March 18, 2003

Teens to quiz lawmaker on allowing cell phones in schools

Ten high school students from across California will meet at the State Capitol to conduct a press conference on the issue of cell phones in schools at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 20 in room 1190.

The event is part of a daylong Student Journalism Summit sponsored by the LegiSchool Project, a civic education effort of California State University, Sacramento and the State Legislature, administered by the Center for California Studies.

The students will question State Senator Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), who authored SB 1253, a bill allowing school districts to permit cell phones in their schools. It was signed into law last fall, ending a 14-year ban on cell phones and pagers in public schools.

Paula Gardner of the CSUS College of Education will moderate. More than 150 classes will view the meeting on the California Channel or on videotape.

The students who will address Figueroa were selected in a statewide essay contest in which they wrote about SB 1253. The winners include Megan Elizabeth Abraham and Charity Longino of Berean Christian High in Walnut Creek; Danny Arbeiter of Poway High in Poway; Jasmine Chiu and Anthony Perry of Upland High in Upland; Daniel Eshagian of Beverly Hills High in Beverly Hills; Amy Ifurung of Rio Americano High in Sacramento; Lindsay Miller of Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego; and Marbre Stahly-Butts of Redlands High in Redlands.

More information is available by contacting Kolleen Ostgaard, LegiSchool Project director, at (916) 278-6906. Additional media assistance is available by contacting CSUS public affairs at (916) 278-6156.

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