Wichita State News: Political Science

WSU economist explains executive bonuses, government bailout

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

In the midst of a massive bailout by the government, one might assume Wall Street wouldn't be paying out bonuses. Well, think again. President Obama was among those criticizing $18 billion in bonuses while the crumbling financial sector received a bailout from taxpayers. Wichita State University labor economist Jodi Pelkowski says there's more to it than meets the eye.

Jodi Pelkowski

Pelkowski: "On the surface it's easy to argue that it shouldn't be happening, but from a free market perspective, the market dictates that if we don't pay them, somebody else will."

Although many people would like to find a scapegoat, Pelkowski says it's not easy to pinpoint the blame for the economic hardship facing some companies.

Pelkowski: "It's hard to distinguish whether it was bad decisions or bad luck in getting caught in an economic crisis. It isn't necessarily the air manufacturers' fault that demand for their product has fallen, given the banking crisis and businesses cutting back."

Pelkowski says it's hard for average laborers to understand how executives get bonuses in the midst of massive bailouts.

Pelkowski: "Really, perceptions do matter. People want to be treated fairly. It's hard for the average laborer to see so many of them being laid off and having trouble making their mortgage payments while well-paid executives are getting paid more."

While it's hard for many to feel much sympathy for management, Pelkowski says they are caught between a rock and a hard place.

Pelkowski: "Management is really in a catch 22. They need the money to stay solvent. They want to keep their executive skills and experience. But from a PR perspective, they're taking a beating in the public eye, so it might be helpful for management to delay those bonuses until a time where it's better."

John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger Gray & Christmas, the Chicago employment consulting company, said, "Wall Street is likely to pay bonuses to people unless there's legislation that prevents them, because nobody wants to be the one that doesn't pay when others do. If some banks give bonuses and others don't, the talent will flow to the good bank."

Meanwhile, paying bonuses this year is likely to result in a lot of backlash from the average American. When the bailout was first being introduced, many Americans were appalled that they in essence would be bailing out the fat cats on Wall Street. And while bonuses will go to high level executives, it will also go to top performers who have continued to do their jobs.

Allan Johnson, managing director of Johnson Associates, a New York-based compensation consulting firm, said, "The average person does not care.

Many Americans will think, "These people make 10 times as much as I do and I'm losing my house."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

There's more to Valentine's Day than love

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

With Valentine's Day approaching, perhaps the song comes to mind, "What the World Needs Now is Love." But when it comes to relationships, Wichita State University sociologist Ron Matson says we also could use a heavy dose of honesty, trust and integrity.

Matson: "Honesty is about truth telling, and I think a lot of us feel like we have to maybe lie or tell a little white lie to get out of a situation in our lives or in a moment. And yet, without honesty, of course we can't build some of the more important qualities that we think about in relationships like integrity and trust."

Most people equate Valentine's Day with love, but respect is very important, too, as Matson explains.

Matson: "I think in important relationships one of the things that happens is that people trade off respect for love, and in my point of view, human beings have as a fundamental need and a right, is respect. And I think that's due us by all people we meet."

And Matson cites three traits that are important in having and maintaining a strong relationship.

Matson: "The most important traits in relationships, regardless of whether romantic relationships or family, is honesty and trust and integrity."

There is an old saying, "Without trust, there is no love." Most experts would probably agree that love with trust lasts a lot longer than love without it. Count Matson among those who says trust is very important in relationships.

Matson: "Trust is really more important than love, and it derives from knowing that another person would not consciously hurt you. And it's so fundamental in relationships to know that you can live your life day by day and count on that other person to never put you in a difficult moment, at least by choice."

Integrity is another important trait in relationships. Matson explains what integrity means.

Matson: "Integrity is simply doing what you say you will do. If you make a commitment, you follow up and follow through with that commitment. So integrity is one of the things that I think is in short supply, but it's essential, because if people can't count on you and count on your word, then they're going to feel really, really bad in the relationship."

About 188 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. Candy, flowers and jewelry are among the most popular gifts. Those things are nice enough, but Wichita State University sociologist Ron Matson says a genuine and authentic relationship is worth far more.

Matson: "I really like to talk about authenticity, about being genuine in relationships, and that means covering all those other traits that we've talked about. I just think that we have to learn to be the person we are. Strip away all the social roles, strip away the masculinity, the femininity, the boss, the employee, just be a real person. Be genuine and be authentic to everyone you meet."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

'Great Decisions' class discusses world events

The world's glaciers are melting; the Middle East is in turmoil and a new president will be taking on U.S. foreign policy issues.

