Congress is Open

Thanks to Political Science Librarian Andrea Kueter for point this out:

"My OpenCongress" profiles provide a personalized view of all the information you want about the laws being made in Washington: bills, senators, representatives, issue areas, and more. Just click "Track This Item" at the top of any page and you've begun building a one-of-a-kind platform for watching all the happenings in Congress that affects the things you care about. Profiles are designed to encourage site participation and to harness the collective social wisdom of people using this open web resource to get the real story behind what's happening in Congress.

And that's not even half of it. Check it out here.

International Youth Leadership Conference, Prague

16th International Youth Leadership Conference, July 20th – 25th, 2008
This week-long forum on world politics, international relations and law held in Prague is officially recognized and accredited by the New Anglo-American College.

We believe that our conference is a unique opportunity for all those, who wish to enrich their academic and cross-cultural experiences and to challenge their leadership skills. The 16th IYLC will be welcoming over 100 top university students from around the world. We would be honored to have best of your students among our participants, as they will contribute to the cultural diversity and high academic level of this event.

The theme of our conference is “a cross-cultural exchange of ideas concerning the future of world leadership” and the main objective of the IYLC is to blend educational activities and social interaction using a number of inter-related events, such as:

A United Nations Security Council Crisis simulation
A mock International Criminal Court pre-trial
Model European Parliament proceedings
Visits to Foreign Embassies, Czech Senate, and the European Commission
Panel Discussion and Presentations led by speakers of the highest calibre in their fields

Please take a minute to visit our web-site at www.czechleadership.com. There you will find relevant information about the conference related activities, including the conference schedule (www.czechleadership.com/itinerary.php) and the agenda of the previous conference (www.czechleadership.com/agenda.php).

We would appreciate, if you could invite your students to visit our web-site, or provide them with a link to the Student Invitation Letter – http://www.czechleadership.com/student_invitation.pdf

I thank you for your time, and please accept my apologies if this email is irrelevant to you. I will be looking forward to hearing from your students. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Yours faithfully,

Ismayil Khayredinov
ismayil@civicconcepts.org
Conference Director
16th International Youth Leadership Conference
Civic Concepts International
www.czechleadership.com
tel: +420 272 730 897

Kiva Update

Last year the department started an account with Kiva, a microcredit organization that provides small loans for businesses around the world. We loaned our money to Sorn Sophea, who lives in Phnom Penh with her husband and their 2 children. Sorn works as a tailor. With the loan ($1000 in total, of which Politics and Government contributed $50) she started her own tailoring business, and even repaid the entire loan early.

So, that means our $50 has come back to us to reinvest. Our new investment is in Elma Livnjak:


"Elma is a 21 year old woman and she is not married. Together with her sister she owns a little car wash. Their monthly incomes are 400 KM (that's about $300 USD).

This is her first loan in the amount of 1200 KM ($925 USD). She intends to buy additional equipment for her car wash and her great wish is to build up her work because this job is their only source of income. She wants to ensure a safe future for her sister and herself."

All the best, Ms. Livnjak. Want to be a social entrepreneur? Find out more about Kiva here.

T-shirts are good to go--order now!

The T-shirts are ready to be ordered, and our own Professor Karl Fields has done us the honor of modeling our first test shirt. Slightly modified from the version worn by Professor Fields, it comes in ash gray and features the department seal on the back.

...oh, and I realized I had the earth rotating the wrong direction, which I blame in part on my starting with our hemisphere first on the left hand side. Geocentricism! Now AC (Astronomically Correct), this flattering garment is yours for the unbelievable price of only $14.00! Students and alums in the area, if you are interested just send an email to Irene Lim (ilim@ups.edu) specifying your preferred size and number of shirts. We'll take orders over the next week or so and you can pay when you pick them up.

From sun to snow

Another inch or so expected tonight.

Winter Light: Campus photos

I walked over to Harned Hall to get a coffee this morning and took a few pictures as they continue remodeling Thompson. Beautiful day on campus.




Old and new--the old courtyard of Thompson (where the fountain stood)


Mosaic--the orbits of the planets superimposed over an aerial view of Puget Sound




Wyatt and Fieldhouse

Derek Young '96: Blog on the radio

Our own Derek Young '96 was on KUOW public radio on his blog Exit133, and the relationship between Tacoma and that other town up north. Derek rocks! Listen here.

