After years of arduous studying and seemingly infinite exams and term papers, young politicians leave college with a diploma that says they are ready for their civic duty.
However, some politically motivated students choose not to wait until their college years are over to find a full-time job. Some choose to become local alders, others choose very active roles in university politics and still others choose to run for state Senate seats, all the while attending classes and studying for exams.
\My job took precedence over classes when there were conflicts,"" said Ald. Austin King, District 8. ""But I never missed an opportunity to study for something I should've been studying for.""
King added that although being an alder is a full-time job, simultaneously being a student is not an impossibility.
Former College Republicans chair Frank Harris, who ran for Dane County Board, agreed the schedule was rigorous and difficult to juggle.
""Last semester I only took 10 credits and the semester before that I only took like 15,"" Harris said. ""You make some sacrifices and you pull some all-nighters.""
City Council President Brenda Konkel said every politician has many outside interests and has to balance their time accordingly, but acknowledged the difficulty of a student-politician's schedule.
She also said she believes it is advantageous to simultaneously be a student and a politician.
""I think it helps to be a student because they have more time to spend with their constituents,"" she said. ""Think about it-if you go to the bar at night you can spend time with your constituents.""
Konkel said the student voice is very important in Madison, but is worried the impact of the student voice may have been lost on the council . Only three districts of 20 have large student populations and redistricting paralyzed some alder's abilities.
Konkel said there are approximately 1,000 students in an isolated part of her new district, but the majority are working, middle class people. She said that makes it difficult for her to please her entire constituency.
Konkel added student-politicians have the luxury of being more progressive than the other alders and more flexible to work on big issues. King is currently working on increasing Madison's minimum wage, a prominent issue in the City Council.
King said he expects more students to show their alter-ego as a politician, but the economics of it might scare some people away.
""This job does not pay very well,"" he said.
