Opportunities and Announcements

for the Week of January 31, 2020

And They’re Out.  The European Council of the European Union has announced the exit of Great Britain from the European Union:  “The withdrawal agreement will enter into force upon the U.K.’s exit from the E.U., on 31 January 2020 at midnight” in most of Europe, 11 p.m. in Britain, it added. “From that time on, the U.K. will no longer be an E.U. member state and will be considered as a third country.” For more information about what it means for the UK to be out of the EU, starting tomorrow morning, see the University of Edinburgh’s Center for Constitutional Change, the European Commission’s webpage, and the European Union’s webpage for general information about the EU. This has been an interesting time for students enrolled in Professor Posner’s POSC 373 Politics of the European Union course.

Wellman Hill Public Service Internship Competition.  A final reminder: applications for the Wellman Hill internship competition are due on Friday, February 7, by 5:00pm. The application process is online here.

Farewell to Brook Sabin.  As mentioned in last week’s Newsletter, Brook Sabin has resigned as the DA1 for our Department. Brook’s final day of work is today, January 31, and we will celebrate her tenure with us during lunch today. We wish Brook all the best as she focuses on her MPA graduate program at Cleveland State, and we feel grateful to have had her with us as our DA1.

The office will be closed from 12:30 to 2:00pm, and will open only occasionally, as possible, beginning Monday, February 3. Departmental office hours will not be posted and students should contact me and/or their academic advisors and professors if they have questions or need assistance. I can be reached at 216.368.4129; my email address is karen.beckwith@case.edu; and my office appointments schedule can be found on my webpage.

As a result, the Political Science Newsletter may be issued less frequently (and/or regularly) until we have new staff in the office. The Chairs of the Departments of Classics and of Political Science, and the Director of International Studies are in the process of hiring new department assistants. We ask for everyone’s patience during the period of transition.

Cheers,
Karen

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

 

Upcoming Events

Staging Transformation: Art as Social Activism
January 31, 12-1:30pm, City Club of Cleveland
Local, national, and international artists will take stage to discuss art as a vehicle for activism and social change. From a play about the City of Cleveland’s consent decree, to a community-driven architectural project at Riverview Welcome Center, to the Arabic language being spoken on stage, these artists discuss art, equity, and access, and how their specific works serve as acts of social justice. Tickets to attend are $38. Livestream is free.

Friday Lunch: The Internet of Things
January 31, 12:30-1:30pm, KSL Dampeer Room
Is the “Internet of Things” (IoT) the shape of things to come – and is that good? By one account, 20 billion devices will be connected in 2020. Another says 30 billion. Join Kenneth A. Loparo to hear his observations on what the IoT really is and can be.

The Journey Ends to Begin, VOICES a Century Apart
February 4, 12:30-2:00pm, KSL O’Neil Reading Room
Frederick Douglass’ commencement address at Western Reserve College in 1854, along with speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. during his visits to Cleveland, will be featured in this program. A moderator and a panel will compare the words spoken a century apart by each historical leader and discuss how we can build on their issues that we continue to confront today. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

Africa: Facts, Fiction and Reality-Why Does it Matter to the United States?
February 4, 5:30-7:15pm, Union Club, Wedgwood Room
Africa’s economic and political landscape is rapidly changing. Overall, Africa is a continent of great opportunity, but it faces unique and difficult challenges, including extreme poverty and high rates of terrorism and insurgency. Join the Cleveland Council on World Affairs as they host a Foreign Policy Forum with Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield for a discussion of Africa’s future and it’s importance for U.S. security and economic interests. Student tickets are $5 to attend.

Happy Dog Takes on the World: Future of America’s Forever Wars
February 4, 7:30-8:45pm, The Happy Dog
In early January, escalating tensions between the United States and Iran —brought on by the United States drone strike which resulted in the death of nine people, including Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a powerful security and intelligence commander and longtime leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force — has once again prompted concerns about a potential war. The future of U.S-Iranian relations remains uncertain — and this latest conflict represents just part of America’s forever war in the Middle East. For the last two decades, we’ve sent thousands of troops to the Middle East without a clear plan for resolution or exit. Why does the United States keep entering these “forever wars?” Who benefits? Who pays the costs?

An Evening with Abby Stein: Trans Activist and Author of Becoming Eve
February 5, 7-10:00pm, Thwing Center
Cleveland Hillel is hosting a lecture by Abby Chava Stein, author of Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman.  In 2015, Stein came out as a woman, and she now works as a trans activist. In 2019, she served on the steering committee for the Women’s March in Washington, DC.

