Drop/Add/POSC396.  Today is the last day for students to register for Fall 2017 and the last day to add or to drop a course.  In addition, for political science majors hoping to complete their POSC396 Senior Capstone in the fall semester, today is the deadline for filing your Capstone prospectus with the Department.  The prospectus form can be found on the Department webpage here.  Please see Ms. Jessica Jurcak in Mather House 111 to complete the necessary paperwork, if you have not already done so and intend to complete your Senior Capstone this fall.
 
DACA.  This week’s news of major relevance to US universities and colleges is President Trump’s announcement that DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – will be phased out in six months.  DACA, a policy President Barack Obama initiated in 2012, allows undocumented persons in the US, who were brought into the US before their sixteenth birthday, to register with US Citizenship and Immigration Services.  DACA permits successful applicants to remain in the US without fear of deportation for two years, after which re-registration is required.  DACA does not lead to US citizenship or lawful status as an immigrant.  To be eligible for DACA, a person must be a high school graduate, or enrolled in school, or have served honorably in the US military, among other requirements.  The cost of application is $495.
 
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions made the formal announcement.  See also the information on the USCIS webpage here.  For those who are interested in what the next steps may be, an article in the Washington Post by Sarah Binder, Professor of Political Science at the George Washington University, may be of interest.
 
Because most persons with DACA status are young (and all are under the age of 26), many are students enrolled in universities.  Their future is now uncertain.  Universities and colleges, among them CWRU, have responded to the phase-out of DACA by confirming their support for their students with DACA status and their refusal to share information that would identify such students without an explicit legal order.  CWRU President Barbara Snyder and Provost Bud Baeslack issued the following statement in response to the announcement that DACA would end:

In the wake of today’s White House announcement regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, we want to assure our campus community of two points:

1. Dreamers are welcome here.
2. We oppose ending DACA, and will urge members of Congress to continue the program in the strongest possible terms.

DACA allows individuals to overcome legal obstacles never of their making. These people came to the United States as infants or children—many know no other country but ours. The program allows them to remain here to work, serve in the military, or attend college. Since it began, nearly 800,000 Dreamers have been able to pursue opportunities that will enable them to contribute to our country without fear of deportation.

We have seen firsthand the exceptional benefits of the growing international nature of our campus. We will continue to increase our global engagement, and embrace people of all racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic and international backgrounds.

Earlier this year, we provided information on how Case Western Reserve supports and protect all members of our campus community. We want to repeat it again, as it is pertinent to Dreamers affected by any changes to the DACA program.

Case Western Reserve commits to:

• welcome and support students without regard to their immigration status;
• continue to admit students consistent with our non-discrimination policy; and
• maintain the privacy of student records (including documented or immigration status), releasing only such information when required by law.

Last fall, we joined more than 600 colleges and universities encouraging our country’s leaders to allow Dreamers to remain in the country while leaders developed a more permanent solution. In the spring, we joined more than 560 colleges and universities in signing a similar letter to President Trump. We will ask our congressional delegation to support the Dreamers, and we will continue to advocate for them through the Association of American Universities and the American Council on Education…

“We have seen firsthand the exceptional benefits of the growing international nature of our campus. We will continue to increase our global engagement, and embrace people of all racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic and international backgrounds… You are all welcome here.”

#YouAreWelcomeHere is a commitment of CWRU, of the Center for International Affairs, and the Department of Political Science.

With all best wishes,
Karen
 
Karen Beckwith
Flora Stone Mather Professor
Chair, Department of Political Science
 
“If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.”

General Announcements

• Students completing their Political Science SAGES Capstone this semester must have their faculty-approved prospectus form turned in to the department office by today, September 8.
• The Journal of Politics and International Affairs is accepting student papers until October 13.
• Call for Applicants: The Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan invites applications from advanced undergraduate students and their faculty sponsors to attend the Emerging Scholars Conference of 2017.
• Stay up to date with the department by following our Twitter feed! Check it for day to day opportunities and information!
• Like us on Facebook! Our department will be regularly posting events, opportunities, and general information to our page!

Events

Friday Lunch: Beyond Today’s Corporate Sustainability Practices
September 8, 12:30-1:30p.m., KSL Room L-06 (lower level opposite elevators)
Join Professor Chris Lazlo, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit, in discussing how businesses should and can “do well by doing good.”

Study Abroad Fair
September 8, 10a.m.-2p.m., Case Quad
Meet returned study abroad students and representatives from many of CWRU’s international partners about what experiences are available. There will be free popcorn and ice cream.

Deloitte Consulting Recruiting Event
September 8, 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m., Thwing Atrium
Deloitte Consulting will be hosing a “Coffee Chat” – a great opportunity for students to comfortably chat with Deloitte practitioners of different levels over coffee to learn more about consulting and Deloitte.

International Law and the Trump Administration
September 13, 8:30-9:30a.m., The City Club
Michael Scharf, former State Department official and current Co-Dean of CWRU School of Law, will examine both President Trump’s unique process and approach for addressing foreign policy issues, as well as discuss specific issues where there have been perceived major changes — from trade law to national security, from human rights to global warming.

