from all over the country talk about their experiences visiting washington, d.c. our guests are part of the washington center which sponsors the students. the program allows students to meet members of congress and hear from administration officials and journalists. >> kathleen, tell us where we are, what you are doing, who is in the room? >> we are in the washington center. we are attending the seminar. [laughter] >> how many people are here? >> 130. >> how long have you been in town and what have you been doing? >> we have been here two weeks and we are here to listen from people like you and everyone's experience as. >> tell me something you ever someone you have talked to in

the last couple of days that has made an impact on you. >> honestly, every time it is impressionable when someone speaks to us. we have p.j. crowley, speaking about the difference between the media and how much has changed as influenced by the public. that was a very interesting to hear about. >> you are from the university of san diego. what is your home town? >> new york. i wanted to change and i thought the west coast would broaden my horizon and give me an idea of what is out there. >> i want to thank you for for opening of. i'm going to melissa over here who liked fortunately met earlier this year in your high school. tell the high school and now the college. >> john ferguson senior high school and now i am a miami-dade

college. i am hoping to live in a city like d.c. we had been here only for a week. we got here on sunday so we will be here for a week. we have a lot of interaction with the print journalists, more specifically, congressman they came to speak with us. it is interesting to see how the media relies on the politicians and the politics relies on the media. it is a nice change. >> have you changed your mind about anything since you have been here? >> i opened up my horizon to political journalism and noticed how many packs you need to know and how many more things i need to be aware of. i'm going to be hitting the books 7. >> what is your man? >> i am from minnesota. i did not move too far away. i am a big family person. >> why are you here? >> eventually i want to end up

as a career here. being here has made me driven to come here it even more. i am considering even transferring to a college over here in general. >> why? what is driving you? >> the city has so many opportunities. you can get internships everywhere. there are so many museums that you can go and learn and israel. [laughter] -- and this free. this program has taught me did you can be walking around and find someone that can give you insight into their life. >> did not mean to interrupt you. what have you learned? who has impressed you? who has made an impact on you? >> ron williams yesterday, he was one of the most

inspirational speakers. he had a lot to say. there have been so many speakers. >> what have you done to process all of this? i was watching you earlier, there are a lot of laptops out there. >> i have notes for every day. at the end, we have to do journals. at the end of the day when i go back to do my journal, i will review my notes and see what happened during the day, because otherwise it is a lot of facts coming at you all at once. but what has happened in the last week, it has been a lot of media and turning one side of the house and the other side of the house, and what everyone's opinion is on that, almost.

>> do you think before i go to another one of your fellow students, do you think we need a fairness doctrine in the media? >> i do not. you can go out and get a share media anywhere you go. you can get one side of the media and the other side. it is the people that have to look for the fairness within the media, not the media that has to provide it. >> yes, sir. >> i am john from quinnipiac university. >> tell us about quinnipiac, because we always hear about the polls. >> it is a school in connecticut, 6000 undergraduates. i went there because of their communications program and decided that would be a position for me. we have a strong communications and business program. i am setting sociology and political science. >> what have you learned of the last couple of weeks? >> so much. we learned a lot about

networking and things like that. we made trips to capitol hill where you see people extremely receptive to you. an amazing thing. you would think they would not want anything to do with a random college student. but congressmen and senators, their office are very receptive to you. they are helping you learn about what is going on here and making sure that you see everything going on, transparent, extremely awesome experience to have. i am 20 years old. >> so you can vote? >> yes, sir. >> why did think members of congress might be interested in you? [laughter] >> i had even met with congressman who i was not their constituents. they were all extremely receptive. >> let me ask you about the fairness doctrine. >> i think the press should be extremely free. i don't think there should be regulation to have something like that. i think we should be able the

