Messenger - Vol. 2, No. 1, Page 13 Fall 1992 Capitol fellows University of Delaware legislative fellows are a valuable state resource, providing non-partisan research to legislators in the Delaware General Assembly. Now in its 10th year in the College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, the Legislative Fellows Program allows students to serve as staff members to the Delaware General Assembly from January to June. For three days a week, they conduct research, present data at meetings, answer specific questions and provide legislators with information on current issues. Each fall, applicants for the competitive program take an exam to test their writing skills and ability to express themselves. Semi-finalists move to an interview where they must articulate their ideas quickly. Last fall, more than a dozen applicants made the interview stage; eight fellows were chosen. Jerome Lewis, director of the Delaware Public Administration Institute within the college, and Audrey Helfman, senior management analyst in the institute, supervise and coordinate the program, which is co-sponsored by the University and the General Assembly. "It's a real opportunity for us at the University, because the program is an excellent laboratory for decision-making and learning about people and government," Lewis said. The most recent group was given assignments ranging from summarizing wetlands regulations to assessing a cultural exchange and trade relationship between Delaware and the Yucatan, Mexico. Christopher Eisenberg, a Master of Public Administration candidate, served four committees of the House of Representatives, including banking and insurance and revenue and finance. One of his projects was to study a "peer-lending" program that aids small, low-income businesses that would not otherwise qualify for small business loans. Scott Tester, a graduate student in political science and international relations, gave a policy briefing to the senate on health care, comparing the governor's health care plan to those in other states and countries. Daniel Ganz, an MPA student specializing in policy analysis, was assigned research on environmental audits, an amendment for a prisoner relief fund, job training seminars and legal analysis. After completing a doctorate in educational studies from the University, Christine Kraft entered the MPA degree program, specializing in educational and social service policy analysis. Assigned to the Senate Family Task Force, she conducted research on economic factors that have influenced families in the last two decades. --Laura Reisinger, Delaware '92