In a Wichita classroom, continuing education students will discuss policies that need to be made in 2009 to address these and other issues.

The noncredit class at Wichita State University, "Great Decisions 2009," will cover such issues as the Middle East, rising powers and energy independence.

Retired WSU professor and course instructor James McKenney said the first session will focus on the issues Barack Obama will have to address in his presidency.

"He's got a full plate," McKenney said.

Read full story...

WSU prepared former student to be foreign diplomat

Mark Seibel grew up in Hillsboro, Kan., and envisioned himself to be a small town man for the rest of his life, he said from his office at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

After two years at Tabor College, Seibel transferred to and graduated from Wichita State University in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in political science and again in 1989 with a master's degree.

Seibel was majoring in history at Tabor and had planned to go to law school, but he said WSU political science professors ignited his passion to explore the field of international relations.

"I had had all of my political science classes from WSU professors," Seibel said. "Each of them had an impact in their own way."

WSU professors also taught political science classes at Tabor, which did not have a political science major.

"(Associate professor Kenneth) Ciboski's 'Politics in Developing Areas' and (associate professor and emeritus James) McKenney's 'Introduction to International Relations' first sparked my interest in pursuing a different career path than the small town lawyer I envisioned for myself my freshman year," Seibel said.

He realized he would have to go to a different college to pursue a career in political science.

"I encouraged him to come over here from Tabor," Ciboski said, "because I knew he was a very bright student."

Seibel stepped out of his small town ideals when he traveled to the Soviet Union in 1983 with Ciboski before transferring to WSU.

Ciboski said students need to travel and be exposed to different political systems and cultures, which is why he has taken 12 groups of students to the Soviet Union.

"They could see what was available and what wasn't," he said. "A lot of students said they would never complain again about any service in the United States."

Though Seibel left Russia with a strong negative impression, he took away an enlightened attitude from his trip, which he said crystallized his desire to explore international relations and pursue a career as a diplomat.

"It was my first exposure to foreign travel and foreign culture," he said. "It was so far from anything I had experienced (in Hillsboro)."

Seibel said talking to people from other countries with different points of view and different levels of education was fascinating, and he wanted more.

He successfully fulfilled his desire in 1991 when he joined the Foreign Services, where, he said, he draws on some knowledge he received from WSU every day.

Seibel serves as consul and second secretary, chief of the Immigrant Visa Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

His responsibility is to complete the paperwork and process properly, in good time and in a manner that welcomes Russian immigrants to the United States.

Seibel said he does immigrant visas for Russian orphans adopted by American families. The best part is when he tells parents the visa is approved and they've come to the end of that long, difficult process.

"Seeing that look of joy," he said, "I like that."

The well-rounded education and individual attention he received at WSU prepared him to work in his position at the embassy, Seibel said.

"I feel that my current posting to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has brought me back full circle," he said, "to the time that I rode past the embassy in a tour bus full of WSU students and wondered what people were doing in that building and whether I might be cut out for that work."

He said the encouragement and mentoring he received from WSU professors gave him the confidence and the ability to set out on the path that brought him back to Moscow, now, working in the same building he rode past as a student 25 years ago.

Election offers opportunity to instill social values in children

We're in the midst of one of the most charged presidential elections in decades, and the children are watching.

Elections offer opportunities for even young children to learn, form opinions and debate.

Teens begin to comprehend nuances, have an opinion and want to be heard.

"It's important to talk to kids at a level they can understand," says Kim McDowell, an early childhood education expert at Wichita State University.

Read full story.

Expert considers the YouTube-ification of politics

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

Gotcha moments on YouTube, unauthorized campaign videos and hard-hitting debate questions from YouTube users are changing the political landscape, including presidential politics. Thanks to YouTube, a local stop on the campaign trail can quickly turn into a national story. While political candidates try to avoid an embarrassing moment, the competing campaigns are busy dispatching video "trackers" to catch one.

Amy Mattson Lauters, a pop culture and communications expert at Wichita State University, says YouTube puts extra pressure on political candidates.

Mattson Lauters: "For candidates this means a much higher level of scrutiny. Any interaction they have with a particular group of people or with a person with a convention, at anytime what they're doing or saying could be posted on YouTube."

Mattson Lauters says streaming video online makes for a new dynamic in this year's presidential election campaign.

Mattson Lauters: "Well, the Internet has been around for several years now, and it's affected elections, even the last election. But what's different about this election is the availability of video. Technology has advanced in the last several years so that now we can see streaming video online, and not everyone has to have special equipment in order to make that happen."

