer experience led the Mayor’s office to ask her to return part-time during the school year.  She currently works there three days a week, on top of her already rigorous courseload.

While partaking in these studies has been important in forming her current career goals, Guernsey says one of the most amazing things to observe is “how policy changes [within the mayor’s office].” She also says that “seeing how strategy is used to actually get things through, and learning how to manage personalities, expectations, and political realities is one of the most valuable things I’ve learned here.”

Guernsey’s gratitude for her Trinity education, the preparation gained from the Public Policy program, and the support from mentors like Professor Adrienne Fulco is evident. Although her ability to test out of lower level classes at NYU because of the classes she completed in the major was helpful, Elizabeth is most appreciative of the continued support.  Five years after graduation, she “still relies on Professor Fulco as a mentor.”  “Renny’s leadership of the [Public Policy and Law] program is fantastic. She remains committed to her students far past their graduation date. This continuing relationship has been invaluable.”

Elizabeth hopes to continue to work for Mayor Bloomberg and is considering a future career in “a think-tank with more of a single policy issue focus” and possibly a heavier focus on advocacy. “I’d like to become an expert in a policy area related to housing or youth, and be able to inform the policy debate surrounding those issues.”

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Adventures of a Connecticut Yankee- A Trinity Student’s Experience at Oxford

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Dave

Nichola Clark (’12)

Nichola at Keeble College, Oxford

When I applied to study abroad at Oxford University, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.  In fact, I was initially slightly concerned, because they don’t have a ‘Public Policy and Law’ undergraduate program— Oxford sticks to very broad categories of study: History, English, Geography, Physics, Music, etc.

However, my time at Oxford has been phenomenal, not just socially and academically, but also specifically for continuing my studies in Public Policy.  The Oxford education system is very focused on individual study.  It is composed of three eight-week terms, with two classes each term.  One meets once a week for an hour and the other meets once every two weeks for an hour.  You all want to come to Oxford now, don’t you?  But before you get too jealous of the structural freedom, I should probably tell you that I have to write an eight page paper for every class, which means in every eight-week term, you will write a total of twelve eight-page papers (that’s 96 pages in ONE term).  Not only that, but that hour of class is a one-on-one discussion with your “tutor” (“professor” in the US system) who is a leading scholar in your subject.

The idea of one-on-one discussion sounds intimidating, but it is usually a very enjoyable intellectual experience. And because classes are so focused on the individual, you can usually tailor your class so that it is focused on specific subjects that are interesting to you.  So, although they don’t have a public policy major, I’m able to take tutorials that specifically focus on environmental policy, my emphasis within the major.  I think that it’s an incredibly valuable experience to study your interests from the perspective of another nation.  For example, my tutor and I talk about the philosophy of environmental policy and look specifically at examples in England; this challenges my ideas of environmental policy and often offers an alternative approach to US policy.

In addition, studying at Oxford in and of itself offers students so many opportunities.  The university attracts speakers from all fields- from presidents and ambassadors to fashion designers and movie stars.  The beautiful campus in itself has a rich history.  When you study in the library, you’re studying where so many academic greats have also studied, from John Donne and Dr. Suess to current British Prime Minister David Cameron.  In terms of extra-curricular activities, Oxford has a group for anything you could hope to do, including American Democrats or American Republicans abroad groups.

The academic terms fly by and there are six week breaks between the terms.  So, for anyone interested in doing a little European adventuring, Oxford provides you a fantastic opportunity to do so—both geographically and temporally.

Studying at Oxford is a challenge, but it is also an extraordinary academic, cultural, and personal experience; it’s an adventure that I highly recommend.

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Trinity College Mock Trial Advances to National Championships

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Dave

Zoe Bartholomay (’11)

From left to right: Stephen Gruendel (’11), Pamela L. Cameron (coach), Michael Galligan (’11), Zoe Bartholomay (’11), Andres Delgadillo (’13), Leslie Ahlstrand (’12), Zachary Green (’11), Joseph Rossetti (coach), James Geisler (’14), and Mary Sullivan (’13).

This weekend, Trinity’s Mock Trial team competed at the Opening Round of National Championships (ORCs), and earned one of the coveted top-eight spots and a bid to nationals.

There are 642 mock trial teams in the country, 192 of which make it to the Opening Rounds, and only 48 of which compete in the Championship.  For the first time, Trinity will compete for the national title.

The team’s captains, Zachary Green (’11) and Michael Galligan (’11), founded the team their freshman year.  They dealt with a rocky start, as the team was unfunded, uncoached, and inexperienced with the exception of Mr. Green, who had competed in high school.  The team’s rapid ascension is a testament to the dedication and skill of its members.  On average, the team practices for over 15 hours per week.

