Our students hang with Obama, too

While a number of our students went to see Senator Clinton here on campus, others headed up to Seattle for a dueling rally by Obama.


Professor Williams gave a few a ride up.


And a few were able to get onto the stage just behind Obama; I grabbed this screenshot from CNN, and pointed to Cat Fish and Alex Raposo '08, both of whom have worked for Congressman Adam Smith, who is heading up Obama's campaign here in Washington. You can see them and the full video on CNN here.

Clinton, Phibbs, Edmonson--a confluence of presidentialism

Tacoma News Tribune

I had a hard time figuring out a title for this post--

When Hillary Clinton was on campus last week she gave a shout-out in her speech not simply to UPS, but also to former President Phibbs, who you may not know was once her political science professor at Wellesley. You can see the video here.

And in the Oregonian there's a nice quote from PG major and outgoing student body President Hart Edmonson '08:

UPS student body President Hart Edmonds, on the other hand, slapped a Clinton sticker on his jacket and declared his support. He said he once met Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, after winning an eighth-grade essay contest.

"Obama speaks beautifully, and there's nothing wrong with that," Edmonds said. "But Hillary can govern beautifully."

Presidential Wisdom

We've talked a lot in various posts about the role of polls and markets in predicting outcomes. Why don't we see if PG students and alums are up to the task. Let's see how good we are, collectively, of predicting the outcome of the 2008 election. Vote below--and remember, the question is not who you want to win, but who you think will win. I'll take votes for a week or so then let you know what the department thinks. And then we'll find out who turns out to be correct...!

Who Will Win the 2008 Presidential Election?

Hillary Clinton John McCain Barack Obama

Teach for America deadline February 15!

What to do after graduation?

I am writing because we are in our final push to recruit the strongest, most diverse corps in Teach For America’s history. We know that because the strength of UPS students, many of our 2008 corps members will come from your school. Our final application deadline is on February 15th and we want to make sure we have given everyone the opportunity to hear about the program, talk to an alum, and submit a non-binding application if they so choose.

Thank you again and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best,

Kelsey Burkhardt
Senior Recruitment Associate
Teach For America
www.teachforamerica.org

Let's see those Clinton pics!

So...? I see lots of folks at the Fieldhouse for the Clinton rally from out my window, and many many police officers. If you went and snapped a few pictures, won't you send them my way so that I can blog them? Let the world know that you were, for a fleeting moment, swept up in the political whirlpool that is presidential politics.

UPDATE: After the event Senator Clinton dropped by the office and put in a plug for our department T-shirts (just kidding--I was having a bit of fun with Photoshop):

Job Opportunity in Tacoma: Soclal Compact

This could be a nice job and also a way to get some research experience on your resume:


My name is Carolina Valencia and I am the Associate Director of Research at Social Compact.

Social Compact is a not for profit organization that promotes economic development in low income neighborhoods by providing data that highlights economic opportunity. Feel free to visit our modest website at www.socialcompact.org

We were recently hired to conduct an analysis about grocery, convenience and corner stores in Washington State.

I have been successful at finding research assistants in most cities where we need help. However, I have not found anyone that can help with our research in Tacoma.

Ideally we are looking for 1 or more persons that can dedicate a total of approximately 100 hrs in a 2 month period. The hrs are flexible. I was wondering if you could help me by

1. posting the add below to see if any interested people contact us
2. sharing the information about this research opportunity with local groups to see if any interested parties contact us
3. tell me where is a good place where I can post this job opportunity

I appreciate your help very much.

THE AD

Social Compact, a not for profit organization promoting investments in inner-city neighborhoods, will conduct an analysis on residents\' access to grocery providers across Washington State. With this purpose in mind, we are looking for honest, trustworthy, enthusiastic people to make great money while gathering information from local grocery stores. Must have own transportation. If you are interested please contact Carolina Valencia, Associate Director of Research at cvalencia@socialcompact.org NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE! There is no minimum number of hours required and students can work according to their own schedule. It is a wonderful opportunity to earn some extra cash. Salary: $10/hr.

Or Barack Obama in Seattle!

This in from Cat Fish '08; she's got your transport covered--

Join Barack Obama for a special Stand for Change Rally in Seattle, Washington on Friday, February 8th. The event will be free and open to the public.

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama

Key Arena
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
Friday, February 8, 2008
Doors Open: 11:00 a.m.
The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is encouraged.
For security reasons, do not bring bags. No signs or banners permitted.