According to Mattson Lauters, almost anything a candidate says or does has the potential of being seen on YouTube.

Mattson Lauters: "Well, in an era where anyone has a cell phone and that cell phone usually has some sort of a picture/video capability, anyone can stream video of the candidates on YouTube at anytime, and that means anything that they do has the potential to be posted on YouTube."

If nothing else, every move a person makes will be under even more scrutiny.

Mattson Lauters: "Well, to put this into some perspective, imagine if anything and everything that you've done could potentially be put on video and shown to the world. It's a tough kind of position for public servants to be in."

Mattson Lauters says that YouTube could be helpful in the election process for some voters.

Mattson Lauters: "Well, the advantage of having YouTube and the Internet is that there's a younger generation of people coming up where the Internet is their medium and they're more involved in the political process when they can get all of their information online and see these videos on YouTube."

And Mattson Lauters says the YouTube-ification of politics may discourage some potentially viable candidates from running for office.

Mattson Lauters: "Now on the other hand, there are probably some wonderful people who would be interested in going into public service, but when you look at that heightened level of scrutiny that's on the candidates, it's a big deterrent to some folks who may otherwise have chosen a career in public service."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

Model UN group gets national honorable mention

The Wichita State University Model UN team recently returned from the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City where it received an honorable mention for Outstanding Delegation.

There were about 160 schools from more than 20 countries around the world.

WSU's students represented the Philippines and China in their committees and were able to receive a mission briefing from the deputy ambassador of the Philippines before the conference started.

In addition, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon gave the keynote address at the opening ceremony in the Great Hall of the UN.

The Model UN program, within WSU's political science department, prepares students to take on the role of diplomats from a foreign country in a simulation of UN committee meetings.

Students become experts on particular global issues and then meet with other "diplomats" representing countries around the world to write resolutions.

These resolutions address a variety of global problems, such as maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, promoting development and protecting the environment.

Expert looks at both sides of tax rebates

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

Taxpayers may think it's Christmas in May as they receive tax rebate checks from the IRS ranging from $600 to more than $1,000. The idea behind the tax rebate is to stimulate the economy by getting people to spend more money. It's unclear, though, whether the tax rebate strategy will succeed, as Wichita State University economist Jim Clark explains.

Clark: "History says that these kinds of tax rebates may work, but it's not completely sure that they're going to have an impact on people. It all depends on what we as consumers do with the money that we're going to get back from the government."

So what is the purpose of the tax rebate checks, anyway?

Clark: "The idea behind the tax rebate is to help stimulate the economy by getting people to spend more money. We're headed toward at least slower growth, if not an actual recession. The idea behind this is to make the economy start growing again."

Clark looks at the biggest upside of the tax rebate for consumers.

Clark: "The biggest upside for us as consumers is that we'll have some more money to spend. That always leaves us in much better shape than we otherwise would have been."

Of course, not everything is coming up roses. There's a downside to the tax rebate as well, as Clark explains.

Clark: "The downside to the tax rebate is that the government has to get the money to pay the rebates with from somewhere. Probably they're just going to increase borrowing so that future generations will have a bigger national debt to pay off."

And then there's the matter of what taxpayers will do when they receive their tax rebate checks.

Clark: "What consumers are going to do is going to depend on the individual. Some people are just going to take the money and put it in a savings account. Some people probably will use it to pay down their credit cards. And some people may do what the president and Congress want them to, which is go out and buy something they otherwise wouldn't have bought."

And it shouldn't come as any surprise that there's at least some confusion and misinformation concerning the tax rebate.

Clark: "There's a rumor floating around the Internet that all that the tax rebate is going to do is reduce the amount of a refund that you're going to get next tax year. That's not true. This is an actual reduction in the amount that you're going to have to pay in taxes."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

Presidential politics can create workplace friction

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

Common sense tells us that some things are better left unsaid, especially in the workplace. Nancy Bereman, a specialist in human resources management at Wichita State University, says three topics are particularly problematic.

Bereman: "Historically, businesses have found three topics rather problematic in the workplace — sex, religion and politics. In the current political season, many people have strong feelings supporting one or another of the political parties and, in this primary season, one candidate from each party."

Does that mean free speech has to be squashed? Bereman explains.

Bereman: "The workplace issues, well, there is a fine line that needs to be negotiated between freedom of speech concerns and concerns for maintaining workplace decorum."

The concepts of freedom of speech and freedom of religion are arguably concepts that most Americans hold dear. But when an employee takes these perceived freedoms to such an extent that he or she uses company equipment or systems to promote personal beliefs or interfere with the ability of the organization to conduct business, an employer should feel safe in taking action.

