Energy management students Mike Hammond, Allie Turman, Matt Mullins, Samantha Penner, Chris Jackson, Julia Allen, Chase Beasley, Whitney Reid and Claire Peterson pose in front of the U.S. Capitol building on a recent trip to Washington. Photo provided.

With the demand for less dependence on foreign oil, energy management policy has come to the forefront of U.S. politics.

Nine OU energy management and finance students got the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. last weekend to discuss the policy-making behind energy management.

“We chose that week because it was an off week [for football] and it was right after the election that way we could learn about what types of issues the new presidential administration would face,” Energy Management Director Steve Long said. “We got to meet with some of [Okla. Sen. Jim] Inhofe’s staff, national lobbyists and had a big reception with a group of OU alumni.”

Long said more than 40 students applied to go on the trip, but he had to narrow it down to nine students.

“It was an honor to be picked,” said Michael Hammond, energy management and finance senior. “I want to go into public policy and lobbying so this was a great learning experience.”

Among the lobbyists students met with were representatives from Halliburton, the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, the Federal Regulation and Oversight of Energy, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Independent Petroleum Association of America.

The students took part in multiple informal roundtable discussions, Long said.

“Everyone was pretty much on the same page about domestic security,” said Christopher Jackson, energy management and finance junior. “The standard approaches varied. Inhofe’s legislative assistant was not as aggressive and was more subtle compared to the lobbyists, but it was all pretty universal.”

Students also met with the D.C. Sooners, a group of alumni who live and work in the capital.

“A really neat experience was spending time with the D.C. Sooners,” said Allie Turman, energy management and finance junior. “They took us out to eat and even introduced us to the nightlife of D.C. They were quite informative and interesting. It was wonderful to see that no matter where I end up in the country, there will be OU alumni to connect with.”

Hammond said the experience had enhanced his knowledge.

“It was an enriching experience,” Hammond said. “We got to see how policies are made. Lobbyists get a bad rap, but they are the people who know both sides of the argument and without them, nothing would get done in Washington.”