Volunteers are needed and should be there at 8:30am. Contact me at cat.m.fish@gmail.com if you need a ride or have any questions.

Hillary Clinton on campus--tomorrow!

Via the News Tribune:

It's going to be a rally and a town hall meeting with a health care theme, and she will be taking questions, so invite any health care professionals you know. But most importantly, invite EVERYONE you know - every single person you can. The details of this event were finalized late, so we have to make sure everyone knows about this who might want to come!

The event is at University of Puget Sound at 10 a.m., but they suggest you get there early to make sure you can get in.

You going to go? Maybe I'll see you there? If you are an alum and are coming onto campus for the event, come by--I'm in Wyatt 222.

How not to get a job

I got an email from an alum the other day, who passed the following along. A job application had come in from a recent UPS graduate, and come in with problems:

The application was automatically put in the 'maybe/back-ups' folder because it was simply not clear - we couldn't find the person's overall GPA, nowhere did it just explicitly state whether the person had earned a BA and finished school, and the cv listed research, but not clearly what the context of that research was: A class paper? A conference? Paid research? The application did not get further consideration.

So, a few thoughts that may be worth passing along -

• The shorter, the better. Don't necessarily list everything, just highlight a few/the best.
• Be clear and use the visual layout to your advantage (in terms of placing GPA, BA, year, etc)
• Have people peer-edit it... but be careful, because another applicant actually sent in her cover letter with track changes. oops.

Words of wisdom. I got an email myself yesterday from a student (not from this campus) that was riddled with misspelled words and random capitalization. It doesn't give one much confidence about that student's diligence.

The past is black tie

This picture was in the News Tribune this morning:


The caption: "On February 7, 1953, the men of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the College of Puget Sound posed in their tuxedoes with white boutonnieres at their annual "Black and White" formal. They stood on the winding staircase beneath the thirty-three foot totem pole at Gaffney's Lake Wilderness ballroom, located in Maple Valley. The woman in the middle of the group was Mrs. Mary Sloat, fraternity housemother. She was there to present the Richard Sloat Memorial award, honoring the fraternity's man of the year."

Those 70s Alums

Recently I had some emails out of the blue from two alums who caught me up on their lives since Puget Sound:

Barb Hunter '77 went into the Air Force, work that took her into Desert Storm (the first Gulf War) to the breakup of Yugoslavia, a NATO unit in Turkey, and three years in the UK. Barb is now a contractor in the Air force, managing the military scientist and engineer workforce, "surrounded by these uber-smart kids who are dealing with some awesome future technologies that will continue to change the way we do things...I had no idea the open doors I went through would take me here, but here I am."

Mark Scott '74 also joined the armed forces (army) after graduating, attending the Defense Language School in Monterey. Eventually his work for army intelligence took him into the National Security Agency and to an advanced degree in Strategic Intelligence. Mark wrote that while at the NSA he essentially had a front-row seat at the unraveling of the Soviet Union and Eastern bloc.

Like Barb, Mark emphasized how unpredictable his career path turned out to be. You never really know where that next step will lead you--something good for our students to remember. Uncertainty has its benefits.

Thanks to Barb and Mark for sharing their stories with us. Any other 70s alums who want to chime in?

Cool things at the History Museum

No student should get a degree without going at least once to the Washington State History Museum downtown. And on February 18 I--and maybe you--get to go for free:

On February 22, the History Museum will host a lecture and gallery talk on the exhibit, Faces of Leadership: Presidential Portraiture. During the 45-minute presentation, curator Fred Poyner will talk about the presidential works of art on display and the artists who created them, including Seattle’s “first sculptor” James Wehn. A guided gallery tour of the exhibition will follow. Registration is not required. The program starts at 11:30 AM and is included with paid admission.

Faces of Leadership features more than 30 artworks and images from the permanent collection of the Washington State Historical Society, including sculpture busts, coins and medallions, and snapshots of presidents on the move. These creative works surpass mere physical representations, providing historical continuity and a visible legacy for our nation. The exhibit will run through October 2008.

The History Museum is also running a free admission promotion for Presidents’ Day. On February 18, in recognition of our country’s chief executives and their wives, the History Museum is offering free admission to anyone who shares a name with any of our presidents or first ladies. Only first and last names will be considered (no middle names), and identification is required. The museum will be open from 10 AM to 5 PM that day.

What, you don't remember President O'Neil?

