Wednesday, June 21st
Washington, DC

Today was quite busy. Let’s see first the students met up with Stuart Gerson, a lawyer with a great deal of experience as a practitioner before the Supreme Court. Mr. Gerson gave our group some of the ins and outs about arguing cases before the Supreme Court. He then accompanied our group to the actual Supreme Court. Upon our arrival we were met by Cynthia Rapp who is assistant clerk for the Supreme Court. She spoke with us for about a half an hour and explained the procedural aspects of the court work. Mrs. Rapp also described her career path to her present position. After a tour of the building and sitting in the court room itself we were whisked into one of the side rooms for a meeting with Justice Samuel Alito. In years past the students would speak with Justice O’Connor.
Justice Alito spoke with the students for about an hour. They asked many questions about court theory, his pathway to his present position, and the political aspects of his confirmation process. The remarkable thing is that he seemed slightly nervous. This is no way a criticism. He answered all their questions in a patient and thoughtful manner. This guy has only been on the bench for not even a half of year. One the people even mentioned that the newest member of the court must take notes at the initial hearing to that determine the schedule. So basically Justice Alito gets hazed for being the newest Justice and must do this until another one is named. Anyway the students were really hoping that the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld decision would have been announced to so they might have had a chance to even ask one questions about the case.
From the Supreme Court we traveled down the road to Georgetown University. We then ate lunch at the student union then met at the School of Foreign Service. At that point we were able to have a sit down with the Dean of the School, Robert Gallucci. He spoke about the program at the School of Foreign Service and then about various policy issues. Dean Gallucci spoke about managing US dominance. He basically gave a question and answer lecture version of the speech he gave at the Carnegie Foundation one day before. The kids were in the palm of his hands. They were able to express view on North Korea and nuclear disarmament and antiquated missile defense plans. The dean spoke for about an hour and half and the students left a bit spellbound. As we walked around the campus and the area the students conducted mini debates that lasted well into dinner time.
After dinner the students then met into our task forces. In addition to the newspaper prep and class the task force is the main teaching responsibility for me. We will meet at least three times a week, for the next three weeks, for about two hours. The task forces are divided into Iran policy and Energy policy. I am on the energy task force and am to facilitate the kids to answer the question and make recommendations in the area of how domestic energy policy affects US foreign policy. The students got the basic framework on the task force, which acts as the overriding and cumulative project for the month. It should utilize all the information they learned in their time in DC.