There’s nothing more fun than staying inside on a rainy day to discuss the United States’ diplomatic relations with terrorist-sponsoring states such as Iran and North Korea. That’s why the Channel Islands Region’s first One-Day event of the year, on Saturday, October 27, overcame unusually gloomy weather to end up as a tremendous success.

When the scenic location of Santa Barbara City College was suddenly surrounded by ominous gray clouds, the fate of the CIR’s inaugural regional event of 2007 appeared as questionable as Stephen Colbert’s presidential qualifications. Jokes about the disappearance of Santa Barbara’s ever-present sunshine abounded as students from as far away as San Diego and Irvine crowded into the college’s forum theater.

The mood changed as keynote speaker Chris Corbett began an informative question-and-answer session about gangs in the Santa Barbara County area. Corbett answered the questions posed by local and visiting students with refreshing candor, alternately eliciting laughter and shudders from his listeners with his accounts of experiences on the job and the psychological allure of the gang environment. By the time CIR Mayor Brookes Degen presented the two officers with their complementary JSA mugs and a handshake, the audience was ready for a day of intensive political discussion.

Although the turnout for the One-Day was relatively small compared to that for the events of larger regions in Southern California, the group soon bonded over the day’s occasionally humorous and consistently engaging activities. The cozy environment also encouraged all of the event’s attendees to speak up in some way or another. Whether they chose to participate in the fast-paced spontaneity of Political Gauntlet or develop a more comprehensive argument for a debate, the CIR One-Day’s delegates garnered valuable experience and memories.

Most exciting by far, however, was the event’s Quiz Bowl finale, which pitted the attendant chapters against each other in a battle of wits and political knowledge. The two front runners were the Anacapa School and Dos Pueblos High School, but the messy alliances between schools in the final moments of the competition had everyone guessing about the outcome. In the end, Anacapa took home the prizes—three pies and one hundred dollars. But after such a fun day, even the staunchest capitalist would concede that everyone who attended was a winner.

In other news, the first of Southern California's two (yes, two!) Fall States is drawing near! On November 10 and 11, delegates from Agoura Hills to Beverly Hills will be flocking to the LAX Marriott to debate, dance, and discuss. As your loyal blogger, I intend to cover every minute of it.

 Stay classy, JSA!

Julia Cooperman