On Monday, CWRU and the nation celebrated and commemorated the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. CWRU’s celebration continues today with the MLK Convocation Lecture. New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones is this year’s CWRU Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Convocation speaker; you can attend her lecture today, at 12:45 p.m. in the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Ballroom at the Tinkham Veale University Center. Students can also participate in MLK Celebration Reflection Contest; for details, see here.
Tomorrow will mark the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration – an inauguration that was followed by mass protests in the Women’s Marches that took place around the country. Women’s marches are planned for tomorrow, January 20; these constitute an fascinating example of social movement mobilization, revealing all the difficulties of mobilizing nationwide and across a large and diverse group of activists, adherents, and bystanders (see here and here) – as well as the impressive success of loosely coordinating autonomous groups across multiple states and cities. At least eight cities in Ohio have organized Women’s Marches for tomorrow, Cleveland among them. The Women’s Marches in 2017 constituted the largest single-day mass mobilization in US history. For those interested in social movements and in the study of mass mobilization, these marches are well worth observing (and for those so inclined, joining). Tomorrow, the data will be just down the street from CWRU.
Classes met this week on Tuesday and the new semester has begun. For those still making adjustments to their course schedule, there are spaces still available in a range of upper-division POSC courses, courses that can help shape your scholarly understanding of politics in the world. Students have until Friday, January 26, to add a course to their schedule.
Finally, I encourage our senior POSC majors who have not yet completed POSC396 Senior Capstone Project to arrange to work with a political science faculty member as soon as possible. The deadline for registering for POSC396 is Friday, January 26; registration in POSC396 requires permission of the instructor and a capstone prospectus submitted to Ms. Jessica Jurcak in the Department of Political Science. Detailed information about this process can be found on the POSC webpage.
With all best wishes,
Karen
Karen Beckwith
Flora Stone Mather Professor
Chair, Department of Political Science
From the 2017 Women’s March on Washington:
“Remember: the Constitution doesn’t begin with ‘I, the president.’ It begins with ‘We, the people.’”
“[A]n opportunity has presented itself to make real long-term change, not just for future Americans, but in the way we view our responsibility to get involved with and stay active in our communities. Let this weight not drag you down, but help to get your heels stuck in.”
General Announcements
- The Department of Political Science is looking for a sophomore or junior who can dedicate 2.5 hours per week to the department office. Primary responsibilities include: basic office duties (scanning, copying, filing, etc.), picking up materials from the library, occasional distribution of materials, and assisting with the weekly newsletter.
- Submit your abstract for the Research ShowCASE by February 18. The event will provide an opportunity for CWRU researchers to display your research in a traditional scientific poster or other creative means.
- Are you interested in having your writing published? The Claremont Journal of Law and Public Policy (CJLPP) welcomes submissions for both our print issues and our blog.
- 15th Annual All Politics is Local call for papers: On April 21, 2018, Walsh University will host a conference opened to undergraduate students interested in politics, international relations, political economy or other subjects with political overtones. We invite all interested students to present* a paper or a poster in any subfield of the discipline. Registration for a presenter is due by April 3. Papers are due April 13.
- 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!
Friday Lunch: President Trump’s First Year – And Beyond
January 19, 12:30-1:30, KSL Dampeer Room
On the 365th day of the Trump Presidency, it seems logical to stop and ask what has happened and what might happen next. how well or badly is President Trump doing, for his and his party’s own purposes? What kind of resistance can be expected, with what results, going forward? Professor Daniel B. Cohen is Associate Director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics and a leading scholar of how Presidents organize, or don’t, their administrations. He joins us to share his own wonder and quest for understanding.
MLK Convocation
January 19, 12:45p.m., TVUC
Each year, Case Western Reserve University honors Martin Luther King, Jr.—the holiday, the man and the legacy—with a celebration that includes a range of activities including workshops, films, panel discussions and acclaimed speakers. The 2018 celebration theme is “The Struggle Continues: The King Legacy and Fight for Justice in Education.” Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times Magazine Staff Writer and 2017 MacArthur Fellow, will be the keynote speaker.
Sociology Colloquium
January 19, 2:00-3:30p.m., TVUC Senior Classroom
Join the Department of Sociology for “Networked Individualism and the Digitization of Older Adults” presented by Barry Wellman, S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology, Co-Director, NetLab Network. Professor Wellman is a leading figure in the sociology of digital technology and the internet. His acclaimed 2013 book, “Networked: The New Social Operating System” elaborates his timely concept of “networked individualism.”
State Policy Fellowship Informational Webinar
January 19, 4:00p.m.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities will be hosting an informational webinar session to share information and answer questions about the State Policy Fellowship program. The webinar will provide details and information on the goals of the Fellowship, a first-person account from a Fellowship alum and details on key dates and how to apply. Register here.