Last year, Trinity shocked the mock trial community by qualifying both its A team and B teams for the Opening Round of Championships.  Though neither team advanced to the final round, it was a valuable learning experience that established Trinity as a serious program.  One observer then called them the “new blood in New England.”

This year, Trinity’s A team has taken this success a step further by advancing out of ORCs, and on to the final round being held in Iowa. Trinity advanced ahead of other 5-3 teams because of their strength of schedule; Brown and BU are established teams that lost two and three ballots, respectively.  Of these, one from each team was lost to Trinity.

Round 1: Syracuse University A (plaintiff) versus Trinity College A (defense)

In this round, Trinity won both ballots handily.  The three-judge panel voted unanimously that the plaintiff had failed to meet their burden.

Round 2: Trinity College A (plaintiff) versus Boston University A (defense)

The second round against Boston University A was the closest of the tournament.  Trinity and BU have met in competition three times, the last being at Regionals just a few weeks ago, when BU defense beat Trinity plaintiff convincingly. However, Trinity came back strong, winning one ballot and losing the other, each by a single point.  BU had a very impressive showing at this ORC, sending both its teams on to the final round.  Congratulations to Lorenzo, Margaret, Michael, Krysten, Tucker and the rest of the team!

Round 3: Brown University A (plaintiff) versus Trinity College A (defense)

The third round pitted Trinity defense against Brown University A plaintiff, who were the undefeated champions Boston regional tournament two weeks ago.  This round was also close, with Trinity taking one ballot and dropping the other by two points.

Round 4: Trinity College A (plaintiff) versus Dickinson College A (defense)

Going into round four, Trinity’s record was 4-2. The last trial was a battle, and the plaintiff team’s best performance thus far.  Once again, the ballots split, leaving Trinity with a record of 5-3-0, which due to the strength of schedule (Brown and BU being very highly ranked), was enough to rank the team in the top-eight and secure a spot at nationals.

Altogether, Trinity lost three ballots by a total of just four points.

The teams advancing to Nationals from our Opening Round of Championships:

New York University (7-1)

Brown University (6-2)

Boston University A (5-2-1)

Tufts University (4-2-2)

Boston University B (5-3)

Trinity College (5-3)

We would like to thank our coaches, Pamela Cameron, Joseph Rossetti and Barry Sinoway (’69) of Sinoway, McEnery & Messey for volunteering their time.  We are also grateful to Professors Fulco and Cabot for their support, as well as the Gruendel and Ahlstrand families for hosting us during Regionals and Opening Rounds.

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How a Science Enthusiast Discovered Her True Passion, Environmental Policy

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Dave

Nichola Clark (‘12)

Nichola conducts a TCI Survey of an area of the ocean floor

*This article is part of an ongoing series,”Why Declare PBPL?,” which highlights the diversity of the major through students’ own accounts.

I am the type of person who makes lists—from grocery lists, to things-to-do tomorrow, to my life goals.  So, by the end of my freshman year, I was more than a little worried that I had no idea what I wanted to major in.  I felt that my interests would lead me either to a major in biology or legal studies.  I decided that the best way to decide on a major was to look at the class requirements and evaluate which major offered the most interesting courses.  In the end, I realized that I would enjoy every class that the Public Policy major required (and certainly not every class that was required for the Biology major). About the same time that I was deciding my major, I was also looking into doing a summer study abroad.  I made a compromise with myself: since I had decided upon majoring in public policy, I would have my last ‘hurrah’ in science by pursuing a marine-science course in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  I anticipated this trip to be a fun ‘good-bye’ to science before I became an adult and entered the real world in which I would be pursuing public policy. Though the only pre-requisite for the Turks and Caicos study abroad experience was a course in Biology, I decided to get SCUBA-certified so that I would be able to make the most of my experience on the island.  I was going to live on a rural island in the middle of the Caribbean (and traveling there via an incredibly tiny propeller plane) where the water supply came from the rain, so I would be limited to one shower per week.  The course would be rather science-intensive—what if I was the only non-science major and was woefully unprepared for the course?  In spite of these lingering questions, I boarded the plane to South Caicos. At that time, I had a major that was chosen on logic but without much heart.  When I landed back in the USA, it was with a clear idea of not only my major, but also a career goal and a new passion in life.  The course that I studied was “Marine Resource Management: Techniques and Policies” and it introduced a world of environmental policy that I had never considered.  After some preliminary background coursework on identifying fish, coral, and algae species, the class began conducting research on the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).  I learned that MPAs are only one of the many policy methods used to address one of the many problems that face our oceans today.  Ocean acidification, coral degradation, biodiversity loss, fishery collapses—all problems in which public policy plays a vital role to a solution!   I did not have to choose between science and public policy, all that I needed was to find the right way to combine them. I realized that one of the emphases in which one can specialize within the Public Policy major is Environmental Policy.  This option is an absolutely perfect choice for me, for indeed, I learned in Turks and Caicos that my real passion is in marine policy.  The major is well designed—it has provided me with the essential background and foundations of public policy, but it also allows me to have the freedom to pursue the specific policy that I find most interesting.

