this understanding to avoid (as much as
possible) the ramifications of the ultimate
(and likely unavoidable) outcome. I was
also able to connect statistical literacy to
state/regional work force development/
investment in human capital.
Exemplifying the need to educate staffers about
what statistics is and what statisticians do, Joel
Reynolds of Alaska said, “Most of the staffers per-
ceived statistics to just be the making of dry tables
of summary numbers. They were all receptive to our
clarifying that the field was really focused on critical
thinking and methodology for the whole investigate
process, from question formulation through data
collection, analysis, and interpretation. The staffers
From left: sen. David Vitter with AsA member Jim Cochran
all became very interested and shared our concerns
over critical thinking skills. They did not realize that
was what the profession was all about.”
Reynolds shared another encounter in which he
and Tammy Tom of Hawaii demonstrated the value
copy of The New York Times (with the statistics arti-
of statistical literacy at the K–6 level. He said, “The
cle) as a keepsake to motivate his graduate students.
staffer questioned how statistics could be taught
Sen. Ben Cardin greeted the Maryland team before
in first grade (elementary education in general).
going to the Senate floor to cast his vote on the
Tammy and I mentioned two exercises—an investi-
Sotomayor nomination, and Louisiana Sen. David
gation comparing two chocolate chip cookie recipes
Vitter met with Cochran for nearly 30 minutes.
to see which is crisper and an investigation making
ASA President-elect Sastry Pantula brought
multiple measurements on leaves to demonstrate
reporting to a new level in Tweet-like emails from
variation around a central value—after which she
his Treo. Within minutes of the conclusion of the
suddenly appeared ‘enlightened.’”
North Carolina team’s meeting in Sen. Kay Hagan’s
Reflecting the fiscal environment, the NIH’s $10
office, I knew the staffer had taught AP Statistics
billion in funding in this winter’s stimulus bill, and
and said, in effect, that the NIH is important, but
the NSF’s $3 billion funding, the response to the
it may not be the right political climate for a 4%
NSF and NIH requests was generally more subdued.
increase. I was also among the first to learn that
Kathy Morrissey of Illinois articulated a common
the “Pennsylvania folks got tickets to hear the
response when she said, “Although all expressed
Sotomayor debate.”
agreement that NIH should receive more funding,
Beyond learning that a staffer had a significant
they regretted that it was unlikely to happen in the
background in statistics, the participants found
current budget negotiations.”
other ways to relate. Stroup reported that Nebraska
colleague Dave Marx connected with one staff-
Positive Experiences
er because of a course Marx taught, “Statistics in
Like the congressional staffers, ASA members also
Sports,” which served as a segue into statistical lit-
seemed to benefit from the visits, which came at an
eracy. Marx connected with another staffer because
interesting time—the senate still in session and the
of his research on water resources. Stroup also took
House in recess. So, while Senate staffers scrambled
advantage of projects he is working on, including
in the rush to wrap up for the August recess, House
an NSF grant called NebraskaMATH that targets
staffers were relaxed, dressed in jeans, and generous
underserved areas and a project to address rural eco-
with their time. The Senate office buildings were
nomic development, the Nebraska Rural Initiative.
bustling—especially with the debate over and vote
Many participants told me in their follow-up
on Judge Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme
emails how much they enjoyed their experiences,
Court occurring on the nearby Senate floor—while
which I hope will encourage other ASA members
the House office buildings were eerily quiet. I think
to participate in future congressional visits. Rudoy
the participants’ detailed and prompt reports of
said, “I had great fun not only meeting the staff-
their meetings signaled their enthusiasm and good
ers on the Hill, but also getting to know the stat-
feelings for the day’s experiences.
isticians in my state!” Horton explained, “It was
Several teams met their senators. Sen. Mike
fabulous to have such an energized group to travel
Johanns gave Walt Stroup of Nebraska an office
with.” Arne Bathke of Kentucky also commented,
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