Linz Heppe '07 in Rwanda

I received an email from Linz Heppe '07, who recently returned from a trip to Rwanda through the organization Global Youth Connect. A few pictures and an excerpt from her letter:

Rusomo Falls

Nyarabuye Memorial--site of one of the massacres during the Rwandan genocide

Linz and her host family

...Why was I there? I had been picked from a pool of about eighty applicants to participate in a human rights workshop and work abroad program through Global Youth Connect (http://www.globalyouthconnect.org/), a U.S. based human rights organization. Our mission was to explore a common definition of human rights, identify important human rights problems and achievements in Rwanda, consider solutions to these problems through the analysis of certain grassroots and international organizations within Rwanda (which we interviewed and worked alongside), identify and develop skills to raise awareness and take action, and to start taking action. One person in particular displayed quite a bit of skepticism when I told him of my journey, and doubted what I (and GYC) could actually accomplish while abroad. I am writing this not only to inform those who are interested, but also to lend credence to the fact that we accomplished MANY goals, and have continued our work within the United States...

Read the whole thing on her blog, here.

Cain Scholarship

Deadline is early March.

Harry Cain Scholarship
This scholarship was established to support students who plan to enter the field of public administration or public service. Applicants should have a deep commitment to service to the community and proficiency in public speaking.

For details:
http://www.ups.edu/x10279.xml#cain

Bottom of the World, Ma

Fred Ross '87 has made his way, by car, from Portland to Ushuaia, Argentina. Catch up on his adventures here.

Summer Institute on Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution

Alliance for Conflict Transformation
Summer Institute on Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution (IPCR)
June 14 - July 12, 2008
Santa Cruz and La Paz, Bolivia

The Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT), in partnership with Nur
University, is pleased to announce the Summer Institute on Peacebuilding &
Conflict Resolution (IPCR). IPCR is an intensive 4-week, 6-credit
residential program intended to build the capacity of current and future
professionals in a variety of fields to make a critical difference in
furthering peaceful relations in the world. IPCR will be held in Santa Cruz,
Bolivia, with one week travel to La Paz and surrounding communities.

We are currently accepting applications for participation from English
speaking professionals, graduate and upper-level undergraduate students in
peace and conflict resolution, international affairs, political science,
Latin American studies, anthropology, development and related fields.

AT IPCR, students enjoy a supportive learning environment where experienced
trainers and faculty combine brief lectures, case studies, field trips,
role-plays, and simulations, with the experiences of local and international
peacebuilding practitioners.

IPCR offers a stimulating integration of theory and practice, bringing
together innovative academic analysis with practical, hands-on training and
skills development. Participants will learn about these topics and more:
* Conflict analysis & assessment
* Conflict resolution and peacebuilding practices
* Cross-sectoral approaches to peacebuilding and conflict resolution (i.e.,
with development, human rights, etc)
* Post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation
* Skills development in negotiation
* Case studies - community, intra-state and international conflict
* Career opportunities in peacebuilding and conflict resolution

“In addition to gaining a basic understanding of conflict analysis and a set
of practical skills applicable to a variety of fields, I truly benefited
from having access to real-world practitioners and the exposure to an
insider’s view of regional conflicts. IPCR is practical, hands-on, and
highly recommended for anyone interested in pursuing a professional career
in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, or related fields.” Michael Pankow,
employed at Human Rights Watch

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
* Early-bird Deadline to receive $250 discount – March 15, 2008
* Final Deadline – April 16, 2008

To see the complete program description, visit the ACT website:
http://conflicttransformation.org

For more information contact:
Nike Carstarphen, Ph.D.
Co-Founder/Senior Partner
Alliance for Conflict Transformation
PO Box 9117, Alexandria, VA 22304
Phone: (703) 461-3650
Email: ipcr@conflicttransformation.org

Summer Student Institutes at Georgetown

INSTITUTE ON BUSINESS & GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
INSTITUTE ON COMPARATIVE POLITICAL & ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
This summer: June 7 - August 2, 2008
Georgetown University, Washington, DC
www.dcinternships.org

**ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FINAL DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 25, 2008**

Sponsored by The Fund for American Studies in partnership with Georgetown University, the Institute on Business Government Affairs and the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems combine substantive internships, courses for academic credit, career development activities, site briefings and panels featuring government officials and public policy experts. The Institutes offer undergraduate students a unique opportunity to experience first-hand the inner workings of the Washington political scene!

