#PlantTheFlag: Two Bobcat Student-Athletes are Learning Real-Time as Political Science Majors

BOZEMAN, Montana – As Americans navigate the current election cycle, which dominates news coverage and penetrates most portions of daily life, two Montana State University student-athletes who major in political science are engrossed.

"It definitely does" apply to the current political landscape, sophomore men's basketball player Caleb Bellach from Manhattan says of his current political science classes. "My professors try to incorporate what's going on in our country and the politics right now, especially with the election. They try not to pick a side, they try to stay in the middle and just educate us on the basics of how the system works. It's cool to see."

Brookelyn Palin, a fourth-year thrower on the Bobcat women's track and field squad, is further along the degree path than Bellach. She's also found information acquired in the academic setting applicable outside of the classroom each day. "It's interesting because in Legislative Process we learn all about Congress, the Judiciary Committee, which is a totally relevant topic right now specifically with the Supreme Court nomination. I've learned a lot about committees, about campaigning, about party coalitions, party leaders, party machines, party interests, why they do the things they do, why Donald Trump won in 2016. It's interesting, and it's hard because you have to piece together the puzzle as you go and figure it out. It's a fun major."

Palin and Bellach followed similar paths into the political science program at Montana State, switching majors after one year. Each hold a long-held interest in the topic. "I didn't really like my major that I was in previously," Palin said, "but I was always into politics. It's been something that I've been passionate about since I was in high school, especially my senior year. It was kind of how I was raised. I was raised in a family that divulged into politics. That was all we talked about."

Bellach was attracted into studying politics because of a long-standing interest. "I actually like politics," he said. "I like learning about the government, and I think it would be cool to be a government teacher. It's all kind of cool. I wasn't in student government or anything like that in high school because I didn't really want to get involved in that, but now that I've gotten a little older and matured a little bit I kind of enjoy it."

One area that Bellach and Palin each found illuminating is the study of the media's role in the political process. Palin is presently in Media and Politics, which she calls an interesting study during a time when mass media has never been more scrutinized by candidates as well as the electorate. "There's a lot of biases that we learn about in the media," she said, calling the study of campaign funding also intriguing.

"We actually did this exercise yesterday that we were going to think about past news articles that we have read and whether they made us feel hopeful, made us feel angry, or made us feel curious," the Corvallis product said. "The hardest one for all of us was the one that made us feel hopeful. It is interesting because it seems like the media revolves around negative stories because they know that's what is going to stick with people the most, influence them the most."

While first-year political science student Bellach hasn't advanced into upper level classes yet, he has found a similar situation in a practical setting. "They say that you can't trust the media, but I really learn that when I talk to (teammates from other countries) because they'll say something and I'll think, 'That's not true.' But they saw it on the news or whatever, so it's interesting to listen to what they have seen from their country about our country. (They) will say, I heard that so and so said this or did this, when that's not actually how it went at all, that's just how it ended up getting to them and they heard about it in their country."

There's no greater crucible of cultures and beliefs in contemporary America than NCAA Division I college athletics programs, where students from many nations and all possible walks of life converge into a single locker room. The Bobcat men's basketball program features three players from Montana and one each from six other states, three European nations, and Canada.

Politics is a topic players don't shy away from, Bellach said. "Because we have people from all over the country and (other) countries, everyone comes from a different background and culture, and you'd be surprised, we actually do talk about politics more than you realize. We disagree on who we think should be in charge and some of the things that are going on, but at the end of the day we're teammates and we love each other. It's cool to see that we can all have different opinions on things and can still come together on the team."

Montana State's women's track and field program thrives on student-athletes from Montana, with 24 in-state products on the current roster. However, nine other states are also represented on the Bobcat roster, including bordering states such as Idaho and Wyoming, regional areas such as Washington, Minnesota, Colorado and Oregon, and the nation's far-flung reaches such as California, New Hampshire, Florida and Georgia.

Palin has encountered a similar situation in the track and field program. "We talk about it quite a bit, but I've noticed that we're pretty respectful with one another and each other's beliefs," she said. "I think that shows the polarization in our country, there can be a solution to it. We don't have to be at each other's throats constantly. We do talk about it, we do have differing beliefs."

While much of the nation seems dug into a particular position on politics, Bellach said his semester in the political science program has given him plenty to ponder. "It opens my mind a little bit when we learn about the thinkers and the theories," he says, "it broadens my viewpoint a little bit. You become more open-minded to an idea that maybe you didn't always agree with."

Like Bellach, Palin appreciates the role that the department's faculty play. "The professors have been really in the middle about it. They have been non-biased, non-partisan. They're scientists so they put down the facts and it's like, there you guys have it, discuss among yourselves."

While Palin sees law school in her post-graduate future – "I take the LSAT (preparatory test) in November and I want to focus on natural resource law, water law, ag law," she says – Bellach's interest lies in the local arena. "I never really thought about running for office," he said, "I always thought that was stupid when I was in high school, but everything that's happened in the past year or so has changed my opinion on that. We actually have two family friends that hold office or are running for office, so I actually think that might be kind of cool to do what they're doing, even if it's the local level."

Or as he summarizes, "Someone has to be involved in politics, so why not me, I guess?"

#GoCatsGo #PlantTheFlag

As Montana State Athletics strives to develop the best and brightest student-athletes, support for the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund is crucial now more than ever. Donating to the Bobcat Club Annual Scholarship Fund's Plant The Flag initiative ensures not only that the 350-plus Bobcat student-athletes will continue to receive the resources needed to succeed in and out of competition, but that Montana State Athletics will rise above the pack stronger. For more information about the Plant The Flag initiative, visit MSUBobcatClub.com or contact a member of the Bobcat Club staff.

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#PlantTheFlag: Two Bobcat Student-Athletes are Learning Real-Time as Political Science Majors

Players Mentioned

Caleb Bellach

Brookelyn Palin

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