Japan-America and Korea-American Student Conferences

Talk to Professor Fields in PG about Asian Studies funds for these conferences if you are interested in attending. Find out more about both here. Deadlines are 2/8 (Japan) and 3/1 (Korea).

60th Japan-America Student Conference
July 25 - August 21, 2008
Theme:Students Redefining Their Role through Insight and Action

Long-standing and dynamic, the relationship between Japan and America is one that intimately knows both the strains of war and the fruits of peace. It is a strong testament to the power that resides in the exchange of ideas. Ever since its inception in 1934, the Japan-America Student Conference has been driven by ambitious students aspiring to initiate open dialog in the hope of improving the international community. If we can speak of a JASC tradition, then it is certainly innovation – students working as agents of change.

The 60th JASC is an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a student today. As both a conference and a generation, we aim to redefine responsible global citizenship, to consider previously marginalized voices and to ask ourselves not only what we know, but how we come to know it. Our goal this year is to cultivate new perspectives and inspire action: through discussion roundtables, forums, and community engagement, we challenge the delegates to redefine their role in the world and prepare to influence history once again.

1st Korea-America Student Conference
July 5 - 31, 2008
Theme: "A New Look at the U.S.-Korea Alliance”

Created due to military necessity, the U.S. Korea alliance has grown and evolved over the last fifty years. Today, the Republic of Korea and the US work as partners on issues ranging from trade agreements and nuclear threats to education and technology.

Over the next year both Korea and the US will undergo changes in leadership which could significantly impact their policies and interactions worldwide. As this alliance continues to change, KASC will ensure students play an active role as they prepare to become the next generation of leaders.

Wanna work for Obama? (Updated)

Just got this from Matt Perry '06:

...just FYI, Chelsea Waliser '04 is back in Washington running our state for the Obama campaign through Feb 9. She will be the State Coordinator and will be in charge of the whole operation (which should include 6 official Obama staffers that are now out here from other states). As you know, Chelsea worked in Iowa for Barack and then she went to Nevada. I will be working full time on the Obama campaign through our caucuses and likely in the south end.

Update:
If you're interested, the Tacoma Obama contact is Grant Lahmann and they can reach him at glahmann@barackobama.com. Tell him Matt Perry sent you.

Brian Stewart '07 on Boeing and Clinton

This in From Brian Stewart '06. Students, check out the job opportunity Brian has secured at Boeing--it's pretty terrific. The link is below:



I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Hillary Clinton the weekend before the Iowa caucus while I was visiting family for the holiday. My grandpa is an Iowa State Senator, and he supports Hillary for the nomination. My grandpa was campaigning with her in his district on Saturday December, 29th and invited us as special attendees to one of her rallies in Iowa. After the rally and her stump speech I met the Governor of Ohio and then my family and I had the opportunity to talk with Hillary. Hillary and I chatted about Washington, about the Boeing Company, and my job at Boeing. She and my dad talked about law school. Hillary went to Yale and my dad went to Harvard so they had a rival moment, which was fun. A few days later the conversation we had with Hillary was aired on CSPAN. It was a neat experience, and Hillary was very impressive.

I thought I would share a picture, and maybe you'd like to post it on the blog.

As for me, I'm in my second rotation in my program with Boeing. I'm working with a Japanese partner, which has been a great experience. I probably wont have the chance to visit Japan because our partner comes to Seattle more than we go to Japan. It's been fun negotiating with them face-to-face on a semi-regular basis. I'm also trying to get into the political and international areas of Boeing. I might be moving to Washington D.C. for 4 months to do a rotation later in the year to work with the International Operations business unit to experience that side of the company.

Hope all is well,

Brian

Animal is a political man

From the New York Times:

Just as there are myriad strategies open to the human political animal with White House ambitions, so there are a number of nonhuman animals that behave like textbook politicians. Researchers who study highly gregarious and relatively brainy species like rhesus monkeys, baboons, dolphins, sperm whales, elephants and wolves have lately uncovered evidence that the creatures engage in extraordinarily sophisticated forms of politicking, often across large and far-flung social networks.

Read the whole thing here.