trust in our journalists, to properly displayed the media to us in a neutral way. we should not have to regulate that. the government is to regulated as it is. we should trust the media to eventually evolve to a spot where we have a very neutral face. >> your name. >> i am kara. i am from a itty, bitty law school with 500 undergrads. >> and what is an itty, bitty law school? >> it is 3 years old, five years old. >> are you thinking of going there? >> we are unique. we're education majors here to learn about education and politics combined. before coming here, i knew nothing about politics. to be honest, i did not care

because it was talking. we talked about how people get angry and people calling in. and it kind of bothered me. i just kept talking. [laughter] >> why does it bother you? >> for people to keep yelling. it does not make sense. if i was in an argument and getting his need an angry, i could not listen and compromise and find common ground, just like a good meritor good relation with anybody. my parents would talk about this. [laughter] >> do your parents have a good marriage? >> yes, because when they have put the facts of opinion, let the anger pass and then they talk to each other to make something happen. >> why do you think people get angry? >> we are human. psychology, we are sensitive and scared. there are so many things that could go wrong. especially in congress, the power that they have, and i am a future teacher, we will have

power, too. you are human. >> what is power? >> what is power? >> if everyone had it, what do they have? >> they are in a place where they can make that difference. they can affect how other people work and the lives of other people. >> like you want to be a teacher? >> i get this question all the time. i love children and i understand that that is how i know i can make a difference in society and how i know that i felt empowered to be able to be here to learn about things, just to be a person that could put to the congressman and make a contribution to society. i can educate the world. >> i have asked the others about the fairness doctrine. >> i do not know what that is. i am rather confused. >> what you think it does?

>> something about regulating the media? >> do you want someone to regulate the media? would you feel good if there was an organization in washington deciding what is fair and what is not fair? >> i would like someone to be able to at that the media so it would have validity. >> who do you want to do that? >> that is a really good question. i do not now. i'm glad do not have to make that decision. [laughter] >> who would you trust? >> i would trust my congressman. >> you would trust your congressman to edit the media. >> to decide who gets to edit the media. >> you want congress to run -- decide on who will run the fairness doctrine. >> yes. >> if the republicans were in power, would you they want them in charge of what is fair? >> yes. [laughter]

i don't like how you say republicans and democrats. i'm trying to go to the bipartisan vibe. >> how do you expect people and as decided against going to the voting booth and pick a democrat and republican, why do you expect them to come together? >> why do i expect them to come together? i expect they are people who understand that something needs to be different. and we in here, we're having the same conversations and understand that anger is not the way. we need to be able to compromise. if that makes sense. >> thank you very much. [applause] yes, sir. >> i'm alex. i am from the middle of pennsylvania. >> how big is it? >> it is about 1400 students.

>> why did you decide to spend two weeks in washington. the washington center? >> it seemed interesting. my professor sold me on it. it seemed like a great experience to spend two weeks in washington, d.c. i have been here multiple times with my parents and my relatives. this is the first time on my own exploring an urban center and in the nation's capital. it seemed a great opportunity to learn about how our government works. >> what have you learned? >> there is a lot. we have a multitude of great speakers. >> do you have a favorite? >> probably chuck rosenberg. >> when you see a speaker -- you have seen a ton of them -- what is it that impresses you? and what does not impress you?

>> being well spoken in your answers and not being too partisan or extreme or trying to turn a question for his or her own means. theet's go back to question, the fairness doctrine. >> no, i don't think we need a fairness doctrine. i think it was probably more necessary when there were only a few networks that people primarily get their news from. and when you have multiple searches including cable news and the internet where you have sources from every viewpoint, you do not necessarily need to regulate bias. i also don't believe the government should be regulating the media. i think we can do that. and there has been a lot of talk this week about that tragedy out in arizona, who is

to blame. do you point your finger at anybody or anything? >> you cannot really. the finger at a specific group. i think that person, that one person was responsible, and there are actions that people could have taken to prevent that great tragedy, but most of all we need to look at ourselves and in political empowerment that we create for each other. >> yes, sir. >> i am kory. >> why did to go to the washington center? you are close to home. >> i thought this would be a good experience to meet a lot of other people. i knew some other students and from my school were going. it is worth two weeks and it should be informative and useful times. >> what are your presence about all this? i think it is been very interesting. one of the coolest moments was going to my center's building