“The State of America’s Children“
September 14, 6:00p.m., Maltz Performing Arts Center
Case Western Reserve will present the 2017 Inamori Ethics Prize to Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Washington, D.C.-based Children’s Defense Fund at this ceremony and recipient lecture. This is a free event, but registration is required.

International Criminal and Civil Liability Lecture
September 15, 8:30a.m.-4:00p.m., Moot Courtroom
This conference, featuring international law experts, will examine whether corporations can be sued for human rights violations. Student registration is free.

“Ethical Leadership for Our Children and Our Communities”
September 15, 12:45p.m., TVUC
Join this academic symposium, featuring Ianmori Ethics Prize recipient Marian Wright Edelman, Gabriella Celeste, policy director of the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve, and Mark Chupp, assistant professor and director of the Community Innovation Network at MSASS.

Friday Lunch: U.S. Policy in the Middle East: Does Trump Make a Difference?
Professor Pete Moore shares his insights into President Trump’s proposed changes in the Middle East.

The City Club Constitution Day Forum
September 15, 12:00p.m., The City Club
Join this conversation with Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs for the City of New York, to discuss and celebrate Constitution Day and the power of citizenship. Tickets for nonmembers are $35.

For Freedoms Town Hall Discussion
September 17, 3:00p.m., MOCA
This discussion, featuring panelists born outside of the U.S. who now live in this country, will address both personal experiences transcending boundaries and finding community and also broader perspectives on how the movement of people influences society and culture over time.This is a free event.

CWRU Constitution Day Program – Freedom of Expression on College Campuses
September 18, 4:00-5:30p.m., Moot Courtroom, School of Law
Join a CWRU student panel for a discussion with Susan Kruth, J.D., Senior Program Officer, legal and public advocacy, for FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education), and Cleveland-Marshall School of Law Professor Reginald Oh, J.D. as they discuss the issue of free speech on university campuses. More information is available here.

Anatomy of Justice: The Mystery of Plea Agreements
September 19, 5:00p.m., The City Club
How can we make sense of the plea process? Can it be reformed? Join us to hear from several local leaders in this latest installment of the Anatomy of Justice series. Tickets are $15.

Wellman Hill 10th Anniversary Celebration
October 14, 5:00-7:00p.m., home of Professors Elliot Posner and Gillian Weiss
Please join us for drinks and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Wellman Hill Political Science Internship Grants Program. RSVP to Anna Conboy by October 1.
 

Internship and Fellowship Opportunities

Obama Foundation Fellowship
The Obama Foundation Fellows will be a diverse set of community-minded rising stars – organizers, inventors, artists, entrepreneurs, journalists, and more – who are altering the civic engagement landscape. By engaging their fellow citizens to work together in new and meaningful ways, Obama Foundation Fellows will model how any individual can become an active citizen in their community.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Financial Analyst
This unique, two-year rotational fellowship sits at the intersection of the federal government and the financial services industry. Director’s Financial Analysts are given the opportunity to hone analytical and problem solving skills while helping to make markets for consumer financial products work for Americans. 

Cleveland U.S. Export Assistance Center Internship
Interns will assist international trade specialists and gain experience in market research and matching local companies with international opportunities.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Interns have the opportunity to assist in a variety of tasks that range from answering phones and opening mail to assisting staff with constituent casework, scheduling, grant research, outreach events and special projects. Interns learn firsthand the
office functions and its importance in the overall effectiveness of a member of the U.S. Senate. Hours and duration of the internships are negotiable. The internship is unpaid, but college credit are available for participating schools. For additional information, please call Brad Deane at Senator Brown’s office at (216) 522– 3020. Or email resume to Bradley_Deane@brown.senate.gov.

U.S. Senator Rob Portman
Senator Rob Portman is seeking college interns for the fall of 2017 to serve in his Cleveland office.  Interns in Senator Portman’s office are given a number of responsibilities. These include, answering the phones and speaking with constituents, opening mail, assisting staff in research and event preparation, scheduling and other special projects. Interns will experience the role and importance of a senate office while working to increase the overall effectiveness of the Senator’s office. For additional questions, please contact Ray Paoletta.

Betty Sutton for Governor
Interns will assist campaign staff in the daily operations of Former U.S. Representative Betty Sutton’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign. The 2017 Betty Sutton Works for Ohio Internships are available now for the Fall 2017 semester and again for Spring 2018 and Summer 2018 through to the November 2018 election. If interested in earning course credit, students should work with advisors and campaign staff to determine how the internship might fit into curricular requirements. If interested in applying, send a resume, cover letter, and your hours of availability to Dory MacMillan.

Mike DeWine for Governor
Mike DeWine for Ohio is searching for motivated and interested interns in their Columbus office for the Fall of 2017.
 

A Little Extra…

• Professor YuJung (Julia) Lee’s article, “Informing women and improving sanitation: Evidence from rural India,” has just been published in the Journal of Rural Studies. Professor Lee is offering her “Politics and Government of India” course, POSC391, this semester.