Submit! Writing Excellence Awards

We've had many papers for PG courses win this award in past, so I encourage you to submit your paper. Details below:

Writing Excellence Awards

To encourage and reward good writing in all disciplines, the Writing Excellence prizes will be awarded again this year.

A total of nine prizes ($250.00 each) will be awarded:

* Two prizes in each category: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics
* One prize each for Freshman Seminars, Connections, and Graduate Programs

Rules for the Contest

Papers written as part of the requirement for courses taken at the University of Puget Sound during the most recent Spring, Summer, or Fall are eligible. Papers of any length may be submitted; short papers are as likely to win as long ones.

Students may submit no more than one paper in each category, and each paper must be accompanied by a description of the assignment and an entry form. (Entry forms are also available in the Center for Writing, Learning, and Teaching, Howarth 105/109.) Students should submit the original paper in person with the professor’s comments, or a photocopy of it, to the Center for Writing, Learning, and Teaching by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2008.

If you have any questions about the process or the prizes, please call Julie Neff-Lippman (253.879.2696) or send an e-mail.

Talking politics at work (when your work isn't politics)

For us faculty, talking politics is what we do. But what about when you're not in a political job? I recall my wife's experience that one of her co-workers had a political bumper sticker in her cubicle; when she questioned its appropriateness, her co-worker replied "but everyone in the office feels that way". Hmm. From Business Week:

...Simply put, we shouldn't discuss politics in the workplace because, with very few exceptions, these discussions have nothing to do with our job and can only interfere with it.

One might conclude that what I am calling for will lead to a chill in the workplace or, worse, a corporate police state in which speech is carefully monitored and wrongful talk is harshly punished. Rather than make a fetish out of what each individual should be allowed to do (or get away with), a more appropriate perspective to take here—and with all issues concerning conduct at work and beyond—is to consider how our actions might adversely affect others and fracture the community of which we are a part. Yes, in the best of circumstances, discussion with people who hold different points of view can lead to greater understanding of beliefs different from one's own. Yes, it may be possible for you and your colleagues to have a civil, respectful conversation at work about the politics of abortion, euthanasia, creationism, the existence of God, your sex life, and your salary.

If you are able to have such polite repartee, you are in the minority. For most people, these kinds of discussions too often degenerate into loud arguments and the conclusion that those on the opposing side of the fence are "idiots." In what sort of business would this kind of behavior promote doing one's job effectively? As engaging as such conversations might be, to what extent will they enhance the ability to carry out one's duties and meet the needs of customers and company alike? More to the point, won't such conversations likely impede the performance of one's assignments?

Read the whole thing here.

Job Opportunities: Grassroots Campaigns, Inc.

From UPS alum Patrick Sterns. He's likely to be on campus next month if you want to know more:

Subject: Progressive Presidential Election Campaign Job Opportunities

The November 2006 midterm election was an exciting step forward for
progressives; but much work remains. The new Congress, on its own, will
not resolve our nation’s most pressing concerns. If we want to combat
global warming, increase access to higher education, provide healthcare
for all Americans, end corruption in Washington, and redeploy our troops,
we must expand our majorities in Congress and take back the White House.
Grassroots Campaigns, Inc. (GCI), a national firm specializing in building
grassroots support for progressive causes, political candidates, public
interest campaigns, and non-profit fundraising operations, is interviewing
potential staff for their campaigns to Take Back the White House.
Grassroots Campaigns’ current and past clients include MoveOn.org, the
Democratic National Committee, the ACLU, and the League of Conservation
Voters. We are hiring for the following positions:


Position: Citizen Outreach Director

Citizen Outreach Directors and Assistant Directors manage grassroots
fundraising offices. They work with a team of other directors to recruit,
train, and work with a staff of up to 100 paid canvassers to build support
for the 2008 elections and a wide range of nonprofit organizations.

Position: Field Organizer

Field Organizers work in targeted Congressional districts and major
metropolitan areas around the country. They will recruit, train, and work
with volunteers to build the support needed to win on critical issues and
get good candidates elected. In fall 2008 Field Organizers will help run
one of the largest get-out-the-vote drives in the country.


For all positions:

Qualifications:

Sound communication and motivational skills, strong desire for political
change, and work ethic are essential. We are looking for people who have a
strong leadership background, and who are ready to take on a lot of
responsibility. Previous field organizing or canvass experience is a plus,
but not a pre-requisite.

