Chase Congleton
Governor Sabrina LeBlanc and Senate President Isaiah Moore of the Model Illinois Government came and visited the fall session of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature. They sat down for an interview and got to talk about their experience with M.I.G. in comparison with O.I.L.
Congleton: What are your names?
LeBlanc: My name is Sabrina LeBlanc and I am the governor of Model Illinois Government.
Moore: My name is Isaiah Moore and I am the president of the Senate, or as you would call it, the president pro tempore.
Congleton: Where are you all from?
LeBlanc: I went to school at Millikin University, which is a school in Decatur, Illinois.
Moore: I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. I went and got my Bachelor of Arts in political science at Governor’s State University, which is an hour south of Chicago. I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois.
Congleton: How long have you two been involved with M.I.G?
LeBlanc: So this upcoming simulation [session] for us at the end of February will be my fifth year in this competition
Moore: This will be my fourth year.
Congleton: What are some differences you’ve seen between O.I.L. in comparison with M.I.G?
LeBlanc: There’s a lot…at the core, it’s essentially the same. There’s a difference in the temperaments of the [House and Senate] Chambers. Both of our chambers operate off of Robert’s Rules of Order. We also mainly debate actual Illinois legislation that’s already been through our actual state legislature…We also offer the inclusion of original legislation, but for this time we don’t have enough to sustain that being the only thing we debate.
Congleton: What brought you into M.I.G in the first place?
LeBlanc: I started as a music ed major and spent a year doing that…I changed my major to political science and my advisor said I should try it…I did it and I was originally signed up for a representative…but I ended up being a lobbyist that year.
Moore: My freshman year, I was always on the politicized public policy track. I graduated within four years…I started getting involved in as many political things as possible.
Congleton: What kind of music will you listen to on your drive back to Illinois?
LeBlanc: Alternative music and show-tunes. Mostly, the Lightning Thief soundtrack.
Moore: …
LeBlanc: Moore doesn’t have a say in the music since my phone is connected.
Moore: Yeah, I have no control, but I’d rather have you [directed to LeBlanc] be up and awake driving because I have headphones.