Story by Bryn Cannon, St. Anthony; Edited by Lale Akkin, Mounds View; Image by Lindley Johnson, Shakopee
Returning Youth in Government members have complaints about this year’s new REGY deadline. Materials are due Nov. 15, more than two weeks earlier than last year’s Dec. 2. According to YIG organizers, the earlier deadline gives the people in charge more time to process documents. However, students feel pressured by the limited time. “I feel like I have to rush through my bill, and I don’t think I can get my best work done,” says Paige Rennich from the Jordan Delegation.
Many students agree that the deadline is too strict, citing their busy schedules as to why. Connor Seeland from New Prague says, “A lot of the people who do YIG have lots of other things going on and the short deadline makes it hard to spread out the work,” Isaiah Podratz, also from New Prague, says “[There is] way, way too little time.”
Other participants worry that the quality of the documents will be poorer due to rushing. “I don’t think there is enough time to form well thought out bills and briefs,” says Jordynn Mensing from New Prague. Students have concerns the documents may include filler information instead of quality work. Quinn Kaufman from St. Anthony says, “It’s putting a lot of extra stress on all the people filling out the forms, and a lot of people are not filling them out with actual information they’re going to use in the cases because they just need to get them turned in to even be a part of the program.”
Still, some members have more understanding towards the rule change. Jacob Bisek from New Prague says, “[It is] aggressive, but I see why it needs to be so strict. There is a lot of confusion when bills arrive late at the conference.” However, some who sympathize with the change still dislike it. “Although I do understand why they’re earlier, it’s kind of a rude awakening to YIG,” says Cecelia Fellner from Fridley.