Salary/Benefits

Annual salary begins at $24,000, and increases commensurate with
experience. Staff may opt into our health care plan. Student loan
assistance repayment program offered.

Locations:
Nationwide, ask recruiter for more details.

Students who are interested should apply directly to:

NAME – Patrick Sterns
EMAIL – psterns@grassrootscampaigns.com
PHONE # - 510-848-1754

WEBSITE: http://www.grassrootscampaigns.com

Last Minute: Essay Contest

This is pretty last minute, but something you might keep in mind for next year if you don't want to do ramp up to write it now. Thanks to Kari Manlove '06 for passing it along.

Essay Contest to Award $10,000 Prizes to Renewable Energy Scholars
Organization Seeks to Engage Future Leaders on Critical Environmental Issues
New York, NY – One of the nation’s foremost environmental organizations today announced an essay contest in which three $10,000 educational prizes will be awarded. The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy – sponsor of a presidential candidate forum to be held later this week – is sponsoring a nationwide essay contest asking college students to draft a Renewable Energy Plan for America.

“Our nation’s energy policy has implications well beyond the price of gasoline. Our dependence on fossil fuels has an impact on the environment, the economy, even our national security,” said PFRE President Jane S. Hoffman. “America’s next generation of leaders must be prepared to tackle the critical issues confronting our environment. By engaging tomorrow’s leaders today, we can get a head start on empowering a sustainable future.”

The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy is sponsoring a student essay contest in which three college students will be named and awarded a $10,000 educational prize. The contest will be open to enrolled university students. The deadline for entry is February 1, 2008 and winners will be announced in April 2008 at an Earth Day event. Students are asked to write a 4 to 6 point renewable energy plan for America, laying out a strategy for the next five to ten years that will minimize our current dependence on non-renewable energy sources. To submit an essay, or for more information, log on to www.2008energyforum.org.

New tshirt

What do you think? This will the new design for our department tshirt. There's still the globe theme going from our logo, with a watercolor effect to give it that artsy feel (we're social scientists, but with an aesthetic sensibility). I'm thinking ash grey would look nice, though it's in white below.



As before, if you're on campus, we'll being doing a batch order sometime next month and taking orders in advance. Otherwise you can order your very own shirt here.

Asia Wright '04: Law and the Sea

A while back I got an update from Asia Wright '04, who is finishing up law school and looking toward a career on/at/with the sea. She writes:

There is a popular saying that during the first year of law school they scare you to death. The second year they work you to death. However they lied about boring you to death during the third year. I feel my last year at school is still part of the work you to death portion. But I’ve loved every minute of it.

This year, even though busy and full, has been very exciting. I love being back at home in Lakebay and working in the legal department at Holland America’s Seattle head office (I don’t love the 160 mile round trip commute). In January my law article on cruise ships and the environment will be published in the Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum law journal. And I’m certainly never bored working on million dollar ship contracts or representing the company in passenger small claims suits (I just won my first case). Time is simply flying. It’s crazy to think that in 7 months I will be done with school, finished with the bar exam, and finally ready to start my life out in the big world.

Best wishes for the rest of your schooling!

We're number four!

We've slipped a bit this year in the rankings, but once again the University of Puget Sound ranks among the top schools that send graduates to the Peace Corps. This year, we rank #4 among small schools. Interestingly, most of the top schools are in the Pacific Northwest: UW ranks #1 among large schools, and Gonzaga, Willamette, and Western Washington all come out in the top five. Something in the water? Does the relative isolation of the Pacific Northwest make our graduates want to travel to some place as exotic as possible? Hmm.

Alum interviews Alum

Over at Exit133, Derek Young '96 interviews Ryan Mello '01--both of whom I've interviewed for the blog in past (see links). Whew! Ryan is currently on the Metro Parks Board of Tacoma (an elected position) and works for the Cascade land conservancy. Read the interview here.

Scoville Peace Scholarship

Deadline is 2/8 if you want to apply...

I am pleased to send you information about the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship, a program that provides college graduates the opportunity to work in Washington, DC, with a public-interest organization focusing on arms control and international security issues. The fellowship is offered twice yearly, in the spring and fall. It lasts from six to nine months and provides a stipend, health insurance, and travel costs to Washington. The Scoville Fellowship does not award grant or scholarship money to students.