and walking down a hall and seeing all these different names on all of the different rooms and saying, that is john kerry's office, and it was cool to say, that is where they really do their work. it was pretty cool to see. >> you hear that their big concern is you, their sons and daughters and their grandsons and granddaughters. there is future and that you're going to be cheated the way that people of my generation have let things out. what is your reaction? >> i think that is something they have to do. we are the ones that do but the demand. i don't know what they are pandering or sincere. >> what are your concerns for the future? >> when we talked about the tucson shooting, one of my concerns was that toxic environment, the idea that these people on the left and right are constantly going at

each other and are not able to get a good discourse to move toward. they really care about their constituents and understand that not all of their constituents go with one party, or go one way. the need to work with each other to find some common ground. >> yet think we need the fairness doctrine. >> i don't think mandating it is the proper way to go about it. we could see a little bit more respect from our leaders and politicians, of little bit more humility and basically where our leaders who have responsibility, our public and figures are able to say, what i said was, it might have consequences, and some people might think dispersant is really that bad. they are trying to serve their constituents regardless of what side they are on. >> how should we pass public law this is all public officials can be humble? >> it cannot be really regulated.

they need to take responsibility and get that i tone to it plays. it would be good to proceed and work together as a country. >> so we have the fairness doctrine and the humble doctrine. [laughter] >> where are you from? >> i attend wesley college in dover, delaware. >> was it the first college in the united states? >> i do not think so. >> it is very old. >> the oldest private college in delaware. >> harvard was up there somewhere. anyway, what does this couple of weeks been like? >> it has been hectic and busy. we have had to go through a lot. >> stop and tell us exactly what you do every day.

where do you live? >> we live in this building, so we get up in the morning and we come down here. today we started at 8:00 and today we go until 9:00 at night. >> what do you do? >> we were watching the "washington journal," and then speakers, and then we go to site visits. we will be going to the indian embassy. >> what is it that you learn in an environment like this? >> one thing i have learned is last week on thursday, we went to the public affairs council. i got to learn about lobbying and how they train people how to lobby. i also got a good contact and hopefully i can find a good grad school and hopefully an internship by going there. >> you are in this for yourself.

>> well. in the end, it is going to benefit society. [laughter] sure it is for me, but i hope to do something. >> you're taking care of society, society will take care of you. >> in the end, i hope to benefit all of the teachers and education in the united states. >> what has disappointed you about what you have seen? >> nothing at the washington center has disappointed me. what is disappointing me is the news and media and how they are putting off the tragedy in tucson. i actually yelled at the screen the other day because the phelps family really upset me. i am from kansas. we always see them. >> you're talking about the toledo-based group. >> topeka. that is where i am from so i see them on the streets and it

is terrible. >> other than that, should they be allowed to do what they're doing? >> i think that is their american right, but i do not like seeing them. all of the negative signs. and all of the blame. i think we all need to come together and be together on this. >> with all the attention on that group -- abaptist church in topeka? whatever, who is to blame for that? every time they come around, we talk about them. >> it is the attention that they get. in topeka on gage boulevard, we have a unity boulevard where people will go out and go against them. we make it seem that we are united against you. they are doing the angel wings at that funeral.

you can come out and be publicly against them. >> yes, ma'am. >> i go to suffolk university in boston. i am originally from vermont. >> what have you learned? >> i learned that this is where the action is. it has been eye opening and as other people have mentioned, i felt that government was open. going to senators and members of congress's office. >> it has been opened in what regard? >> despite the events on saturday, it really is the people's house and we can go visit our representatives and for the most part. they took us quite seriously. >> why are you interested in this? >> professional politics major. i am not sure that is what i want to continue with after seeing the effect of the professionalization of politics. but just the d.c. experience. >> anything disappoint you?

