The University of Michigan Office of Government Relations has nominated four student works for the 2021-2022 Art in the Legislature.

The Art in the Legislature Program displays and celebrates the work of excellent student artists from Michigan’s 15 public universities each year, and their respective works are displayed in the Anderson House Office Building, or the Binsfeld Senate Building, for one year.

State Relations Officers, university art department representatives, student-artists, their families, and the public at large are invited to attend the reception, at which time the new pieces of art will be unveiled and the students will be recognized.

Portrait of a Necklace

by Mikaylyn Beebee

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This piece is based on the fable of the crow and the serpent. The tale begins with a serpent eating a crow’s family; the crow takes vengeance by stealing the princess’ necklace and dropping it into the serpent’s lair. The royal guards then search for the necklace, find it in the lair, and gut the serpent. It’s a short story that tells that a little wit can win anything. I was drawn to this story because I saw it as a chance to tell a narrative through portraiture, and I love the way all of these characters are connected by the necklace – it killed the serpent, adorned the princess, and allowed the crow to move on. I chose to focus and illustrate all of their relationships to the necklace by having the dead serpent around the princess’ neck, and the crow flying away, shielding her eyes with its clever venture.

Panic

by Lindsay Farb

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Our world is currently in grave danger due to the worsening effects of the climate crisis. If we, the human population, do not make a significant change right now, before we know it, we will all cease to exist. I cannot help but feel uneasy and panicked when confronted with such alarming information regarding the severity of the situation at hand. My piece, titled Panic, is a visual depiction of chaos and the feeling of panic that pumps through the veins of many due to our current and ongoing climate crisis. The composition consists of jagged and irregularly cut black paper where negative and positive space work in harmony creating an upward motion of energy cutting through the page to mimic piercing and fleeting thoughts. The texture of the individual and overlapping shapes add to the provoked feeling of frenzy, and the sharp, chaotic composition aids in this description of panic in response to our impending doom.

Infrared

by Kyler Luna

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My piece is meant to shine light on the ongoing racial injustice in America faced by black Americans. As a white-Hispanic, I recognize the privilege I have with just the color of my skin. I do not have to worry about racial bias within the justice system influencing my right to a fair trial, but neither should anyone else. While this painting is one of the more prominent additions to my portfolio, the name “Infrared” alludes to something a bit more intricate: the colors of the boy’s face are blue and yellow watercolor while the background features acrylic strokes of orange and red. Each of these colors are seen when you view someone under an infrared scanner, reinforcing the overall message that no matter the color of your skin, we all look the same underneath.

Wear Your Mask

by Jacob Yu

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Covid-19 has affected so many people, and masks became part of our daily lives. Through this work, I wanted to show how daily lives have changed through the time of pandemic. The drawing shows a commute in the year 2020. Masks are on, and the train is almost empty. Because 2020 has been a very difficult year, I wanted to capture this feeling of isolation.

Author: PSIP Student Coordinator Rahul Rokkam, B.S. Economics ‘21

Contact: Lynn Halton, PSIP Supervisor
[email protected]
cell 248 231-5472

Bo Schembechler’s start as head football coach of the University of Michigan in 1969 launched a dominant era of Michigan football. From 1969 to 1989, he achieved an impressive record of 234-65-8, catapulting Michigan into a national title contender. The first 10 years of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry were characterized as the “ten-year war,” with either Schembechler’s Wolverines or Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes winning or sharing the Big Ten conference championship every season. Along with sparking a dominant tradition of Michigan football, Schembechler’s first year also led to the creation of a massively successful intern program at the University of Michigan – the Public Service Intern Program (PSIP).

During the fall of 1969 (the first few months of Schembechler’s time at Michigan), two undergraduate students – Mike Posner and Betsy Levine Lassar – hatched an idea to start a Washington DC-based internship program. Seeking to enable students to gain experience in public and legislative policy through public service internships in Washington, D.C., Mike and Betsy proposed a plan for the Washington Internship Program with an estimated budget of $9,000. The two students reached out to campus leaders including Bill Audiss in Career Planning and Placement Services, Barbara Newell in the President’s Office, and President Robben Fleming to request support for the program. They waited patiently, but had not gotten a response by the end of Fall semester. Serendipitously, Mike learned from a January 1970 article in The Michigan Daily about a $9,000 surplus from the Alumni Association’s tour proceeds from Michigan’s Rose Bowl appearance. Mike walked over to the Alumni Association to speak with then-Director Bob Forman, and walked out of that meeting with a check for $9,000 to launch the Washington Internship Program!

The early years of the Washington Internship Program were marked by small intern cohorts (18-20 students per year), as Mike and Betsy worked part-time to grow the fledgling program. During the summer of 1969 in D.C., Mike started to explore internships for Michigan students on Capitol Hill, think tanks, non-profits, media organizations and other types of public service organizations. With funding in place, they both travelled to Washington in early 1970 to secure the first year’s placements. Back at Michigan, Betsy handled the operations and administration of the program.

1975, July 17 – Rose Garden – The White House – Washington, DC – Gerald R. Ford, Representatives Elford Cederberg & Marvin Esch; University of Michigan Students – standing on steps to Colonnade; students on lawn – Congressional Hour – Greeting University of Michigan Students in Washington, DC as Summer Interns

Over the next few years, the program was re-named the Public Service Intern Program (PSIP) while Mike and Betsy continued to work with PSIP students to build a strong public service experience for students. This was exemplified by Nia Kraud of the 1974-75 PSIP cohort, who wrote a letter to Michigan alumnus President Gerald Ford, reminding him of the program and students’ presence in Washington, D.C. that summer. As a result of Nia’s letter, the President quickly planned a welcome reception and hosted 64 students in the White House Rose Garden on July 17, 1975, along with Michigan Congressmen Elford A. Cederberg and Marvin L. Esch.

