Fall Term course registration begins April 10, and many of our POSC majors and minors have already consulted their advisors about their fall schedules. Those who have not yet done so should make an appointment with their advisor to discuss their courses and their course trajectory as they move through their POSC degree. Political science faculty welcome students to meet with them to discuss their plans for summer 2017 and fall semester, and for purposes of general academic advising. I welcome any of you who are interested in meeting with me to use the link on my webpage to make an appointment. Our list of Fall 2017 course offerings is here.
Faculty on Sabbatical. As fall course registration continues, please note that both Professors Joseph White and Laura Tartakoff will be on sabbatical in the Spring 2018 semester. Students hoping to take a course with either Professor White or Professor Tartakoff can enroll in their Fall 2017 courses, or await their return in Fall 2018; POSC majors and minors who will graduate in Spring 2018 will have their final opportunity to take courses with Professor White or Professor Tartakoff this fall. In addition, any student hoping to take POSC396 Political Science Capstone with Professor White or Professor Tartakoff should consult with them as soon as possible; they will only be available for such supervision in the Fall 2017 term.
Registration for fall semester courses opens for January 2018 degree candidates on Monday, April 10, with each subsequent cohort of students being able to register two or three days later (you can find the full schedule here).
Senior Capstone Presentations: Save the Date! The most important academic event for our Department is the Senior Capstone Presentation evening. All junior and senior political science majors are invited to attend the Spring Senior Capstone Presentations on Wednesday, April 19, from 5:15pm to 8:00pm. This semester’s presentations will be held in the Senior Classroom A and B, and the Conference Room, on the first floor of the Tinkham Veale University Center. As always, the event will feature a buffet dinner. This is a wonderful opportunity for POSC majors who will work on capstone projects next year to see what the capstone presentation experience is like, in preparation for their own work. It’s also a nice opportunity to support your friends and classmates as they present their final disciplinary work to the Department. Please contact Jessica Jurcak (jkj22@case.edu) for further information.
Today: Lecture on European Politics. Professor Mark K. Cassell, Department of Political Science at Kent State University, will be speaking about German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Challenge: Managing Trump, Putin, and a Million Syrians, today, Friday, March 31, at the Center for Policy Studies Friday Lunch. Professor Cassell is an expert in German and West European politics.
Fulbright Fellowships for Undergraduates. The US Fulbright Student Program opens its Student Fellowships Program on Monday, April 3. Half of the faculty of the Department of Political Science are Fulbright Scholars: Professor Lavelle (Toronto, Canada), Professor Moore (Dubai, UAE), Professor Posner (Paris, France), and Professor Beckwith (Edinburgh, UK). I strongly encourage our POSC majors and students to consider applying for a Fulbright Studentship. Students can find more information here. They are also welcome to discuss the Fulbright and related opportunities with our faculty.
Research Opportunities. The Department of Political Science at the University of North Texas has won National Science Foundation funding to offer a Summer Program on Conflict Management and Peace (June 6-July 28). The Department has initiated “a unique program to provide undergraduate students recruited from across the country the opportunity to engage in graduate-level research in conflict management and peace science in a senior faculty-mentored, in-residence, eight-week, Summer Research Experience (SRE) that integrates training in civil conflict management with training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and training in research ethics. Participants develop theoretical propositions that are tested empirically. Participants collect and analyze empirical data and report their findings in a public forum. Activities include workshops on theory development, computer simulations, research methodology, and the graduate school application process. At the conclusion of the program, students present their research at UNT and at a national political science conference.”
The due date for submitting a completed application for this Program has been extended to April 7. Only US citizens and permanent residents enrolled as undergraduates are eligible to participate in the Program; students graduating in Spring 2017 are not eligible. Each student receives a $4000 stipend, as well as room and board. The Program is directed by Dr. John T. Ishiyama, Political Science, former editor of the American Political Science Review, and his colleague Dr. Joseph Oppong (Geography). Students are welcome to contact Dr. Ishiyama at john.ishiyama@unt.edu for further information.
Good News!
