Brown Bag with Professors O'Neil and Sousa WED 3/9

Lecture by Harry Halpin and Elijian Sparrow TUES 3/8

U.S. Department of State Fall 2016 Student Internship Program

 

Deadline to submit completed applications is March 1, 2016

We are now accepting applications for the U.S. Department of State Fall 2016 Student Internship Program (unpaid).

Please visit http://careers.state.gov/intern/student-internships for more information about the U.S. Department of State Fall 2016 Student Internship Program (unpaid), and to start the online application process via USAJobs. 


Visit USAJOBS.gov to view the announcement: U.S. Department of State Fall 2016 Student Internship Program (unpaid).

We highly encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or would like to search for topics of interest, please visit our forums or FAQs at careers.state.gov.

PLU's Wang Center 2016 Symposium 2/25 - 2/26

Please join the PLU Community on February 25-26, 2016 for the 7th Biennial Wang Center Symposium, The Countenance of Hope: Towards an Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Understanding of Resilience, in PLU's Anderson University Center.

A collaboration of PLU’s Global Studies and Environmental Studies programs, the Philosophy Department and the Wang Center for Global Education, the two-day conference will attempt to answer the following questions:
- What factors contribute to resilience?
- Are these factors intrinsic or extrinsic?
- Are there cultural, social, economic and environmental factors that can contribute to, or impede, the - efforts of the most vulnerable to overcome adversity?
- Are individual, ecological and social resilience(s) interrelated? Can resilience be “built” or “learned”?
- What do natural processes teach us about resilience?
- How helpful is it to develop resilience-based policies?
- What are examples of effective and creative responses for nurturing resilience beyond the trauma of devastation?
- What might these responses teach us about the nature and dimensions of resilience?

The confirmed program, schedule of events and information on the keynote speakers are now available online at: www.plu.edu/hope

All sessions are free and open to the public but seating is limited and registration is strongly encouraged.

Do We Want a Methanol Plant in Tacoma? Talk by Wilma Subra THU 2/25

The controversial proposal to build the world’s largest methanol plant on Tacoma’s Tideflats will be critiqued at a free public presentation by environmental chemist and activist Wilma Subra.
Subra will give the talk “Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Methanol Plants,” starting at
6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in Kilworth Memorial Chapel, on campus.

Subra, a MacArthur Genius Award winner, has been fighting for decades to protect the interests of Louisiana residents who live in an area dubbed “Cancer Alley,” along the Mississippi River. Clusters of cancer patients have been diagnosed in the region, with many blaming the nearby industrial plants.

In Tacoma, a Chinese-backed company called Northwest Innovation Works has proposed building a plant on the Port of Tacoma that would convert natural gas, delivered to the site by an underground pipe, into methanol. The flammable liquid would be taken by tanker ship to a plant in China to be used in making a plastic-like substance for products such as cellphones, furniture, and carpet.
Residents in the Tacoma area have already attended one packed hearing held by city officials to disseminate information about the methanol plant plans. Opponents fear the plant could affect air and water quality, or that it could lead to a dangerous explosion. Some union members, who expect 1,000 construction jobs and 260 permanent jobs, have backed the proposal. The Port of Tacoma agreed to lease the waterfront property in 2014, and the plan is currently undergoing environmental studies.

Wilma Subra is the founder of Subra Company, a chemistry laboratory and environmental consulting firm in Louisiana. The company works with community groups, providing technical research and evaluation of projects that could lead to environmental health concerns. Subra and local residents fought, and successfully closed, an oil waste incinerator in Louisiana that was using hazardous waste as fuel. She has provided technical assistance to communities near the polluted Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco, and to others living near the Port of New Orleans, where Italian nuclear waste was to be imported.

http://www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/campus-news/details/1455/

Summer Immersion Internship Program: Deadline FRI 2/26

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Experiential Learning at Puget Sound offers a summer internship program that is designed to support talented Puget Sound students who wish to enhance their knowledge on a career trajectory, but would not otherwise be able to participate in an unpaid internship program. Participating Pierce County organizations will engage a Puget Sound student for a ten-week assignment commencing after graduation and ending around July 30, 2016. Intern participants will work at least 30 hours each week, two of which will be reserved for a weekly educational component on campus. These weekly educational seminars will provide students with the opportunity to connect their intern experience with their academic discipline. Intern participants will work varying schedules depending on the needs of the participating organizations and will have limited academic assignments throughout the summer. Students who are selected for the internship program will engage in ongoing reflection and self-assessment culminating in a final presentation at a campus symposium in the Fall ‘16.