Bereman: "One possible tool that can be used by an employer is a well crafted e-mail and voice-mail policy that specifies that activities that improperly utilize company equipment are inappropriate.

"A broad statement from management, that the organization has a professional work environment where respect for individual feelings and the convictions of others, is really a good idea for organizations."

And Bereman says it's not a good idea for an employer to try to rally the troops behind a particular political candidate.

Bereman: "In my opinion, no. In any workplace, even if there seems to be a general consensus that one candidate or another candidate is the choice, the likelihood is that there is always going to be at least one individual who is offended or is not supportive of that particular candidate. So in general, I think it's a bad idea."

In this presidential election year, it won't be uncommon for employees and employers to differ on which candidate is best for the country. Bereman offers a solution to the dilemma when a co-worker wants you to support another candidate.

Bereman: "Well, one idea is for you to simply tell your co-worker that you have different views and that you feel that their views, or any political views in the workplace, aren't really appropriate."

But all things eventually come to an end, even in a presidential election year.

Bereman: "The good news about the United States election process is that it does get finished, at least on a periodic basis and, after the elections are finished, most people are able to move forward and return to a state of calmness in the workplace."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

TV broadcast to discuss threats to open government in Kansas

Why is it sometimes so difficult for the public to get access to public information? Why are so many local governments around Kansas running afoul of the state's open meetings law?

Those are two key questions for a statewide television broadcast on the Power of Open Government at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway in downtown Wichita.

The panel discussion will be carried live on Cox Channels 22 in Wichita and Topeka, as well as KWCH.com and radio station KFTI 1070. It will be rebroadcast on KPTS TV Channel 8 at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3, and around the state on the Public Broadcast System.

Kansas recently failed an open government test by the Better Government Association, an independent nonpartisan government watchdog group based in Chicago. Among other things, the BGA researches solutions that promote transparency and accountability in government.

"The threat today is real," said Randy Brown, executive director of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government. "We are seeing closed government problems popping up around the state. Some local governments are doing well. But for Kansans who understand that open government at all levels is essential to democracy, things are getting worse, not better."

In recent months, open government violations have been reported or formally charged in Topeka, Lawrence, Thomas County and Chanute.

Panelists include State Sen. Tim Huelskamp of the Dodge City area, Wichita Vice Mayor Sharon Fearey, Kansas Attorney General Stephen Six (invited, but not confirmed), Wichita Eagle Editor Sherry Chisenhall and broadcast and print journalist Nickie Flynn. Moderators will be Brown and Susan Huxman, director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University.

The panel discussion is free and open to the public. A reception will follow at 8 p.m. Audience members, who will be able to ask questions, should be seated by 6:45 p.m.

Sponsors are the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government and the Wichita Metro Chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Popular political satire group to perform at Wichita State

The Capitol Steps, a political performance group based in Washington, D.C., is coming to Wichita State.

The group will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Lowe Auditorium, as part of the Milton and Gladys Glickman Lecture Series.

The performance is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Advance tickets will be available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, March 24, through Wednesday, April 9, at the WSU Fine Arts Box Office in the Duerksen Fine Arts Center.

Limit four tickets per person. To request more than four tickets, contact Carmen Hytche at (316) 978-3142 or carmen.hytche@wichita.edu. There will be no ticket will call, and tickets will not be mailed.

There is limited ticket availability at the door the day of the performance. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The Capitol Steps began performing in 1981 when a group of Senate staffers were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. The group digs into the headlines of the day and creates song parodies and skits for a special brand of satirical humor.

The Capitol Steps have recorded 26 albums, including their latest, "I'm So Indicted." They've been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS, and can be heard four times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their "Politics Takes a Holiday" radio specials.

Most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill -- some for Democrats, some for Republicans and some for other politicians who firmly straddle the fence. No matter who holds office, there's never a shortage of material.

For more information, visit http://www.wichita.edu/capitolsteps

WSU Model UN students take home top honors

The Wichita State University Model UN team just returned from a very successful Midwest Model UN Conference in St. Louis.

Four student delegates came home with outstanding delegate awards: Matt Agnew, representing Switzerland in First Committee; Lizzie Bernhart, representing Switzerland in the Human Rights Council; Drew Steadman, representing South Africa in the First Committee; and Spencer Ward, representing the Philippines in the Commission on Population and Development.

Sixteen other WSU students took part in the event. It was the largest WSU Model UN group in recent history.