Friday Lunch: Ohio in the Presidential Election
February 7, 12:30-1:30pm, KSL Dampeer Room
Ohio has long been seen as a swing state in presidential elections, and so been ground zero in the campaigns. Can a Democrat carry Ohio in the 2020 Presidential Election?  Can a Democrat get close enough to suggest she or he could win states sort-of-like Ohio? And which Democrat seems likely to win the March 17 primary?  Join us for a discussion with Thomas C. Sutton, Professor of Political Science at Baldwin Wallace University that will explore these questions and more.

The Future of U.S.-Cuban Government Relations
February 7, 12:00-1:30pm, The City Club of Cleveland
In 2015, under Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro, the United States and Cuba began restoring diplomatic ties and relaxing some trade and travel restrictions. The two governments also reopened their embassies, a move met with widespread public support in both countries. It was a significant thaw in a relationship that has been frosty for more than 55 years. His Excellency José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez became the first Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the United States in almost 50 years on Sept. 17, 2015. Join us for a conversation with Rodríguez on the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S.-Cuba relationship, the impact of diplomacy on the relationship’s trajectory, what we can expect in the ongoing reconstruction of the relationship

Social Justice Teach-In: Peacemaking through Art and Storytelling
February 8, 10:30am-3:30pm, Tinkham Veale University Center, Ballroom
The Social Justice Teach-In is designed to inspire students and community members to be active and engaged citizens, to increase their understanding of social justice issues, and to enhance their leadership skills in areas such as service, advocacy, and philanthropy. The event will feature a keynote address and 40+ workshop options.

 

Current Opportunities

Social Justice Scholars Study Group
Freshman, sophomores, and juniors are invited to apply to the SJS study group, which will focus on immigration reform.  Accepted applicants will receive a $500 stipend for their full participation. Applications are due February 3, 2020.

ThinkEnergy Fellowship
This program exposes students to a wide variety of energy topics including technology, policy, entrepreneurship, and research. ThinkEnergy connects students with faculty, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and government officials. It often gives students an opportunity to operate outside of their comfort zones, developing competencies that are dissimilar to what they learn in their courses. 2020-2021 cohort applications are due by 9am on March 9, 2020.

 

Summer Opportunities

Senator Rob Portman 2020 Summer Internships
The Office of Senator Portman hosts interns in their Washington, D.C., Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo offices year-round. Applications for summer internships are now open. The Summer Internship application closes on February 8.

American Enterprise Institute Summer Honors Program
The AEI Summer Honors Program is an intensive, fully-funded educational and professional development opportunity in Washington, DC, for undergraduate students. Participants in the program have the chance to connect with the ideas, research, and network of AEI, one of America’s preeminent policy think tanks. The regular application deadline is February 24, 2020.

Carter Center Summer Internships
The Carter Center Internships provide students with an unpaid opportunity to explore careers in the field of Peace, Health, or Operations in Atlanta. Internships are also offered in the Fall and Spring. Applications close March 1, 2020.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Internship Program
The DCCC Internship Program is designed to give students substantial exposure to practical, campaign-style politics on a national level. Applications for the Summer 2020 program close on March 1, 2020.

Cleveland Council on World Affairs Summer Internships
CCWA offers engaging internship opportunities, including involvement in projects and events hosted by CCWA. Check website for Summer 2020 deadlines.

 

Contest Opportunities

Japanese Language Speech Contest
Showcase your Japanese language skills while competing for a scholarship and other prizes. Applications are due February 7, 2020; the competition will take place in Dublin, OH March 14, 2020.

 

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships for Women Studying Information Security
The Scholarships for Women Studying Information Security (SWSIS) program provides scholarships of up to $10,000 for women studying for their bachelors and masters degrees in fields relating to information security. Applications are open until February 1.

 

Graduating Senior Opportunities

Teach for America
As a corps member, you’ll be challenged to think creatively and lead boldly. You’ll leverage your unique talents to dismantle inequities from the classroom and beyond. The next application deadline is February 28, 2020.

 

Career Opportunities

The Center for Community Solutions Public Policy and External Affairs Associate
The Center for Community Solutions is looking for someone who is passionate about Medicaid policy and who wants to concentrate on big public health issues – especially systemic racism as a public health crisis. Apply online here. Applications are due February 21, 2020.

 

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.