>> not particularly except that some people we have met with seeing tour the resigned to the fact that there are irreconcilable differences. i think that is very realistic but it is a bit disappointed to see the people just for their hands of a lot of times and think this is where the things are and we know there is not the political will or the good will to pass certain things. >> what is your take on arizona? >> i think it is about who is trying to control the narrative. i was reading the mental health professionals want to tell the story from that perspective. people who are supporters of the first amendment want to take the story in that direction. and then people who wanted to be a reflection of the town in washington, also won control of the narrative. i say that tone is important, we want a civil tongue and we bring those concerns to a head, but we cannot attribute to

anything in particular and ultimately free speech is where we should be headed. >> why do we need a civil tone? >> because we have fundamental differences. in small group discussions, debates were quite heated but we were able to discuss them because we were able to keep that civil tone. >> do we need a fairness doctrine? >> no, we can have a hybrid media system. but the labels of what is news and what is commentary need to i do not have any problem with a plethora of opinions being out there. they should be labeled as opinions. >> do you had a problem recognizing opinion versus straight news? >> i would like to say i do not personally, but i think there really is a very fine line. often it is blurred

intentionally. >> yes, ma'am. and i'm from florida southern in lakewood, florida. >> what kind of school is that? >> we are a small school and about 1600 kids, very tight community. >> what is your major? >> i am a political science major. >> why did you pick that? >> in high school i was inspired by programs that i was involved with. i started in student government and work my way up. i found a passion for that, just the knowledge that even young people, and i have a passion for young people, teaching them that if we can make a difference and that it is possible for us, even in from -- maybe not powerful or a wealthy background, to make our way up into the political field. >> stay where you are. i will ask a question.

get a wide shot of this room. it triggered something i would be interested in finding out. you said you are interested in government, you are in school and being involved in government programs. how many of you in here in high school and college have been something that would be a government experience? a club? put your hands up. almost everybody in the room. this is the group that has been engaged from the beginning. i'm sure you've seen people in your schools who could care less. >> for sure. >> where did you get your interest in government-related organizations versus those that do not care about this? >> my best friend hillary got me involved. it is really important. and then from the teachers at my high school in clear water high, so just been through the

mercy and knowledge of others that has helped me. >> the teacher ought to feel good when they hear you say it was a teacher that help get you involved. how many would point to a teacher that got too involved and interested in all this? yes, sir. >> i am jamie diamond from cumberland, rhode island. >> why are you here? >> i applied for a fellowship to come. i was interested to see how washington has changed, how the institutions have changed, because people that were elected the aware of the continuity or the dynamics. >> what have you learned? >> it is quite a different place. i think the media has changed things, yet it also gave me a chance to reflect on events that are really informative, where the american political

consciousness is now. i think the september 11 really resonated. even in the speakers and exhibits. in what has made the biggest impression on you? >> two pieces in particular. the first was a presentation by a professor from the university of texas law school. she talked at length about the habeas corpus process, for detainees at guantanamo. it really showed that -- these are people that are not like the american population. they are not typical criminals. they are not -- they are people but they are still given in most cases the right to habeas corpus, and it shows their commitment to civil institutions and the rule of law. i think that was important. that same thing was carried through what the speaker chuck rosenberg.

>> have you been to washington before? many times? you are involved in all of this. are you going to run for congress? >> absolutely not. [laughter] >> why not? >> i remember coming to congress at different points. my grandfather was a labor lobbyist. the districts change as well. so it is systemic. the idea of using the filibuster or a motion to adjourn to use the bathroom, it really changes civil discourse. i think the same thing happens in districts. we're gerrymandering, it is so extreme. >> you undoubtedly heard it on the newspapers and on the blogs that people are saying that people your age are in trouble based on what my generation and others have done to this country, with the expenditure of

money. are you worried? >> absolutely. not just on the expenditure of money it is the environmental degradation. one of the key things is that petroleum is a finite resource. what is that next chapter? that chapter is really blank as of now. in addition to the forces of mounting debt. the economy is based on economic growth and not on sustainability. >> how many in this room consider themselves completely independent of any political party? 1, 2, 3, -- a whole bunch of you back here. next, i will go to this lady here. >> i live in boston and i come from suffolk university. >> why did you come to the united states from kosovo? >> i came because i had to.