Scoville Fellows may undertake a variety of activities, including research, writing, and advocacy in support of the goals of their host organization and may attend coalition meetings, policy briefings, and Congressional hearings. They have written fact sheets, letters to the editor, op eds, magazine articles, briefing books and reports, organized talks and conferences, and been interviewed as experts by the media. Many former Scoville Fellows work for NGOs or the Federal Government, or attend graduate school in political science or international relations, following their fellowships.

Please encourage those interested in peace and security issues to visit our website at http://www.scoville.org. There is no application form; the application requirements are listed on the website, as are links to the websites of each of the twenty-five participating organizations and information on the work of current and former Scoville Fellows. Applications may be submitted via email. A flyer about the program can be printed from http://www.scoville.org/flyer.html The next application deadline is February 8, 2008 for the Fall 2008 Fellowship.

All U.S. citizens, and foreign nationals residing in the United States, are eligible to apply; non-U.S. citizens living outside of the United States are not.

Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the Fellowship.

Sincerely,
Paul D. Revsine
Program Director
Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
(202) 543-4100 x124

Tags:

Fellowships

Progressive Student Union Conference

Progressive Student Union - Washington State
email: info@wsuprogressive.com

The Second Annual Northwest Progressive Conference will be happening on April 3-5th, hosted by the Progressive Student Union of Washington State University. For more information, such as our co-sponsors and what we hope to achieve with the conference, please visit www.wsuprogressive.com/2008NWPC. See the attached call for proposals, and feel free to forward this information to anybody it may be of interest to. Also feel free to email our group with any questions or concerns you may have concerning the conference. We look forward to meeting you! Thank you!

Progressive Student Union
Washington State University

President Thomas on the elections and the next generation

President Thomas has written an editorial in the Seattle Times on the upcoming presidential election and the rise of a new post-boomer generation. Excerpt:

It pains me to say it, but it is time for us to pass the torch to a new generation, one that believes, as we once did, in "that thing inside us that insists."

I am inspired, every day, by the idealism, commitment and passion of today's youth as they prepare for their first opportunity to cast a vote for the person who will become their president. At a time in their lives when they are formulating their own ideas about their roles in society and testing their beliefs about the world, they need and deserve an invitation to participate fully in a broader public life. This is their time.

Fatigued by the partisan bickering, deception and ideological posturing of the past decade in American politics, it is time we give voice to the hopes of America's youth, to pay attention to what they have to say, to rekindle our own hope in their vision for America. Believing as they do that something better awaits us, they may very well elect the first woman or the first black man as president.

Read the entire piece here.

Internships Matter

From the New York Times:

It will surprise nobody that the most competitive wave of high school graduates is now the most competitive wave of college students. The generation that made admissions a contact sport bring the same sharp elbows to how they spend their summers. Or, put in a form that parents would understand: “Internship” is to “first job” as “community service” is to “college.”

Read the whole thing here. Students, what are you doing this summer?

Congrats to Environmental Studies

Congrats to the Environmental Studies Program (including our own Professor Sherman) on getting this important grant. Exciting stuff.

Mellon Foundation awards $525,000 to fund new International Environmental Studies position
January 9, 2008

TACOMA, Wash--University of Puget Sound is pleased to announce it received a grant of $525,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to create a faculty appointment in international environmental policy and decision-making. In total, the university has received nine grants from the foundation since 1993.

Puget Sound offers an interdisciplinary minor in environmental studies focused on policy and decision-making process which draws on cross-campus faculty expertise and engages our students with a range of stakeholders to tackle local, regional, and national environmental issues. Since its inception, the program has cultivated a strong foothold in regional decision-making issues. In 2006, the university convened a team of leaders in environmental education at the city and county levels to organize a model Leadership Summit on Environmental Education for the state. Given the results achieved by the initiative so far, Puget Sound is now poised to take the next major step in the program's development by expanding curriculum and program into the international decision-making arena.