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Energy- Why Ethanol is Not the Solution

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Dave

Allison Windham (’13)

*This essay is the first installment of a Point-Counterpoint on Ethanol

Just a few years ago, an outsider observing the U.S. never would have known that the world was running out of petroleum; Hummers roamed the highways, $3.00 per gallon of gasoline was unheard of, and optimism abounded about a potential new source of fuel: corn-based ethanol.  The idea that rolling golden cornfields could one day replace the monstrous rigs and black muck we’ve relied on for our energy was extremely appealing. It seemed that corn had the potential make the world a happier and greener place. Though many still wish to perpetuate that myth (namely those who live in agricultural states such as Iowa), the use of corn for ethanol production has since become a contentious issue. New information about the consequences of using ethanol have come to light, tipping the balance in favor of those opposed to corn-based fuels.  The main arguments against corn-based Ethanol are that it would deplete food resources, is less efficient than the existing alternatives, and engenders many risks.

It’s one thing for the world supply of oil to dwindle. In the short term, that means that the general population will fly less often and do its best to conserve gas and energy. On the other hand, if the world begins to utilize its already scarce food sources to perpetuate a culture based on transportation and materialism, it will soon have many other problems.

Corn is not a perpetual resource like wind- though it can be planted again and again, it requires specific types of soil to thrive and fields can only grow corn intermittently, with the “off” years allowing the soil to rest and regain lost nutrients.  If it were to become the world’s fuel supply, suitable fields previously used for food crops would be reallocated for the cultivation of fuel crops. Because not all land is suitable for corn, reallocation of land to fuel would create a shortage of land for food crops. As it is, floods and the relentless summer sun have reduced the amount of arable land, making corn has scarcer and more expensive this year than in past years. If fuel crops relegate food crops to even fewer fields, food prices would rise even more sharply. In turn, this would increase the cost of Ethanol production due to the rising cost of corn, and if food sources like corn continue to be converted into fuel, the world will find it more difficult to feed its growing population with each passing year and each new ethanol plant opened. Though opponents argue that using corn for ethanol production is no different than using it for insect repellant or antibiotics, that is categorically untrue. Unlike other uses, the amount of corn that would be used to produce enough ethanol to sustain the world is of a far greater magnitude and would dramatically influence markets as well as the diet of the world population.

However, food scarcity isn’t the only downside to corn-based ethanol – it’s also far less efficient than gasoline. Firstly, ethanol contains approximately 34 percent less energy per unit volume than gasoline, which theoretically translates to a 34 percent drop in efficiency, as measured by miles per gallon. Though pure ethanol has not yet been tested for efficiency, E85 (a mixture composed of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline) is about 26 percent less efficient than pure gasoline. Additionally, ethanol presents a huge problem for engines in cold weather. Once the temperature falls below a certain level, ethanol doesn’t have enough vapor pressure to evaporate and spark the ignition. This is why the United States and a few other countries have begun to sell E85 and other similar substances. When the climate becomes particularly frigid, the gasoline in the mixture allows the engine to start. Lastly, though ethanol produces less greenhouse gasses than gasoline, it still only has an energy balance ratio of 1:1.3, meaning that one unit of fossil fuel energy is required to create 1.3 energy units from the resulting ethanol.  This pales in comparison to the energy balance of crude oil, which is 1:5.

Corn-based ethanol was originally pitched as being a healthier, safer alternative to gasoline. In recent years the government has unearthed data that ethanol production produces more volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, than had originally been disclosed.  VOCs are compounds that, when released into the air, lower air quality and cause damage to soil and groundwater.  Additionally, a research team of atmospheric scientists at Stanford University did a comparative study of E85 and gasoline. They found that relative to gasoline, E85 would increase the risk of air pollution deaths by nine percent. It would also significantly increase the ozone levels, which in turn would increase photochemical smog and aggravate medical problems such as asthma.