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the Final Deadline of February 25, 2008. There is still a substantial amounts of scholarship funding available.

Institute on Business & Government Affairs (IBGA)

* Internships - Competitive placements with corporate government affairs offices, trade associations and lobbying firms
* Classes - Up to 9 credits in political science and business from Georgetown University
* Guest Lectures - With lobbyists, former Congressmen and public policy experts

Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES)

* Internships - Competitive placements with public policy groups, federal agencies, Congressional offices and international organizations
* Classes - Up to 9 credits in political science and economics from Georgetown University
* Guest Lectures - With foreign policy and economics experts

Both Institutes Provide:

* Housing - Furnished, on-campus apartments in the heart of D.C.
* Site Briefings - At the White House Complex, U.S. House of Representatives and State Department
* Leadership & Professional Development - Leadership, mentoring and career building activities
* Networking - Interaction with hundreds of other student leaders from around the world
* Scholarships - Over half of all students receive full or partial funding based on merit and financial need

For more information and an online application, please visit our website www.dcinternships.org or contact Andrea Calderon, Recruitment and Admissions Assistant, at admissions@tfas.org or at 1-800-741-6964.

Fund For American Studies
1706 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Student Globalization and Human Rights Conference

Hello!

As Co-Chairs of the Northwestern University Conference on Human Rights (NUCHR), we are excited to announce our 5th annual conference, entitled "Globalization and the Universality of Human Rights." The conference will examine issues such as the homogeny and hegemony of human rights, focusing on issues involving cultural and religious issues, multi-national corporations, international justice, and health. We would like to encourage your students to apply to attend the conference as student delegates. We would greatly appreciate it if you would forward the following announcement. Please let us know if you have any questions.

All the best,

Elizabeth Nielsen and Gauthami Soma
Co-Chairs
Northwestern University Conference on Human Rights

"Globalization and the Universality of Human Rights"

April 10-13, 2008
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

The fifth annual Northwestern University Conference on Human Rights (NUCHR) is proud to announce a national student conference on "Globalization and the Universality of Human Rights," which will take place on Northwestern's Evanston campus on April 10-13, 2006. The Conference will examine the impact of globalizing forces on the tension between cultural relativism and the universality of human rights in four key areas: cultural and religious tensions, multinational corporations, international justice, and health. NUCHR will provide the funding to bring talented undergraduate student leaders and activists from colleges across the country to attend a three-day summit. Students will interact with distinguished speakers and panelists, comprised of top academics, activists, and policy-makers in the field.

As the largest student-organized and student-attended human rights conference in the United States, the conference is dedicated to fostering social activism and raising awareness of international human rights issues by uniting student leaders from across the country with renowned activists, academics, and policy makers over a three day summit. In the past, the conference has focused on issues such as American interventionist policy, American policy towards HIV and AIDS in the developing world, human trafficking, and torture. We have featured distinguished speakers such as Romeo Dallaire, Richard Holbrooke, Bernard Kouschner, Stephen Lewis, John Miller, and Cherif Bassiouni.

To apply to attend the Conference as a student delegate (including funding for travel and housing expenses) and for more information on NUCHR, please visit our website: http://www.cics.northwestern.edu/NUCHRweb/index.html Applications are due on February 25, 2008.

If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact the co-chairs of this year's conference, Elizabeth Nielsen and Gauthami Soma, via e-mail conferenceonhumanrights@u.northwestern.edu or phone 612.695.7944.

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!

Koch Foundation Internship

so many opportunities it makes my head woozy

Spring - Summer - Fall
Washington, DC

The Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation Internship Program was established to develop the next generation of liberty-minded leaders and entrepreneurs. Over the course of the program, Interns engage in key Foundation projects while learning and applying Market-Based Management.

The project assignments cover fascinating areas including policy research, leadership and talent development, grassroots education, marketing, and network development. This hands-on experience gives interns the chance to explore the non-profit sector while applying the management philosophy they are learning from the Foundation, and allows them to build a network of like-minded friends and associates.

Each Intern is assigned a Foundation mentor for the duration of the program. The mentor will guide the Interns through assignments, assist them in learning the management framework and applying it to their non-profit work, and encourage them to become effective entrepreneurs for social change.

