Congresswoman Jane Harman (D.) spoke to a packed audience of students in Stivelman Theater on Feb. 22. Doug Collins, advisory board member of the School of Business and Finance, helped arrange the visit.
Students from the classes of Brendan White, Kyle Laughlin, Jack Morgan, John O’Conner, Mia Young, Jordan Catapano, Daniel Keck, Michael Kogge, Sam Estrada and Dayle Fuqua-Caballero attended. Harmon, a 1962 Uni graduate, discussed her high school experience and how she became interested in politics.
“I used to go to the beach after school; I didn’t know what I wanted at first.” And then, when Harman was fifteen, her boyfriend took her to the Democratic National Convention, where she worked as an usher and was first exposed to politics.
Harman met Eleanor Roosevelt, and by senior year, she was President of the Young Democrats Club and felt a stronger passion for political affairs.
Harman moved on to attend Smith College and afterwards attended graduate school at Harvard University where she earned a degree in law.
She worked as chief counsel and staff director for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights. During the Carter administration, Harman served as special counsel to the Department of Defense, and as Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet. She held a brief teaching position at UCLA, as Regent’s Professor, during her brief absence from the House of Representatives.
Harman moved on to become a Representative from 1993 to 1999, and then from 2000 until Feb 7, 2011.
She resigned to become the head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Her decision to resign from being a Congresswoman stemmed from her faith in the ideals of the Wilson Center, with its emphasis on scholarship to solve the problems of the world. “I hope you all go to college, and study science if you can,” stated Harman.
Towards the end of her discussion, Harmon engaged the students and inquired as to whether they had any questions.
Many students asked her questions on various issues; one student asked if she advocated wiretapping and Harman responded “Yes, but only if it’s legal, and supported by a court order. I believe in the protection of the rights of U.S. citizens.” Another student, concerned with the education of students whose parents are immigrants, asked if Harman supported the 2002 law, AB 540, that allows qualified immigrant students to pay in-state tuition fees.
“I supported the Dream Act [meant to help immigrants receive the opportunity to enlist in the military or go to college], and I’m not familiar with that particular law, but I agree with it.”
In a White House release President Obama stated, “We will miss her passionate voice in Congress, and we join the people in California in thanking her for her many years of service.”
Many students were motivated and inspired. “I thought she was very inspirational, because she graduated from Uni and became a Congresswoman,” said junior Vivian Garcia.
Freshman Janel Pineda added “Congresswoman Harman greeted us joyfully with an open personality and astonishing sense of humor.”
Harman will be attending her 50th reunion next year at University High School.