Women’s March Anniversary
January 20, 10:30a.m.-1:00p.m., Public Square
Attend the second annual Women’s March in Cleveland. Last year over 15,000 men, women, and children marched in solidarity for the protection of women’s rights, safety, health, and families.
Intersectionality: A Tool for Gender and Economic Justice
January 24, 12:00-1:30p.m., Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, TVUC Suite 248
In this session, “Intersectionality 201: A Theoretical Frame,” participants will build community, develop a common definition of intersectionality and position it as a tool for advocacy. Lunch will be provided. Attendees should RSVP using the online form by Monday, Jan. 22.
Summer of the Cuyahoga Internship Info Session
January 24, 5:30-6:30p.m., Career Center Library (Sears 229)
Learn about a variety of internships available in Northeast Ohio. Some internships may have a political science focus. Sign up here.
ISME 2018 Conference
January 24-26, TVUC
See the events and panel times for the upcoming International Society for Military Ethics conference.
Friday Lunch: From Bill Clinton to Harvey Weinstein: The Limits of Social Discourse Around Sexual Assault
January 26, 12:30-1:30p.m., KSL Dampeer Room
The current uproar over abuse in many forms grows out of the wide range of issues in any relationship among unequals. The conflict is shaped by the stigmas and tropes operating within the media that are still the main conduits for information and judgments. The #metoo movement illustrates how victim’s voices can be powerful, but raises further questions about the role of social media – as a mode for liberation or repression. Join us as Dr. Brian Clites, Associate Director of the Baker-Nord Center, explores the dynamics and implications of the current discourse.
Japan-U.S. Relations in the Changing World: North Korea, China, and America First
February 1, 12:00p.m., TVUC Ballroom C
A lunch and lecture by Mr. Naoyuki Agawa, former Minister of Public Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. Read more about the lecture here. RSVP by January 26 to internationalevents@case.edu.
Internship and Fellowship Opportunities
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations Internship
May 29-August 3
The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Washington, DC Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students a ten-week professional, academic, and career opportunity internship in the Nation’s Capital. The program features an energizing and demanding mix of professional involvement, intellectual challenge, career exploration, and cultural encounter designed to provide interns with a rich and varied experience during their time in Washington.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
The re-election of campaign of United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D) is seeking interns for the spring, summer, and fall semesters to work out of his office located in Berea, OH. Interns will work closely with regional finance directors to make fundraising calls, research potential donors, and help staff fundraising events attended by both Senator Brown and various campaign surrogates. Any interested students should reach out to Finance Assistant Anthony Erhardt. Students should be willing to travel to Senator Brown’s office in Berea for training. The Senator’s office is flexible with student schedules and allows students to work as much or as little as they want. All interested applicants should email a resume to Anthony Erhardt.
U.S. Federal Government Positions
The Pathways Program offers internships and jobs, some political science-related, in the US federal government.
U.S. Department of Defense Positions
The Department of Defense offers a variety of paid opportunities for students.
American Public Works Association Scholarship
The Ohio Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) is issuing two $1,000 scholarships to Graduate Students majoring in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or a closely related field. The application deadline is February 24. See here for the further details.
Stanford University Summer Policy Boot Camp
The Summer Policy Boot Camp is a one week program focused on the economic, political, and social aspects of United States national and international public policy. The program will take place August 19-25, 2018, and applications are due March 1, 2018.
- Professor Karen Beckwith was interviewed yesterday by Kate Archer Kent on The Morning Show, Wisconsin Public Radio, about “Where Does The Women’s March Stand, One Year Later?” You can hear the interview and discussion at https://www.wpr.org/listen/1216741, starting at minute #11.
- Professor Jonathan Entin weighed in on a case regarding how Ohio manages its voter rolls, removing inactive and unresponsive voters.
- An undergraduate political science major, South Euclid Municipal Court Judge Gayle Williams-Byers, CWRU ’96, JD/MNO ’00, was invested with her office on 16 December 2017. Reelected in November 2016, Gayle’s record during her first six years as judge is remarkable. She initiated the Democracy Day Program for elementary, middle, and high school students to show why and how courts are the cornerstone of our democracy. Gayle also launched the Young Adult Internship Program (YAIP), which college undergraduates have found particularly useful and inspiring. As if that were not enough, Gayle also established the South Euclid Night Court, the only one of its kind in Cuyahoga County. This docket is held on the fourth Thursday of every month to ease conflicts often presented by work and family responsibilities. Gayle’s next six years in office will be remarkable too. Students interested in the YAIP, should contact the South Euclid Municipal Court at (216) 381-2880.