The conference began with a speech from the German Consul General at the opening ceremony and continued full speed for three days with resolution writing, consensus building and public speaking.

The group is looking forward to its national competition in New York City in March.

WSU Newsline Podcast: Political candidates flirt with fact and fiction

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

In a presidential election year full of speeches and debates, it's not always easy to separate fact from fiction. Susan Huxman, director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University, says there are reasons why candidates sometimes appear to be truth challenged.

Huxman: "Candidates tend to flirt with fact or fiction, in part because there's no such thing as truth with a capital T. This is political discourse and we're talking about social values."

Huxman explains why candidates sometimes say inaccuracies.

Huxman: "One of the reasons that candidates sometimes say inaccuracies is because the formats are so constrictive — ads and presidential debates are anywhere from nine seconds to two minutes."

And Huxman says there is a major reason why inaccuracies happen during presidential campaigns.

Huxman: "Inaccuracies happen, in part, because politicians have to draw sharp distinctions between themselves and the rest of the crowded field. And so you see a candidate really struggling to say, 'I'm quite different from candidate X,' and that leads to exaggeration."

Not all mistakes are necessarily viewed as particularly grievous, as Huxman explains.

Huxman: "I think generally people are not that concerned when a candidate may miss a number in saying something like 20,000 homeless sleep under a bridge who are veterans, when maybe the real answer is 18,000, and this was a comment particularly related to John Edwards. I think we're far more concerned, and rightly so, when candidates make large kinds of cause and effect arguments, that simply on very close analysis are not true, like, did they really reduce taxes in their state when they were governor?"

In fact, it's nearly impossible for presidential candidates to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

Huxman: "You know, candidates simply cannot tell the whole truth. In a political context, that's impossible. If they were to do that, if they were to with complete context be entirely accurate, they would only be speaking to an audience of experts and technical scientists and would lose an audience share."

Nevertheless, Huxman says it's good that there are organizations that hold candidates' feet to the fire.

Huxman: "I must say that I think it is incredibly important in a democracy that we do have organizations and news sources who hold candidates feet to the fire, so that if there is an inaccuracy, whether it's slight or large, that once that's called to attention it's not going to be repeated again."

"I think we need to realize that, in addition to truth, we need to be looking at ethics. We need to be looking at aesthetics. We need to be looking at what is the effect of a particular person's ideas or proposals or initiatives, and those are separate criteria."

Huxman says there are many informative Web sites that watch the accuracy of what candidates are saying, such as www.factcheck.org, by the Annenberg School, www.politifact.com, and www.realclearpolitics.com.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

White House internship, WSU staff highlight of senior Zimmerman's time on campus

It was just another day at the office for Wichita State University senior Tammy Zimmerman to look out the window and see President Bush taking a stroll on the White House lawn. Zimmerman, 24, completed classes in December and will graduate in May. She considers herself lucky to have served a semester-long internship at the White House in 2007, an opportunity she described as incredible.

"It was a good learning experience, and it opened my eyes. A lot of people think negatively of politics, but it put politics in more of a positive light for me," she said. "It definitely strengthened my desire to get more involved at a local level."

Zimmerman said the most memorable part of her internship was getting out of her comfort zone.

"Living in D.C. was such a different experience. Living my whole life in Kansas, it was good to see another part of the world with new people," she said.

Zimmerman began college at Bob Jones University in South Carolina, where she remained for one year. She came to WSU as a sophomore.

Zimmerman majored in history and minored in political science. She said she chose these areas of emphasis because her mother encouraged her to pursue something she enjoyed.

Aside from her internship, another highlight from her time at WSU was being under the instruction of dedicated and talented educators. History professor John Dreifort was one of her favorite teachers.

"He didn't just spill the facts. He made the class come alive," she said.

Coming to WSU from home-school, Zimmerman said she believed she had the self-discipline necessary for the level of academics.

"I had always planned on getting my degree from a good school. But, other than receiving a good education, I did not plan on anything more (i.e. extracurricular activities, the typical college life of parties)," she said.

"I liked WSU better than a larger school because I didn't feel lost in the crowd. You have more teachers that genuinely care about you and how well you do. There were a lot of opportunities and good teachers in a variety of [academic] areas, and it was close to home. It's a good school," Zimmerman said.

Among the many role models in her life, the most significant are her parents, Darrell and Barb Zimmerman, for their encouragement, President Bush for his perseverance, and Jesus Christ for giving her hope, a perspective and a deeper meaning to life.

Zimmerman works as a sales assistant at Cooper Malone McClain Inc. In the future she hopes to support politicians on an active volunteer basis.