With the Mellon Foundation's support of a new tenure-line faculty position and complementary student research stipends, faculty curriculum development funds, and support for workshops and conferences involving students, faculty, and environmental stakeholders, Puget Sound will expand the environmental decision-making and policy initiative to begin addressing international issues such as biodiversity, energy production, trans-boundary pollution, as well as more highly-publicized issues such as global warming. The grant will further enhance academic study of the environment at Puget Sound, using the strengths of the university's geographic location on the Pacific Rim and the university's success in collaborating with regional stakeholders in enhancing curriculum and research projects for students.

"We are delighted to receive this grant from the Mellon Foundation," said Ronald R. Thomas, Puget Sound's president. "It not only allows Puget Sound to continue its leadership role in this important field, but it further enhances our distinctive educational programs in science, the environment, and international affairs. With the Pacific Ocean to our west and Canada to our north, topics such as resource management in international marine waters and alteration of stream flows in rivers that cross international borders have even greater significance to our faculty, students, and the communities where we live and work."

Several faculty members will lead the initiative including Barry Goldstein, Bill Kupinse, Amy Ryken, and Daniel Sherman.

About Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, was formed in 1969 through the consolidation of two existing foundations-the Avalon Foundation established by Ailsa Mellon Bruce in 1940 and the Old Dominion Foundation, which her brother, Paul Mellon, created in 1941. When the two foundations were consolidated, the Foundation was renamed The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to honor their father.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's grantmaking philosophy is to build, strengthen, and sustain institutions and their core capacities in six key areas: Higher Education and Scholarship, Scholarly Communications, Research in Information Technology, Museums and Art Conservation, Performing Arts, and Conservation and the Environment.

Air Force and Alternative Energy

Since last summer I've been talking with Kevin Billings '77, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Environment, Safety and Occupational Health at the Air Force, about holding a conference on campus this spring dealing with energy, the environment, and commercial and military aviation. 20/20 Vision, a DC-based environmental organization, has been providing logistics and helping to set up speakers, and I'll provide more details as it takes shape.

In the meantime, I found it an interesting coincidence that in the Tacoma News Tribune there was an article about a C-17 flight powered by synthetic fuels. I sent it along to Secretary Billings. Silly me: he was on the flight (video).

Dubious Distinction

We noted some time back that political scientist/blogger Dan Drezner asked faculty for the worst sentences they'd come across in their recent grading. And among his top three picks comes from our department, submitted by Professor Sousa. The sentence?

"Given politicians' efforts to manipulate coverage, citizens cannot easily distinguish between fact and fornication."

No comment.

Domesday

Students, spent much time in the Dome District? No, I didn't think so. And not much reason why you would, other than to park your car at the transit center, catch the Amtrak out of town, or see some band (or RV show) at the Dome. But there's a few things in this part of town, and so I feel it my duty to point them out, as part of my occasional yet ongoing quest to Get Students Out Of The Campus Bubble (also known as GSOOTCB).

So, what does the Dome District offer the GSOOTCB movement?) Here's a few random things:

Funkoma Vintage: Old and junky, always funky.

Friesenburgers. No, they don't serve Northern German cuisine. Burgers and breakfasts. Brand new, next door to the Funkoma.

Slotkar.com. When the learning has just become too much, why not race slot cars? Five bucks for thirty minutes. Freighthouse Square.

Tosta. Best cinnamon rolls around, wifi, good coffee, paperback library, watch the lightrail come and go. Also a fairly recent addition to the neighborhood in Freighthouse.

Mineral. A jewelry shop that is so cool it doesn't even keep regular hours, but does get written up in the Style Section of the New York Times. Even if they're not open, you can peer through their windows. On Puyallup Avenue.

That is all. You may now commence with the exploration.

Shipwrecked

From The Economist, a great piece on the (mostly) accidental movement of Japanese sailors to North America and North Americans to Japan in the early 19th century, when Japan was still closed to the outside world. And great Pacific Northwest connections--Japanese sailors taken captive by the Makah? An early trespasser into Japan who was born in Oregon? Fascinating stuff. Read it here.

Darrel Frost in the Dominican Republic

I recently received an email from Darrel Frost '04, who had returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic. Darrel was visiting his friend Melissa Watson '04, who is currently there as a Peace Corps volunteer. Darrel has a nice recap of his trip at
http://darrelfrost.com/navidad/

Check it out. And Happy New Year, too!