i came here is a refugee seeking freedom. i am a u.s. citizen now. >> what year did you come? >> i came during 1999. >> you have been here almost 12 years. >> i went back and finish school and i've been here for high school and college. >> which you say anything to people born in this country, raised in this country, and have never left, based on the experiences that you have had? >> i would like than to note to appreciate the freedom that they have. i would like them to take responsibility to help countries who are in need, places like darfur, kashmir, and

senegal, third world countries that really need people's help. i appreciate that we need -- we live in washington and got to see places like congress, where decisions were made to help people lives. >> what is the best thing about the united states, and what is the thing you do not like? >> there are a lot of things that i liked. i like that the united states is involved in some particular major issues in the third world, and i would like to see more involvement in other countries. encouraging countries empowered to change freedom around the world. >> what do you not like? >> i cannot really say. >> thank you. >> i am from bradley university. >> peoria, illinois. what brings you to the washington center? >> i loved d.c. for as long as i remember. i would have the opportunity --

i took the opportunity to come to college. >> i started college in the fall, so it was around the time the primary started. i started canvassing with the campaigns and i love talking to people. during their stories of what issues affected. it was so much the issue itself, it was how their lives had changed because of the things that happen. >> have you changed your mind about anything since you have been here? >> not particularly. over the past few years, i would not say cynical but i have a loss that nike mine said i had when i was younger, where there is good and bad. i think it comes to looking at all the sides and all the possible angles to understand an issue and understand that there is a solution. there are multiple roads to get

to that solution. >> you all were here when the tragedy happened in arizona. you were altogether. what was your first reaction to that? and what has happened to your thinking since then? >> i was shocked, because i do not understand how someone can target an individual like that, that wants to do good. i think every person that runs for office or has this idea that they're going to serve people, and to attack an individual like that car having that mind- set where we can possibly improve the situation of others is hard to understand. i still did not understand why someone would do that. >> yes, ma'am. >> i'm originally from jamaica and i go to suffolk university in boston. >> why did you come to washington for two weeks?

>> i wanted to know more about how the american government runs in general. i was not as aware of that as i thought i was. >> are you a jamaican citizen? >> i was born there originally. but no, because we do not have dual citizenship. i am an american citizen right now. >> what you think about what you have learned? >> i do not think it is -- i think the system is a lot better than it is in my country, for example, because the people have a lot more rights. but at the same time, there is a lot of corruption. it is still a lot better than my old country. >> where do you see corruption? >> just from a lot of things being twisted so they say how politics will present things. one of the speakers was saying

they were calling the healthcare law obama care. it makes the people pushed to one side and makes people view something in a way they are not to view it because they do not know what about that as much. the people they elected are not presenting in a way that is true. >> did every speaker you listen to in the last couple of weeks telling you the truth? >> some of them try to. not that they did not want to tell the truth, they just did not. maybe they did not know the answer and it did not want to say something that might hurt their career in the future. >> that career in the future. that's what they were worried about. >> i'm also from the university and from peoria.

>> what have you learned? >> i learned that do not know as much as i thought i did. it has been humbling but i learned -- i enjoyed learning the things that were wrong so that i can pass on information to people that do not have this opportunity. >> you learn that you did not know as much as you thought you did. give us an example. >> one of the things i have learned the most is the redistricting process and how really political and it has been. in my political science class, the class's i have taken, they touched on gerrymandering and reapportionment, illinois is the state to retain their democratic government so i am interested on how they will play out in the future. i do not really know or understand the full scope of the issue until this week. >> was there a moment when you said i did not know that, and

now i do? >> it is a continual learning process. i don't remember a lightbulb moment. i just continue to expand on the moment. >> if we get a fairness doctrine, should we call on you? could you run that? >> i think the fairness doctrine is a secondary issue. i think the primary issue is the citizen not seeking alternative sources of information and not taking upon themselves to know as much as they can. as an english major, i am talk to navigate alternative points of view so they cannot take everything at face value. one of the things i have been attempting to do is for my son, if you watch one side, you have to be watched the other. the fairness doctrine is a secondary doctrine. it is not the primary issue at hand. >> i am george from the university of san diego. i'm a political science major.

