Aptly, Conover's study group will focus on the state of affairs of prisons in the U.S.

Students played a role in choosing the public figures invited to be fellows at the IOP this fall. In response to requests from student volunteers with the Prisoner Education Group, a Phillips Brooks House organization, IOP extended a fellowship invitation to Conover to lead a discussion group on the policy and politics of American prisons. And growing student interest in healthcare policy brought HCFA administrator to the IOP as a fellow.

"This is the best group of fellows we've had in recent years," said Rob F. McCarthy '02, the Fellows program study groups chair, "due to the sheer extent and range of their life experiences."

Hannah Choi '01, Chair of IOP's Student Advisory Committee, praised the fellows.

"There is a good mix of international and domestic public figures in this fall's Fellows program," she said. "They're dynamic, and they have a great sense of humor."

Besides the fellows, each week every study group will also feature a guest speaker. For Davis' study session, McCain is scheduled to be one of the guest speakers.

An open-house on September 28 at 7 p.m. in the Ticknor Lounge in Boylston will introduce the fellows and allow students to sign up for the study groups in which they are interested. The seven-week long study groups will start October 9 and meet weekly at the IOP.