April 22, 2019 Newsletter

     Opportunities and Announcements

     for the Week of April 22, 2019

 

This past week our department convened to attend the Senior Capstone presentations of our students who are completing POSC 396 this spring. Senior and junior POSC majors presented work on topics ranging from “Democracy and Drama: Political Themes in Aeschylus’ The Oresteia, Euripides’ Electra, and Sophocles’ Electra” to “Neorealism and International Organizations: Earmarked Funding in the UN System” to “From Constraint to Mission: USACE and Environmental Protection” to “#MeToo: An Analysis of the Political Movement against Sexual Violence.” Two intense sessions of student presentations of work in progress were followed by our buffet dinner and a photo shoot of student presenters with their faculty supervisors (see the photos on our Facebook page). As always, I was impressed by the professional nature of our students’ presentations and the facility, insight, and grace with which they responded to challenging questions.  Congratulations to all the students who presented their work on Wednesday!

The Senior Capstone projects are part of the criteria considered for awarding three new prizes for graduating political science majors this year, one for each graduating senior POSC major who has done outstanding work in one of the three major subfields in which we offer courses. These prizes are:

  1. The Comparative Politics Prize, for outstanding academic performance in comparative politics by a graduating senior majoring in political science;
  2. The International Relations Prize, for outstanding academic performance in international relations by a graduating senior majoring in political science; and
  3. The US Politics Prize, for outstanding academic performance in US politics by a graduating senior majoring in political science.


Each award is a cash prize of $350, to be first awarded in May 2019. Students eligible for each subfield prize will be nominated by their senior capstone advisors. I look forward to awarding these prizes at the Senior Prizes Ceremony on May 18. Our Department is grateful to an anonymous donor whose generosity funds these prizes.

As we approach the final week of classes and move into reading days and final exams, we all – faculty, students, and staff – are anxious and feeling overburdened with work and real deadlines. Nonetheless, we have good news to celebrate for our students and for our alumni. Congratulations to POSC major Gillian Prater-Lee for her admission to the summer program on Spatial Models and Electoral Districting Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Washington-Tacoma and the University of Puget Sound. Ms. Prater-Lee has a strong interest in voting rights and has been prepared for the RUE by her POSC coursework in Comparative Political Parties, US Political Parties, and Research Methods. Ms. Prater-Lee is a double major in Political Science and Mathematics, with a Minor in Social Justice. Congratulations, Gillian! Congratulations as well to our alumna Hayley Rassuchine, who will attend New York University’s School of Law, which has awarded her a scholarship that will cover tuition for all three years. She previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda. Congratulations, Hayley!

These are just two examples of the good news that continues to be reported to our Department. As I met yesterday morning with admitted students at the Admissions Open House and talked to them about our Department and our current students, I was reinspired by the record of our students’ and our faculty’s accomplishments, and by the collegiality and cooperative spirit that our students share with each other. I thank all of our students, and our POSC majors and minors, for their excellent example and for helping to create the context within which the next entering class will be welcomed.

With all best wishes,
Karen

Karen Beckwith
Flora Stone Mather Professor and Chair
Department of Political Science

 


 

Events

Friday Lunch: Managing in a Trumped-Up Economy
April 19, 12:30-1:30pm, KSL Dampeer Room
Join Mark Sniderman, former Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, for a discussion on the Trump Administration’s economic policies and how economic actors are responding to them.

African Students Association Cultural Show
April 19, 7:30pm, Thwing Ballroom
ASA aims to showcase the African culture through singing, dancing, food and more. This year, the theme for the show is “Mr. and Miss ASA.” Tickets will cost $3 for undergraduate students, $5 for graduate students and $8 for all others.

CWRU China-U.S. Summit
April 20, 1-8:30pm Tinkham Veale University Center
The CWRU China-U.S. Summit will facilitate dialogue among leading entrepreneurs, medical professionals, policy makers and experts from China and the U.S. Tickets for students are free.

Cleveland Dyngus Day
April 22, 10am, 6516 Detroit Rd, Cleveland
Historically a Polish tradition, Dyngus Day, or Easter Monday, celebrates the end observance of Lent with the biggest Polka Party of the year.