Spring and fall Internships are part-time and flexible, but interns must be available at least 20 hours each week, including all day on Tuesdays. Summer Interns are also part-time, but interns work regular schedules, 8:30am-5:30pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Spring, summer, and fall Interns do not work on Thursdays. Spring and fall Interns are paid an hourly rate of $12.00. Summer Interns are paid an hourly rate of $13.00. Metro assistance is available only for summer Interns. Unfortunately, housing is not provided.

Find out more here.

Teach For America Summer Institute Training Positions

More more more opportunities

In the summer of 2008, Teach For America will run six institutes in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and Phoenix. Across the six institutes, about 3,400 new Teach For America corps members will come together for an intensive five-week, pre-service training program. The purpose of the institute is to prepare corps members to assume full-time teaching responsibilities in the fall and produce significant academic gains with their students. Each institute team also works closely with local school districts so that new corps members can deliver a rigorous academic summer school program to more than 1,500 children in that school district.

Find out more here.

USAID Paid Summer Internships DC

Another great summer opportunity within your grasp...

Summer 2008 Internships

USAID has twelve Summer 2008 paid internships available in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia located in Washington, D.C. This is an excellent opportunity for outstanding students interested in pursuing careers in international development. Interested students are encouraged to visit the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia website (http://www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/) to familiarize themselves with USAID’s work in the region and identify areas of particular interest.

The criteria for selection are:

• Students must be U.S. citizens. Selected students will be required to undergo a security clearance process and sign a personal services contract.
• Students must be university or college students (juniors, seniors or graduate students).
• Application requirements are:
• A Letter of Interest
• A resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Two letters of reference
• Applicants should be studying relevant disciplines (public policy, international relations, economics, journalism, agriculture, public administration, law, political science, health, science, finance, etc.).
• Flexibility, initiative, enthusiasm, good interpersonal skills and lots of energy are desired. Computer skills are a necessity.

Normally, the internships are for a duration of ten weeks and commence from late May through mid-June. Due to the large number of applications received, we may be unable to respond to all of the applicants individually. We hope to contact candidates under consideration by late-February or early-March.

USAID is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For additional information on these internship positions and instructions for applying, view this solicitation in either: Microsoft Word (182kb) or Adobe Acrobat PDF (280kb).

UPDATED: Jobs--Congressman Adam Smith, DC

I break holiday blog silence for this; thanks to Andrea Tull '02 for passing these along. Join the UPS PG mafia in Adam Smith's office in DC:

Pacific NW Democrat seeks Staff Assistant - Member seeks staffer to handle front office duties including answering phones, greeting constituents, setting up tours and processing flag requests. Candidate should have strong written and oral communication skills and have the ability to work in fast-paced office. Pacific Northwest ties and sense of humor are a plus. No calls or drop-bys. Salary depends on experience. Please email resume and cover letter to WA09StaffAssistantResumes@mail.house.gov

Northwest Democrat seeks Scheduler/Systems Administrator. This position
manages and maintains the Member's DC schedule and travel plans; manages
the Internship program for the office; manages office IT and technology
systems; monitors compliance with House rules and polices. Must have
great attention to detail, be friendly, have a good sense of humor and
enjoy working in a fast paced office. Washington State or Northwest ties
are a plus. Please email your resume and cover letter to:
smithscheduler@mail.house.gov . No calls or walk-ins.

we now return to our regularly scheduled nonblogging.

Happy Holidays!

The Politics and Government blog will go on hiatus for the holidays, and we'll be back in the New Year. So for now best wishes and we hope your holiday is the best it can be, wherever you may be.

Really bad writing

From Dan Drezner's blog, a roundup of howlers being read in student essays of late. A few of my favorites:

"…it showed how long people were willing to fight for their belief and freedom. Nine years is a very long time for a war. Especially since it was the French and Indians fighting, two of the most savage peoples of that era.”

"Russia stayed out of the First World War because Stalin was in Africa fighting."

"The United States used carrot sticks to encourage the military leaders of Haiti to back down during this crisis."

Read the whole selection here! Of course, faculty are themselves masters of prose.

Is email dead?

I've been mumbling for some time about the decline of email use among students, and what effect it has on communicating with them, or what the implications will be for the business world. Will this mean that students will have to confront email and abandoned their text messaging when they get a job? Or that email is down for the count, and businesses will have to adapt.

Slate thinks it's the latter. Me, I'm not so sure. And anyway, with gmail, email, instant messaging and text on your phone are all bundled. Social networks will be next. So I think it's probably less the death of any one format and the collection of many formats in one place, for different forms (and formalities) of communication.