FELLOWSHIP AWARD
Intern participants will be awarded $3000 for their 10-week participation in the program. In addition to the monetary award, participating interns will also be offered ten-weeks of on-campus housing for a total fee of $100. Note that this housing does not include meals. Also, some organizational sites may have additional costs such as parking or transportation.

PREREQUISITES

• Must be a current Puget Sound student.
• Open to sophomores and juniors from all majors, unless otherwise specified.  
  Current seniors are not eligible unless returning as a student for the fall 2016 semester.
• Good academic and conduct record.
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.5
• Attend one of the Application Preparation Sessions 

GET STARTED
1. Fill out an Application Intent Form
2. Attend one of our Application Sessions at Career and Employment Services (Howarth 101) on the following dates

• Tuesday, February 16, 5-6pm
• Wednesday, February 17, 12-1pm
• Thursday, February 18, 4-5pm

If you are unable to make it to any of these sessions, please email Alana Hentges (ajhentges@pugetsound.edu).

3. Complete your application. You will be given further instructions at the Application Sessions.

 All applications must be submitted by 5pm (PST) on Friday, February 26th. Incomplete or late submissions will NOT be accepted. No exceptions.  Remember that you must attend at least one application preparation session in order to apply to the program.

PIRG Campus Action Information Session THU 2/25

CFR Conference Call on US-India Relations 2/24

On behalf of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), I invite you to participate in the next session of the Winter/Spring 2016 CFR Academic Conference Call series on Wednesday, February 24, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in WY 226. Alyssa Ayres, senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at CFR, will discuss how the United States and India should work together to improve their shared interests in the cyber domain, global health, climate change and clean energy, and democracy.

As background for the discussion, you may wish to review the following materials:

1) Alyssa Ayres, Charles R. Kaye, and Joseph S. Nye Jr., “How the U.S. Should Respond to the Rise of India,” Fortune.com, November 12, 2015.
2) Working With a Rising India: A Joint Venture for the New Century, Task Force Report No. 73, Council on Foreign Relations Press, November 2015. 
3) “Timeline: U.S.–India Relations,” Interactive, Council on Foreign Relations. 

If you'd like to attend this conference call, please RSVP to Professor Seth Weinberger as soon as possible.

Hope to see you there...

Seth Weinberger
Associate Professor
Department of Politics & Government
University of Puget Sound

Q&A on Internship and Entry Level Opportunities - TODAY 2/24

Replacing Scalia - Roundtable Discussion WED 2/24

"Hot Coffee" Movie Screening: Friday 2/19. Open to the Public

"Meaningful Movies" expanding to Tacoma from the Seattle area, has invited Professor Bill Haltom to a showing of "Hot Coffee," a documentary on lawsuits in the United States.  The maker of "Hot Coffee," Susan Saladoff interviewed Professor Haltom regarding the "McDonald’s Coffee Lady," with which the documentary starts.

Campaign Management Recruitment Event THUR 2/18

What: Please join the House Democratic Campaign Committee and the Washington Senate Democratic Campaign for a networking and recruitment event for people interested in working on or running legislative campaigns.

When: Thursday, February 18th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Where: Ramblin Jacks Back Room, 520 East 4th Ave, Olympia, WA 98501

For questions or to RSVP: Please email Samantha Kersul at samantha@senatedemocrats.org.

Food provided. Come with multiple copies of your resume and get two drink tickets.
The House Democratic Campaign Committee (HDCC) and the Washington Senate Democratic Campaign (WSDC) are looking for energetic, detail oriented people to run State Legislative Campaigns throughout Washington. No campaign or political experience is required. We are currently interviewing for positions beginning in March and April.

Here is the facebook link for the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/629287277209486/

CFR Conference Call on Red Teaming 2/11

On behalf of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), I invite you to participate in the first session of the Winter/Spring 2016 CFR Academic Conference Call series on Thursday, February 11, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in WY 226. Micah Zenko, senior fellow at CFR, will discuss the use of red teams—groups enlisted to identify weaknesses and anticipate threats—by the military, intelligence community, and private sector, and outline best practices for employing these teams effectively.

Micah Zenko is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Previously, he worked for five years at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and in Washington, DC, at the Brookings Institution, Congressional Research Service, and State Department's Office of Policy Planning.

As background for the discussion, you may wish to review the following materials:

1) Thomas E. Ricks, “‘Red Team’: A tale of how a general didn’t listen to internal criticism in Afghanistan,” ForeignPolicy.com, January 7, 2016.
2) Micah Zenko, “How the NYPD Stops Terror Attacks,” TheDailyBeast.com, November 2, 2015. 
3) Micah Zenko, “Inside the CIA Red Cell,” ForeignPolicy.com, October 30, 2015. 
4) Micah Zenko, Politics, Power, and Preventive Action, Blog, Council on Foreign Relations.