Congratulations to Kevin Russell (POSC 2014), who has completed his term of service with the Peace Corps in Togo. He has accepted a job with Democracy International in Washington, DC, starting April 10.
Congratulations to Connor Collins (POSC 2017) and to Stephen Reynolds (POSC 2017), on their recent election to Phi Beta Kappa!
With all best wishes,
Karen
Karen Beckwith, Flora Stone Mather Professor
Chair, Department of Political Science, Case Western Reserve University
General Announcements
- It’s never too early to start thinking about next semester! Take a look at the Fall 2017 Political Science courses.
- Please consider the attached Hebrew classes offered during the Fall 2017 semester.
- Ohio Association of Economists and Political Scientists will hold their annual meeting September 15-16. Students are invited to submit a full-length paper to present their research at the conference. More information is available here.
- 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: Merkel’s Challenge: Managing Trump, Putin and a Million Syrians
March 31, 12:30-1:30, KSL Dampeer Room
Professor Mark Cassell of Kent State University will discuss the challenges German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces both in Europe and in her own leadership role at home as she prepares for re-election.
Cleveland Humanities Festival
March 18-April 24
The theme of this year’s festival is immigration and will feature lectures, exhibits, films, tours, plays, and academic symposia.
When Away Becomes Home: The Refugee Crisis and Opportunities for Welcome in Northeast Ohio
March 31, 12:00-1:30p.m., MOCA
Join this discussion about the stories of individuals and families who have fled their homelands and resettled in Northeast Ohio.
How Philanthropy Created America, and Can Rescue Us Now
March 31, 12:00p.m., The City Club
Join us as Karl Zinsmeister, Vice President of Publications for The Philanthropy Roundtable and author of The Almanac of American Philanthropy and What Comes Next? discusses how philanthropy can produce encouraging culture reform no matter what happens in government. Tickets are $35.
Beyond the Vote: Methods of Political Engagement Workshop
March 31, 12:45-2:00p.m., Thwing Center 101
This workshop will feature segments on letter writing, call-making and using social media platforms as means of connecting with and holding accountable the various representatives of our government.
TEDx Cleveland State University Presents: The Resurgent City
March 31, 5:00-7:00p.m., CSU Ballroom
This TEDx Salon will discuss the role anchor institutions have played in the resurgence of cities, how they can enhance efforts to ensure this revival is available to all citizens and neighborhoods, as well as present best practices that can be disseminated nationally.
Fixing the Immigration Issue and Strengthening U.S.-Mexico Relations
April 3, 5:00-6:00p.m., TVUC
Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox will discuss the importance of immigration reform for the U.S. and Mexico. This is a free event, but registration is required.
Move to Amend Event
April 3, 7:00-9:00p.m., Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland
Join Move to Amend National Director, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap to learn more about the movement to amend the Constitution
Embracing Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Under a New Administration
April 4, 12:00p.m., The City Club
On the 49th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr’s assassination, join Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. for a conversation on what becomes of civil and human rights under President Trump. Tickets are $35.
Think Forum: Can We Solve the Global Water Crisis?
April 4, 6:00-7:30p.m., Maltz Performing Arts Center
Professor Jay Famiglietti is an internationally-renowned hydrologist and the Senior Water Scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology and will discuss the global water crisis at this talk.
Free Speech and Censorship in Turkey
April 4, 7:30-9:00p.m., Happy Dog Detroit Ave.
Join this discussion of the changes in Turkey’s government, from democracy to an authoritarian regime.
The Immigrant Role in the Creation of American Islam
April 4, 12:00-1:00p.m., Clark Hall 206
Between 1965 and 2000, the number of American mosques increased from six to 1209. The creation of these institutions reflects not only the manifold population spike of the presence of Muslims, but also of the importance of religious practice in the process of assimilation. This talk describes the role of late 20th-century immigrants in the creation of an organic American Islam.
