Hands-on Learning
	Presentation Politics: Oberlin Students Are Real-World Consultant		Throughout the semester, practicum students received training in a standardized method of presenting written findings and preparation for the presentation of those findings to their client, in this case, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC). During a visit by the class to the OLBC offices in September, an OLBC staff assistant discussed with the students how a bill becomes a law, and the various language and terms with which they would need to become familiar as they proceeded with their research. The caucus chairperson and several members of the caucus also met with the students to discuss their legislative concerns and topics for the research. Eve Sandberg, associate professor of politics, discussed with her class some of the ethical issues raised in consultancy research. These, she says, "have to do with guarding the confidentiality of respondents and a pledge of confidentiality to the client. And it has to do with reporting findings that may be politically unpopular." Sandberg is eminently qualified to teach the practicum and to guide her students through the nuances and subtleties of political consultancy work. Besides her academic interests, she has been an overseas consultant to officials of several African governments as they considered their foreign policies and negotiating stances towards U.S., European, and multilateral organizations' representatives. She has also provided foreign policy briefings for U.S. political candidates, including those for state senate, congress, and the presidency. She has her own consulting firm, Strategic Research, which does consulting in the areas of research, policy, and advocacy overseas and in the U. S.
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