Breaking the Silence: A Menstrual Health Panel
April 23, 7-9pm, TVUC
This menstrual health panel will be an interactive discussion focusing on the culture, stigmas, and health implications of menstruating. Food and drink will be provided.

Politics and Diversity
April 24, 6:30-8pm, Clark Hall 308
Diversity in race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political philosophy, and many other factors, are central to an inclusive democracy. Come and learn more about the intersections between politics and diversity from alumna of CWRU and local councilwoman, Phyllis Cleveland of Ward 5!

A World in Disarray: International Law, State Sovereignty and Interventions
April 25, 9:30am-4:00pm, Cleveland Marshall Law School
This event will feature speeches and panels featuring experts on law and world affairs and discussions on foreign relations. This event is free.

Tamir Rice Memorial Garden Volunteers
April 25, 5-7pm, Cudell Park, 1910 West Boulevard
May 2, 5-7pm, Cudell Park, 1910 West Boulevard 

In preparation for a new memorial addition coming in the next year, the Tamir Rice Foundation is looking for volunteers to help tend to Tamir’s memorial garden.

A Career in International Research; Shared Triumps and Recognition with Spouse?
April 26, 11:30am-1:30pm, FSM Center for Women
Dr. Sandra W. Jacobson of Wayne State University will discuss the challenges faced as an international investigator. RSVP by April 19.

Friday Lunch: What Do We Know About the Health and Safety Effects of Marijuana–Medical, Recreational, or Otherwise?
April 26, 12:30-1:30pm, KSL Dampeer Room
Join Theodore Parran Jr., MD for the last Public Affairs Lunch Discussion of the semester to discuss what we know, don’t know, and should want to know about the health impacts of marijuana.

Check out our Political Science Events page for additional events happening on and around campus!

Identifying Effective Treatment for Intimate Partner Violence
May 1, 9:30-11:30am
Join Dr. Gunnur Karakurt for a discussion on the inequalities in treatment methods when addressing intimate partner violence. RSVP by April 25.

 

Alumni News

  • Joseph Digby (BA POSC ’16) has received a Boren Fellowship from the National Security Education Program. He will be studying Hindi at the American Institute of Indian Studies in Jaipur, India.
    Read more about Joseph here.
  • In fall 2019, Hayley Rassuchine (BA POSC ’16) will attend law school at NYU where she received a scholarship that will cover tuition for all three years. She previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Uganda.

 

Internship Opportunities

The National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy offers a number of internship opportunities to undergraduate students. Fall 2019 applications will be accepted beginning on April 20.

Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority Policy Intern
AMHA offers paid Policy Internships. Policy interns plays a critical role in the efficient administration of assisted housing and client service programs for low-income households served by the AMHA.

Previously posted opportunities can be found on the department webpage. Please make sure to check regularly as to not miss approaching deadlines!

 

Summer Opportunities
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation Summer Associate
Work with the creative and innovative team at OBCDC to provide outreach and operational support for the Old Brooklyn Farmers Market this summer.

PLEN Summer Internships
PLEN’s mission is to increase the number of women influencing all aspects of the public policy process, including international aspects. Applications are currently being accepted.

City of University Heights Mayoral Intern
The City of University Heights offers summer mayoral internships, offering unique experiential learning opportunities in local government.

City of Canton Mayor’s Internship Program
The City of Canton’s Mayor’s Office offers an internship program during summer, fall, and spring semesters for students interested in gaining experience in the administration of local government.

 

Employment Opportunities
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation
OBCDC is hiring for a Director of Advancement and Community Engagement Coordinator.

International Security Positions
Deadlines for international security positions beginning summer 2020 can be as early as this spring due to security clearance requirements. If you are interested in such positions, begin to monitor usajobs.gov and U.S. federal agency web sites regularly now.

 

A Little Extra…

 

Please note that the Department of Political Science alerts our students to a range of opportunities, including internships, fellowships, and jobs.  We do not endorse or sponsor these, and leave it to the judgment of our students what is most useful and appropriate to them.

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