ICPSR Undergraduate Paper Competition

I am writing to remind you about the ICPSR Undergraduate Research Paper Competitions - and to remind you that ICPSR is sponsoring two undergraduate research paper competitions for the 2007/2008 academic year. The first competition, sponsored by the general archive at ICPSR, requires a research paper supported by quantitative analysis of any dataset(s) held within the ICPSR archive or any of its special topic archives.

The second competition is sponsored by the Minority Data Resource Center (MDRC). The paper must address issues relevant to underrepresented minorities in the United States including immigrants, and data must be drawn from the MDRC. A separate committee will be formed to judge this competition.

With the exception of the dataset and topic requirements, the competitions are identical in awards, eligibility, and preparation requirements.

The purpose of these competitions is to highlight the best undergraduate student research papers using quantitative data. The objective is to encourage undergraduates to explore the social sciences by means of critical analysis of a topic supported by quantitative analysis of a dataset(s) held within the ICPSR archives and presented in written form.

· Up to three cash prizes will be awarded for each competition. The winner will receive a monetary award of $1,000. Second place receives $750 and third place $500.

· Deadline for submission is January 31, 2008.

Flyers appropriate for sharing with students and faculty as a means to promote the competition and recruit student authors are available on the website. More details can be found at: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/prize/.

What better way than to spend the upcoming holiday break preparing the research paper for submission - please remind your undergraduate students!

Linda Detterman
Marketing & Membership Director
ICPSR
University of Michigan
lindamd@umich.edu
734.615.5494

Students: Summer research job in Politics and Government

PG majors and minors: This summer Professor Fields, Share and I will be working on the third edition of our Essentials of Comparative Politics textbooks. We've secured $1500 to hire a research assistant to help us with our work. The hours would be flexible, but you'd need to be in town during the first part of summer to work with us. We would also prefer that you've taken PG 102 at a minimum, so you're familiar with the work; upper division courses in comparative politics would be helpful. If you're interested, send me an email. And as an added bonus, your name will go in the preface, guaranteeing fame and the envy of all your rivals. Don't delay!

Social Scientists love Facebook

Yes, social networks are the new world of adventure. From the New York Times:

But it is Facebook’s role as a petri dish for the social sciences — sociology, psychology and political science — that particularly excites some scholars, because the site lets them examine how people, especially young people, are connected to one another, something few data sets offer, the scholars say.

Social scientists at Indiana, Northwestern, Pennsylvania State, Tufts, the University of Texas and other institutions are mining Facebook to test traditional theories in their fields about relationships, identity, self-esteem, popularity, collective action, race and political engagement.

Read the whole article here. I was particularly pleased because they referenced a study on Facebook I had assigned this semester; made me feel like I'd "scooped" the Times. I think if I weren't a professor, I'd like to be a coolhunter.

Presidential Bid-ness

If you believe in the wisdom of crowds, then prediction markets should give us a pretty good idea of who is going to win in the upcoming primary elections in Iowa and New Hampshire. Check out the following from Intrade, where people are betting real money on these races. As of today, Obama's got an overwhelming lead over Clinton (60% to 30%) in Iowa, while Clinton has inched back ahead of Obama in New Hampshire after losing her commanding lead (49% to 45%). For the Republicans, Iowa is Huckabee over Romney (64% to 25%), and New Hampshire Romney over McCain (55% to 15%).

Global Institute Summer Program: Prague, Boulder

Interesting? Interested? Easly deadline December 15, but

In today's world, it is of pressing importance that tomorrow's leaders have a global perspective. The new millennium brings with it many opportunities and challenges. As a member of this ever changing world, the decisions you make today not only affect you, but others around you. What type of impact are you going to leave on our world? We invite you to spend four weeks in Prague, Czech Republic or in the Rocky Mountains of the United States training to become a global citizen, a future leader, and among tomorrow's great social innovators.

Obtain new skills and knowledge
Think critically about the problems we face today
Meet people from around the world
Broaden your knowledge about diverse cultures, societies, and peoples
Learn the fundamental skills of making progressive and lasting change in our world
Jump the gap from dreaming to doing

Dedicated to making the theoretical real, the scholars of the Global Institute will benefit through the provision of high quality leadership and civic development training in an international setting. In addition, the participants will not only learn about foreign cultures but they will communicate with, live with, study with, and learn from international students with diverse perspectives, beliefs, cultures, and upbringings. The Global Institute is dedicated to developing extraordinary leaders capable of leading ground-breaking innovation in their fields and in the global community.

