 "Photo: Chris Lang")
A university student won a contest that allowed him to travel to a presidential forum and pose a question to the candidates.
Senior Christopher Lang, a triple major in political science, economics and finance, recently won a contest sponsored by Servicenation.org, an organization that promotes public service, by submitting a question for Sen. Barack Obama, and Sen. John McCain.
Lang's question stated, "What types of politics would you institute in your first few months in office to instill service and leadership in America's youth?"
Lang said that he tried to direct his question toward service.
"I feel that a big drive occurring in the U.S. is the drive to increase public service in America's youth," he said.
Lang said he was surprised when he found out he won.
"I was notified five days before it was announced," he said. "It came out of nowhere."
As part of winning the contest, Lang traveled to the National Service Forum at Columbia University in New York on Sept. 11.
"There were so many motivated people around us," he said. "Hearing McCain and Obama speak before us was awesome."
Lang said he met young leader and actor Tobey Maguire, but did not get to meet either of the candidates.
"At one point I did stand next to Joe Biden and the governor of New York [David Paterson]," he said.
Lang said neither candidate answered the question directly.
"They didn't really dive into the question, but they each have good service plans and said that they want to institute more into America," he said.
Lang's father, Jeffrey, attended the forum with his son and said it was a moving event and he is very proud of his son's accomplishment.
"He continues to amaze me with the different things he gets involved in," Jeffrey said. "It's a great thing to have a son like him."
Ann Morrison, Chris' mother, said the experience was fantastic.
"I am excited and honored that his question got picked," Morrison said.
Lang's parents said he was involved with politics since freshman year of high school.
"He's very interested in how government and business work together," Jeffrey said.
Morrison said her son used to participate in mock legislative sessions in Dover and was picked as a delegate to go to a national convention in high school.
Lang said his parents and adviser, political science professor James Magee, inspired him to continue involving himself in public services.
Magee, who has known Lang since he was a baby, said he is very proud of Lang's selection to attend the forum.
"Chris has already earned his credentials as a 'citizen of the republic,' not just because he has the privilege of being born into citizenry, but because he has been actively engaged in public services since he was in high school," Magee said.
He said Lang interned over the summer for Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., in Washington, D.C., and was funded by the James R. Soles Citizenship/Public Service fellowship from the department of political science and international relations.
Magee said he foresees a career in politics for Lang.
"Chris will be governor of Delaware one day, the state's member of Congress, one of its two senators or maybe all three in his career," he said.
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