>> you have been listening and what you want to comment on? >> i would say that i think we have been experiencing these last two days is fair and open debate, a vigorous debate, and i am definitely a proponent of that for the united states. i asked about the fairness doctrine to mike pence. i do not think that it is something that we need to have. some of the students of said this morning that we should be able to -- we have a new media as bob schieffer pointed out to us on monday, the old media versus the new media complex, the bloggers, all of the other media outlets, we can still search out and really come up with our own opinion and searched out the facts and what is important to us and how pertains rather than someone beating us, this is what you need to know because we think

so. >> why do you think so many people -- all my life this has happened -- they want to point the finger at the other side and they need to cool their jets? >> someone brought up earlier about whoever controls the spotlight, if you will, they have the greatest chance to influence other people, whether that be here in the united states or abroad. finger-pointing is a human nature type of thing. no one aspires to take responsibility for bad things. >> have you seen something in the last two weeks that was a high point? >> a lot the speakers have been at the least i opening. we have learned something from them whether it is to draw attention, the spotlight was on them, so they espoused some of their personal beliefs and their personal agendas, even that they were very bright- intentioned.

>> there is that. they then decided because of the mtv generation, everything moves so fast, you all have sat still for two weeks. [laughter] seven or eight hours a day. some of you have a long faces at the moment but that is my problem. but you do, you sit there all along and do this. we had this idea that you will not sit still for something like this. >> i think that sometimes the media portrays that and the perception that that is the case leads people to become less interested in things like politics because they do not believe they have a voice because they have this perception or this older generation perception on them, that they are wrong, or somehow they are not living up to the expectation of the older generation. i think that is a terrible mischaracterization of younger people in the united states. >> i am from bergen community

college in new jersey. >> what have you learned? >> everyone in washington carries around their constitution. [laughter] >> have you gotten one yet? >> i have. it is really important that we know our rights, all the times that we simply. that anger at the elected officials as opposed to getting involved in the process and knowing what you were able to voice that to your congressman. >> why are you interested in all this stuff? >> i am interested in entering the legal profession. i was looking for more of the inner workings of washington. i was very impressed he had it one of the standout moments for me was when i was able all walking to my senator's office and feel like a constituent. a lot of people feel that their voice cannot be heard. and you are able to experience

that, walk in and know that they are there to listen to you, you can possibly solve some of the problems that exist for. >> let's say that the president of the united states called you into the oval office and after you get over the fright, which anyone would, then you could tell him one thing that you wanted him to do as president. what would it be? >> a very tough question. there are so many things. >> what issue matters to you the most? >> right now would be, a new electedcongress being republican, he should definitely emphasize compromise. we always talk about bipartisanship. i would really like to see that in action and in progress. that would be great to see them working together on solving our issues. >> yes, ma'am. >> i am from miami-dade college. the honors college. it is a purpose to it is that applies to the college and you either are tonight,

unfortunately, or accepted, and every term you remain in the program oryou are kicked out. >> i read there were 172,000 students in miami-dade. >> i think it is 200,000 or something higher. >> someone needs to update the pageat wikipedia. what does it feel like being part of that big of a college? >> it was an honor after arne duncan was madehead of education by obama. it's an honor to be at such a wonderful college. >> what have you learned over

the last couple of weeks? >> we have only been here a week. we definitely have a lot of information. we were laughing yesterday in our room. but definitely how politics and media are definitely intertwined. definitely -- i am an international relations major. we talked policy withthe secretary of state hillary clinton. i was in awe about it. as of this moment, we have more events, but that would be my high point. >> we have been talking about the fairness doctrine and the idea of fairness. should we have the government do that? >> i definitely do not thing so. i think that every person this room has an opinion, has a point of view, and it should be up to the constituents to believe what.

