Students to gain insiders' view of government

6/9/2007

BOWLING GREEN - For the 30th year, high school boys from across the state will converge today on the Bowling Green State University campus to create their own government.

The 1,200 boys who will be entering their senior years in the fall will learn about city, county, and state government by running for mock political offices and working in those roles during the nine-day Buckeye Boys State program.

The boys will be randomly assigned a political affiliation and residency during registration today. Over the weekend, they will campaign for positions such as city councilman, senator, school board member, and governor.

Those not elected to a direct political office will hold positions such as police chief, lawyer, and banker.

"We teach these kids state government from the ground up - from the city, county, and state - and they have to campaign just like in real life to run for offices," program spokesman Bill Strong said. "There is no unemployment at Boys State. They have to have a job."

The boys, among them nine sets of twins and one set of triplets, will graduate from the American Legion program on June 17 after conducting a successful "51st State of the Union."

During the program, the boys will meet political figures including Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann.

Toledo architect Hal Munger, a member of the 1972 Boys State class, will be inducted to the program's hall of fame on Sunday. Mr. Munger and his company, Munger, Munger & Associates Architects Inc., have designed several of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library branches and buildings for Toledo Public Schools, the University of Toledo, and BGSU.

To commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the Ohio Boys State program being held at BGSU, a flagpole will be dedicated Thursday, on Flag Day.

The Buckeye Boys State program was founded in 1936.