The Art of Nidhi Chanani
April 5, 7:00-8:00p.m., CMA Recital Hall
Artist Nidhi Chanani is currently working on her debut graphic novel, Pashmina, to be published by First Second Books in 2017, about Priyanka Das, an Indian-American teenage girl.
Popular Culture and the “Dark Heritage” of Post-War History
April 5, 4:00p.m., Clark Hall 206
Two professors from Finland will discuss interdisciplinary work in European pop culture.
The Impact of Globalization on the World and Cleveland
April 6, 6:00-8:00p.m., Cleveland State University
This panel discussion, featuring Professor Kathryn Lavelle, will examine globalization’s impact on the economy, politics, immigration, and the international refugee crisis. This is a free event.
Trump’s Ohio Win, the New Resistance, and 2018
April 7, 12:00p.m., The City Club
Join David Pepper Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, for a conversation about what the future holds for Democrats in Ohio. Tickets are $35.
Legal Challenges in Precision Medicine
April 7, 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. CWRU Law School
This conference discusses the emerging legal challenges of transitioning the practice of health care to the PMI model and is free for students.
Friday Lunch: Trump, the Budget, and Health Care
April 7, 12:30-1:30, Mather House 100
Join Professor Joseph White in discussing what the failure to abolish “Obamacare” (yet) suggests about the prospects for “tax reform,” the “skinny budget,” and other battles to come.
The Paris Climate Agreement: What Now?
April 13, 5:30-7:15p.m., The Union Club
Student tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance.
Susan Biniaz, a lead U.S. negotiator on the agreement, will join CCWA to discuss what lies ahead for the U.S. commitments to combating climate change.
Case College Republicans Fundraiser Dinner
April 22, 7:00p.m., Angelo’s Nido Italia
This five course dinner will benefit the Case College Republicans, a group of students at Case Western Reserve University committed to supporting Republican ideals on campus and furthering our political education. Tickets are $50.
Employment Opportunities
WJCU Radio Station Director
As a staff member of the Tim Russert Department Theatre Arts, the Director of WJCU acts as the University’s primary agent in overseeing the operation of WJCU FM, a federally licensed Class A noncommercial/educational FM broadcast facility that serves the university as a co-curricular program and media outlet.
AmeriCorps VISTA Program at CityLink Center
VISTA stands for Volunteers in Service to America and provides an opportunity for individuals to commit to a year of service in a non-profit agency with exposure to multiple different social services. CityLink is seeking eager young professionals who are interested in building the capacity of our current programs to serve more clients and empower volunteers, while confronting the issue of poverty within the city of Cincinnati.
Grant Opportunities
Research Grant Opportunity
Phi Beta Kappa will be awarding grants of up to a few hundred dollars to assist College of Arts and Sciences students in their research. Applications are due April 17.
Internship and Fellowship Opportunities
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. A candidate will submit a Statement of Grant Purpose defining activities to take place during one academic year in a participating country outside the U.S.
V-Dem Internship
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) is seeking interns to work in Sweden Fall 2017 for academic credit. V-Dem is a global research collaboration to measure democracy in all countries of the world from 1900 to the present using more than 350 indicators. Initial questions can be directed to V-Dem project manager Professor McMann, kelly.mcmann@case.edu.
Peace Corps On-Campus Internship
Campus ambassadors develop student outreach on campus to promote the Peace Corps. Students should plan to dedicate 3-5 hours per week from August 2017 to April 2018. Applications are due April 15.
Summer Program Internship
Case Western Reserve is seeking student interns to work on a fellowship program hosting 25 young, African professionals. Interns will help with administrative duties and interact with the fellows as local resource guides and by helping them mediate cross-cultural challenges, navigate the American lifestyle and learn about Cleveland and its communities. The internship will take place from July 14-31 and interns will be compensated $2,500. Applications are due April 15.
Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship
The fellow spends one year working as a special legislative assistant on the staff of a member of Congress or congressional committee. Applicants must have either a Ph.D. or master’s degree with three years of experience.
A Little Extra…
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This Cleveland 19 News story, featuring Professor Joseph White, explains the effects of replacing Obamacare on Ohioans.