that will take on the media. everyone will have a different opinion. we have to agree to disagree. by putting out that doctrine, if you have one person regulating everything. that would definitely go against the first amendment which is freedom of speech. that would not be ok. >> what is your number way -- #1 source of meant? >> "washington post." >> off the web from miami. >> i am from bradley university. i'm from illinois. >> we have heard a lot from bradley. all three of you have spoken? so why did you come from the washington center for a week? >> i came for the two-week program. i am the student president at bradley. i've always been interested in politics. even though it's not directly

related to my media major, but it has fascinated me about elected officials have the power to help everyone in the country. >> how did you get elected student body president? >> i served on the senate for two years. i was a center in my freshman year from the dorm, i chair person for technology on campus, and then i ran for president -- and why did you get involved in the senate? >> i was looking for ways to get involved on campus. someone approached me as a freshman and told me to run. i came back excited with the petition about half an hour later all filled out. i got elected. we had nine people running for the seat. it was inspiring to get elected and be able to do a lot of good things in that time. >> it is not always the case, but you will find that as you go around washington, most people elected or working on staff have a similar experience to you, working on government-

related organizations and schools. why are you interested and your classmates might not be? >> that is a tough question. i am in a fraternity as well and i looked around and a lot of guys to a lot and a lot of guys are ok with not doing that much. it's personal drive and ambition to go out and help others and some people might do that in one way and that a perfectly susceptible and others might do that in another way. >> assuming that you are under way to a life in public service, are you going to run for congress crush a margin and i do not know. i do not know of that is in my career plan. >> can you do when you are seeing and hearing here all the time? >> it would be rough dealing with the criticism that a lot of them go through, especially with the politics going in the play now, where you vote one

way, you are demonized. you but another way, it is not a very nice environment to be in. but it is the price that they paid to represent and help every citizen in the united states. >> thank you, mr. president. [laughter] >> come originally from middletown, conn. i go to college in westchester. >> what is clark university like? >> it is as liberal as you can get sometimes. it is very diverse. >> does that make you a liberal? >> no, i am one of the few that probably would say they are a moderate. it is interesting coming from a more conservative family to move into such a liberal environment. >> what is the difference between being a liberal and being a moderate? >> i think that everyone has to

take the outside. issues which have been talking about recently in the media, the responsibility of the consumer to be able to decipher both sides of the story and make their own personal opinion, cannot categorize themselves. >> what would you be doing in a few years? >> hopefully running a law office. i think politics, every aspect of it affects some aspect of our lives, and runs everything we're involved in. and either through studying the concrete is of law or being involved in the local and immediate issues and local politicians, either way is the way to make a difference. >> we should count you in as being for the fairness doctrine? >> no, i think it is the responsibility of the consumer. with the growing technology, there is so much more ways to

get information out there, it is possible for us to figure out for ourselves. >> i'm from suffolk university. >> what brings you to town? >> i'm a criminal-justice maj. i want to go to law school and to criminal law. i wanted to broaden my horizons here because i am not really -- i know a lot of people. they are into politics. i am starting to get into politics but not before i came here. >> and when you say politics, what does that mean to you? >> just what we have been doing. i am independent. i like to hear both sides. i wanted to hear different views from people because i do not really -- i do not have a firm grip on either side. >> during this last couple of weeks, which side made more sense to you? >> you know what? i honestly cannot tell you. i will stay as an independent. i do not know.