If you would like to attend this call, please RSVP to Professor Seth Weinberger ASAP.

Hope to see you there!

Seth Weinberger
Associate Professor
Department of Politics & Government

Peter Wieben Talk: With the Refugees 2/11

Peter Wieben is an interesting writer/journalist and illustrator who lived through Arab Spring in Cairo, and has reported on the refugee and immigrant crises from his new home in Amsterdam. His work has appeared in New Republic, Black Box – A Record of the Catastrophe, and Frame. His book on Arab Spring, It's Time to Move, was a collaboration with photographer, Dominic Nahr. Students interested in these issues and also forms of alternative journalism and illustration would be especially interested in his talk.

Summer Programme on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict as it is Lived

We are happy to announce the opening of registration for "The Israeli – Palestinian Conflict, Understanding Both Sides" 13 – 25 July , 2016.

The programme, which will be delivered in Israel, by representatives of diverse Israeli and Palestinian groups, adds another layer of engagement with the core issues of the region’s current reality as it is lived. This important interactive experience broadens an understanding of topics discussed in the classroom.

Galilee Institute has allocated 30 tuition scholarships for eligible candidates, which will assist in covering part of the cost of participation.
Whoever is interested in securing one of the scholarships may contact me.

This summer our centre will also offer a “Full Immersion Arabic Language Programme” from
26 July – 19 August .

Shoshi Norman
me@galilcol.ac.il
Galilee International Management Institute – Israel

Green Corps Career Applications Open

 

Green Corps is looking for college graduates who are ready to take on the biggest environmental challenges of our day. At Green Corps, we believe there are actually plenty of solutions to these problems, but what’s lacking is political will on behalf of decision makers. That’s why right now, what we really need is more Organizers – people who understand the power of public support and know how to mobilize it.

In Green Corps’ yearlong paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skills you need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-on experience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems — climate change, deforestation, water pollution, factory farming and many others — with groups like Sierra Club and Food & Water Watch. And when you graduate from Green Corps, we’ll help you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental and social change groups.

In your year with Green Corps:

Be trained by the best: Green Corps organizers take part in trainings with leading figures in the environmental and social change movements: people like Adam Ruben, former political director and current board president of MoveOn.org, and Bill McKibben, author and founder of 350.org.

Learn new skills: Green Corps will teach you to recruit and train activists and volunteers, build coalitions, organize events and gain media coverage, and much more—all of the skills it takes to build public support for our environment.
Gain experience across the country: Green Corps sends organizers to jumpstart campaigns for groups such as Food & Water Watch, Corporate Accountability International, and The Wilderness Society, in major cities to small towns across the country.

Make an impact on today’s environmental challenges: A team of Green Corps organizers helped run a publicity campaign that persuaded Kellogg’s Cereal to pressure its supplier of palm oil to stop destroying tropical forests. Other Green Corps organizers have played critical roles in the retirement of over a dozen coal-fired power plants on the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign.

Get paid! Green Corps organizers earn a salary of $25,500. We also offer a generous benefits package.

Launch your career: Green Corps will help connect you to environmental and progressive groups that are looking for full-time staff to build their organizations and help them create social change and protect our environment.

The Application Process: In the next few months, we‘ll invite 35 college graduates to join Green Corps in 2016 -2017. We’re looking for people who are serious about saving the planet, people who have taken initiative on their campus or community, and people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and work for change over the long haul.

If you think you’re one of those people, visit www.greencorps.org to apply.

Green Corps’ yearlong program begins in August 2016 with Introductory Classroom Training and continues with field placements in multiple locations across the U.S. Candidates must be willing to relocate.

For more information, visit www.greencorps.org or contact Amanda Becker, Recruitment Director of Green Corps at jobs@greencorps.org.

Lecture by Tanya Erzen WED 2/10

Stryker Talk 2/9

Article by Professor Alisa Kessel

Alisa Kessel, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Politics and Government, published the article "Moving Beyond Mozert: Toward a Democratic Theory of Education" in the December issue of the journal Educational Philosophy & Theory.

Professor Sousa’s work cited in vox.com assessment of Obama’s climate policy options

Arguments of my book (co-authored with Chris Klyza) were discussed in an entry, on the policy-based website "vox.com."

Link: http://www.vox.com/2016/1/21/10809684/epa-carbon-trading-section-115

David Sousa
Professor
Department of Politics and Government
University of Puget Sound

Interested in Tacoma politics? Thu 1/21

Come meet with Larry Faulk, candidate for Pierce County Executive

Coffee and Conversation at Forza Coffee

2209 N. Pearl

Thursday, January 21, 2016

4-5:45 pm