Despite scientists’ belief that the world’s oil supplies will be depleted within the next fifty years, the number of people who argue for corn-based ethanol is quickly dwindling, which proves just how unworkable it is. Ethanol’s supporters suggest that we embrace corn-based ethanol, essentially because it exists and it works. They present many claims that it is efficient, clean, and harmless, yet the factual evidence garnered by the scientific community contradicts those claims. Science has produced damning evidence that ethanol is significantly less efficient than gasoline (on the order of 34 percent), that it produces more VOCs than originally disclosed, and that it would aggravate health problems, increase ozone levels and lead to increased rates of death from air pollution.  In light of these facts, it’s safe to say that corn-based ethanol is not an ideal option. In addition to the three main issues, ethanol production would lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and a depletion of water resources. However, there are other alternatives that are currently being researched and tested, namely bio-diesel and cellulosic ethanol, which is the greenest alternative that presented thus far.

Over the next generation as our gasoline supply is depleted and prices continue to skyrocket, science and technology will be in a to race against time to fill the gap left by fossil fuels. Based on current information, it seems that ethanol or other food-based fuels are not the answer we seek.

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Concussions and CTE: Why Football May Be America’s Next Public Health Crisis

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Dave

Michael Galligan (’11)

In ancient Rome, within the walls of the Colosseum, gladiators would fight to the death in front of thousands of observers.  Crowds would boo and cheer, the mead flowed, and food was distributed.  The climax of these events would be the death or serious injury of one of the contestants.  If this type of event sounds familiar, it should.  However, our modern-day “gladiators” are professional athletes, and rather than fighting with swords, America’s gladiators play football.  As former NFL player Howie Long once said, “Baseball may be America’s pastime, but football is America’s passion.”  Every week in the fall, millions of Americans fill stadiums and tune in on television to watch their favorite high school, college and professional teams compete in a sport that President Teddy Roosevelt once considered banning because of its excessive violence.  While instant death on the football field is certainly not as common as it was in the Colosseum contests, recent research has shown that football may have serious, and sometimes fatal, long term consequences.

Owen Thomas had a bright future ahead of him.  A student at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and the starting linebacker on the football team, Thomas tragically ended his own life in September 2010 at the age of 21.  An autopsy revealed that Thomas suffered from a progressive brain disorder called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, which was first discovered in the early twentieth century.  Doctors found that the disorder results from repetitive blows to the head, which is why doctors originally dubbed CTE “Punch-drunk Syndrome.”  The disorder is very much like Alzheimer’s Disease in that it causes deterioration of the brain including slurred speech, memory loss, and behavioral changes.  The doctors who preformed the autopsy on Thomas have said that, given the disease’s link to depression and impulse control, CTE might well have played a role in his suicide.  CTE was originally believed to be confined to former boxers.  However, recent autopsies of former football players, both professional and amateur, have indicated that there is a link between football and the disease.  These recent developments indicate that the “big hits” or even the normal “little hits” associated with football could lead to the development of this disorder.  This linkage is supported by a number of studies conducted on former NFL players.

In March of 2007, the University of North Carolina’s Center for the Study of Retired Athletes found that of the former NFL players who sustained three or more concussions on the field, 20.2% of them reported being diagnosed with depression.   In November 2009, the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research released a study of former NFL players that had disturbing findings.  The study found that of former NFL players over fifty, 6.1% had been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, or other memory-related diseases.  This percentage is five times higher than the national average for that age group.  The study further found that in players between the ages of thirty and forty-nine, the reported rates of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, or other memory-related diseases were nineteen times the national average.   These findings, compounded with our understanding that sustained multiple mild traumatic brain injuries (which are virtually unavoidable in football) have long-term consequences, suggests that the United States, which has approximately four-million high school and youth players, might be on the verge of a public health crisis.

In light of these new developments, the helmet industry has come under greater scrutiny.  The helmet industry is subject to no government or independent oversight.  Helmet manufacturers have no safety standards to meet.  The only standard in the industry is one provided by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, or NOCSAE.  The NOCSAE standard requires that both new and used helmets protect players against skull fractures.  However, this doesn’t necessarily prevent CTE; the force required to cause a player to sustain a concussion is significantly lower than the force required to cause a fractured skull. In January 2011, the NOCSAE announced that it would update its current standards, but thus far has not done so.  However, even if the NOCSAE were to update its current standards, most experts believe that no helmet can be developed to fully prevent concussions in football.

To make the game safer for players, there must be major changes to the game itself.  America cannot afford to wait for an entire generation of football players to develop the harsh long-term effects associated with the game.   While the game of football without concussions is currently inconceivable, a safer brand of football is.  The question that both football fans and policymakers need to answer now is, “How do we develop a game that doesn’t compromise the future health of its players?”

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