JSA wants you!
Many students would probably agree that the topic of politics and government is not the easiest topic to discuss, nor is it the most enjoyable. But what if it wasn’t? That is the goal of the school’s first and only politics-oriented club, dubbed JSA, or Junior Statesmen of America.
Junior Statesmen of America is a discussion-based club comprised of students who are interested in politics, could become interested in politics, want to become the 50th president of the United States, don’t know a single thing about politics or think politics and the government are stupid.
“To be in JSA, you really don’t need to know anything about politics or the government,” admitted the club’s co-founder and vice president Zach Laufer. “It’s really for anyone who’s remotely interested.”
Junior Statesmen of America isn’t just for Park City. The club in the district this year is only a small unit, called ‘chapter’ by the organization, in the entire country. There was a small chapter here last year, but this year’s leaders hope to get the word out to even more students.
“It’s a nationally renowned program which brings modern politics to the growing unaware teenage population,” explained chapter president and initiator Liam Riley. “We do this through thoughtful talks, arguments, a debate here and there, and eating.”
Riley went on to explain how it’s our generation that will be voting in the next election and how important it is to understand how the government works. “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” he commented.
With the club’s nationally acclaimed recognition, you can bet on involvement in JSA looking good on your college application as well as an outlet for building leadership skills, argumentation skills and public speaking strategies.
“The format of the club is like a copy of our actual government,” he continued. “Not an exact replica, but similar.” This means there’s a president, vice president, treasurer and historian within the club, just like there is in DC.
The club meets every red day Tuesday in Mr. Fleming’s room unless there is a conflict with NHS meetings. The first official meeting is next Tuesday after school. There will always be intelligent talk and you can count on several boxes of doughnuts to be at every meeting.
Image courtesy of: southeast.jsa.org