For the next half a century, sponsored by the University Career Center (UCC) (originally, Career Planning and Placement), PSIPers have combined both passion for public service and determination to demand the best from themselves and their elected leaders. As a non-partisan and public-service oriented group, this UCC program prepares students for successful internships through biweekly meetings, professional development seminars, scheduled office hours, career panels, alumni mentorship and networking opportunities.

Betsy aptly describes the program’s purpose: “If anything, I came away feeling, as I believe now, that it’s important to stay in the game, to respect those with whom we disagree and try to understand their perspectives, to work to bridge our differences; keeping our shared values and the larger public interest as our guideposts, and to continue working for the ideals we believe in.”

PSIP is home to students, alumni, donors, and employers of all political affiliations and fosters an environment of inclusion. With the help of the D.C. Alumni Club, the PSIP Endowed Scholarship was created during PSIP’s 50th anniversary celebration. PSIP staff aim to fully fund this scholarship so that all students who aspire to intern in Washington, D.C. will be able to do so, regardless of their financial status.

PSIP students with Senator Carl Levin

Currently in its 52nd year of preparing students for public service focused internships in Washington, D.C., PSIP has grown into a 3,000+ strong community of diverse and successful alumni. Distinguished alumni include three current U.S. Representatives (Congressman Ted Deutch of Florida, Congresswoman Grace Meng of New York, and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood of Illinois), two-time daytime Emmy award winner (Dan Solomon, PSIP 1980), and Assistant Secretary of State (Michael Posner, PSIP 1970), among thousands of others.

In addition to successful alumni, PSIP has created thousands of lasting bonds and even marriages!

Meredith Westerlund (PSIP 2012) shared that “PSIP gave me the opportunity to explore Washington, DC, which I now call home. My internship opened my eyes to new experiences and greatly impacted my career path. Not only did I meet some of my closest friends that summer, but PSIP was how I met my fiance! I’m forever grateful to the program.”

Meredith’s fiance, Matt Schneider, mentions how PSIP kick-started his professional life: “The program helped me secure my first job out of college and discover my career. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to learn professional skills and build a foundation for their future.”

2017 Senator Peters & PSIPers

Just as Michigan football fans eagerly await another appearance in the Rose Bowl, PSIP’s 52nd cohort looks forward to another successful summer of public service internships. This summer, similar to last, most students will intern remotely with their Washington, D.C. internship sites due to covid-19. UCC continues to offer students the educational pillars of the program and alumni offer their support and expertise through mentorship and career panel discussions. The program is strong and continues to evolve, but the commitment to encouraging students to pursue careers in public service remains the underlying thread.

Friday, April 30th, 2021

10:00am – 11:30am

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Overview of the short-term and long-term changes in the Great Lakes water level variability, including pathways through which climate change impacts the major components of the Great Lakes water balance. Outlining a long-term conservation-based public policy argument for certain and specified uses of Great Lakes water during periods of high water levels in the Great Lakes.

Panelists

Drew Gronewold
Associate Professor, UM School for Environment and Sustainability

Dr. Andrew Gronewold, P.E., is an Associate Professor with the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan. He also holds adjunct faculty appointments in the University of Michigan’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Gronewold conducts research through a range of hydrological science projects that explore methods for quantifying and communicating uncertainties arising within long-term hydrological monitoring networks and data, and incorporating those uncertainties into models and risk-based water resources management decisions. Much of his recent research has focused on monitoring, analyzing, and forecasting the long-term water budget and water levels of the Laurentian Great Lakes.

Dr. Gronewold completed his undergraduate research at Cornell University in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and he conducted his graduate research at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment with Drs. Ken Reckhow and Robert Wolpert. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, Dr. Gronewold was the lead hydrologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, where his team advanced research on the Great Lakes hydrologic cycle and on historical and future water levels. In addition to his research career and academic training, Dr. Gronewold spent several years in the environmental consulting field as a professionally licensed engineer. For his contributions to hydrologic science, Dr. Gronewold received the NOAA Bronze Medal (in both 2016 and 2019), the highest honor bestowed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. Dr. Gronewold was also honored as a Department of Commerce Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Ambassador, specifically for his innovative solutions to regional water resources management problems.

Jon Allan
Academic and Research Program Officer Sr., UM School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and former Director of the Michigan’s Office of the Great Lakes

Jon W. Allan joined the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2019. His work focuses on the enterprise of sustainability across Michigan and the Great Lakes region related to the intersection of ecological, economic, social and cultural value. He seeks to understand and influence the rate at which the region is adopting and implementing the principles of a sustainable and just society.

Jon was previously the President and Founder of the Jon W. Allan Group, a private consultancy specializing in strategic insight for freshwater and the Great Lakes, energy and environmental policy and natural resource governance..

What is the Wolverine Caucus?
Wolverine Caucus members are University of Michigan alumni including legislators, lobbyists, staff, and advisors working in and around State of Michigan government. They meet with U-M experts on timely, relevant public policy subjects during the legislative session. Our mission is to provide diverse forums at which U-M friends can meet one another, enjoy fellowship, exchange views and learn from the world- class talents of U-M faculty and administrators.

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