in the class discussions that we have come i know both sides here in my class are very passionate on where they stand. it is interesting to be able to hear but sides. but as far as -- i agree with all lot of concerns and ideas but a lot of the liberal ideas. >> who impress you the most since you have been here? >> probably christine husky. she is defending a detainee at guantanamo bay. it was interesting to hear her take on the criticism that she has been getting for that, not only as a lawyer, but as a woman. it was really inspiring to hear that. >> maybe i could get you to take a position on the fairness doctrine. good idea to have someone in government tell us? >> no, i would not go with the fairness doctrine. i think the media, the way that it is now, clearly there is bias on on network news and things like that, but i feel

that if we tell them what to say or what to do, it will bring more bias to the networks. the way we're going is not great but i don't think there needs to be a distinction between what is news and what is opinion. what is your first choice every day for your news source? do you turn the computer on first or the radio? >> the internet. the computer is locked on a also i guess i get my news on a a well. aol. >> what have you learned? >> lots of things. >> tell us some. >> the way the media is able to spur on partisanship, it is very interesting.

>> spur it on? >> definitely. typecasting become so prevalent in a society right now. it is spurred on the partisanship of congress. people nowadays go for the most right or -- i would not say most left, but democratic, republican, people speaking in radical ways and failing to engage in other sources of information or opinions, has led to an increase in partisanship and that the lawyer to understand both sides. -- and a failure to understand both sides. >> we are running out of time and i want to get more of you in here. mike smith, come up for just a minute. tell us about your -- > i am from miami-dade honors college.

>> what have you learned? >> i have learned a lot. it was quite refreshing to hear someone play for the essence of classic journalism to return, for reporters to be open with their knees and the resources and the actual true journalism that we should have. >> i'm: times if you standing to come up to the microphone. tell me where you are from and what school you go to. >> a political science major at miami-dade. i have learned something more about the city, which is what i want to talk about. most interesting about washington, if you have so many beautiful places and then you looked that way up here, and you see how the streets are, how the people are living, and how the housing is nothing.

that is what an interesting. >> are you surprised? >> i was surprised. >> what school do you go to? >> i go to miami-states college. pretty much i have learned from different perspectives, from the speakers that we have had. it is great. [unintelligible] the relationship with the media. >> have you changed your mind on anything? >> for a few moments, i have. i've realized that sometimes you need to go over some aspects that may not relate to it later.

>> our last student speaker. >> in teaching fellow from north carolina. something i would like to mention. earlier this week we went to the american association for colleges of teacher education. we learned a lot about now is we have not heard of. as a futures teacher, one that is spent a lot of hours around the schools, i would really love to encourage your right might senators to come and talk to the school of education big -- and level with us. they're going to be effective as future teachers. >> thank you. mike smith is the president of the washington center. we have a minute left. you are in your new building. what is going on?

the kids are watching this thing, their parents, how can they get involved? >> thanks a lot. i am really impressed with all of your responses. you have been listening to people for the last two weeks and it is a wonderful thing to see you on the spot with someone as prominent as brian lamb, and the way you responded was very exceptional. our programs are now 35 years old. the seminars that will run as long as center -- semester-long and internships where people come in for interning and congress or the white house or cnn or other agencies. people can get involved as the students are by deciding that they would like to be exposed to leadership, they would like to learn about public policy and how it is formulated, and sometimes implemented, sometimes not. and to be advancing their own professional interests through workforce development, actually

interning are coming and experiencing seminar like this, so that you can go back and make your own communities better places. >> here is the website. i am sure there is a lot of information on here. 25 of you participated. it was all about letting you have a chance to tell us what you are thinking. give yourself a big hand and thank you all. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> for a dvd copy of this program, call 1-877-662-7726. for free transcripts or to give us your comments about this program, visit us at q-and-a.org. "q&a" programs are also available as c-span podcasts.

>> tonight, on "prime minister's questions," the prime minister talks about the economy and then highlights on the republican national committee winter meeting. tomorrow, on "washington journal," a preview of the agenda. then a discussion on the current economic situation. after that, we will check with heather peeler about her group's role in the mlk day of service. that is live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. tomorrow, a speech by attorney general eric holder at a prayer breakfast commemorating martin breakfast commemorating martin luther