Professor Weinberger Blogs the Manama Dialogue

As he did last year, Professor Weinberger was invited to blog the plenary session of the Manama Dialogue, an annual conference on international security held in Bahrain. US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was the guest speaker, and Professor Weinberger has an extensive reprise of his presentation, the questions from the audience, and his own thoughts on what was discussed (in large part, Iran and Iraq). Find Professor Weinberger's post here.

Foreign Language Fellowships

Here are a couple of great opportunities students (and alums in grad school) should consider.

1. The National Flagship Language Program
The Language Flagship leads the nation in designing, supporting, and implementing a new paradigm for advanced language education. Through an innovative partnership between the federal government, education, and business, The Language Flagship seeks to graduate students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of fluency in one of many languages critical to U.S. competitiveness and security.

The Language Flagship, initiated in 2002 as the National Flagship Language Program, represents a bold and unprecedented effort to address the urgent need for professionals with advanced competency in critical languages. Through a combination of innovative and intensive campus curricula and overseas immersion, each full-time Flagship Program is designed to achieve professional proficiency, or level 3 as designated by the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) in the target language. Flagship programs are now available in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi/Urdu, Korean, Persian/Farsi, and Eurasian Languages (Russian, Central Asian). More details here; deadline is January 18

2. Department of State Critical Language Scholarships
Sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, the Critical Language Scholarships Program was launched in 2006. In its inaugural year, the Program offered intensive overseas study in the critical need foreign languages of Arabic, Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish and Urdu. In 2007, Chinese, Korean, Persian, and Russian institutes were added along with increased student capacity in the inaugural language institutes. The Program is part of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI), a U.S. government interagency effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical need foreign languages. Scholarship recipients - U.S. citizen undergraduate, Master's and Ph.D. students and recent graduates - receive funding to participate in beginning, intermediate and advanced level summer language programs at American Overseas Research Centers and affiliated partners. Recipients are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period and later apply their critical language skills in their professional careers.

Information on the 2008 institutes and application process will be available in mid-December. Click here to be notified by email when program information and the on-line application system are available. General information here.

Weren't you going to apply for that conference in Seattle?

I know you were, but you got busy with the end of the semester. So don't forget; the deadline is January 15. Seattle, scholarships, looks great on a vita, crazy not to apply, you know the spiel.

'Crossing Borders - Issues & Resolutions' A Conference & Debate for U.S. & Canadian University Students (WA, OR, ID, BC, AB) Seattle WA 6-7 March 2008
All the details and application are here.

A round up of student kudos

A few congrats to students who will be doing things of note in the coming semester:

Alexandra Raposo '08 has been selected for an internship with the Washington State Democrats. She is currently working for Congressman Adam Smith.

Torey Holderith '09 has been selected to participate in the 2007 Air Force Academy conference "Dismantling Terrorism: Developing Actionable Solutions for Today’s Plague of Violence.”

Jon Roberts '10 has been selected to present his paper, "The Third Place Question in New Urbanism: Urban Parks as an Indicator of Social Capital in Cleveland and Seattle" at the Thompson Rivers Undergraduate Conference in History, Philosophy, and Politics in British Columbia.

Congrats, all!

More DC jobs--right now--

This in from Shalen Fairbanks '96. Email me if you would like her email address--

Hi Professor O'Neil,
I'm hiring for a specialist and an associate specialist in the Corporate Communications Department at the American College of Cardiology in D.C. Both
positions would work very closely with the Advocacy and Quality divisions at the College. The pay and benefits are great (including tuition assistance for
grad school). They are good positions for someone interested in politics and communications. The link to the job site is:
http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=ACC&cws=1&rid=94.

Interested persons can contact me directly, or make sure to include my name in their cover letter when applying through the Web site.

Thanks!

Shalen Fairbanks '96

P.S. There will also be several Advocacy Division-related jobs available in January as well.

Alumi Online Network

Today we had our first meeting of the alumni online taskforce, a group of alums, students, staff, and faculty to help shape the next generation of online resources to connect alums. We phone and online conferenced with the vendor, and looked at some interesting sites, including Mount Holyoke, Duke, and Harvard.

There's lots of good stuff here, but I felt like all of these sites (and the technology behind them) were behind the curve. As an alum, can I create easy links to LinkedIn and Facebook? Import and export contacts? Upload video or images to self-created groups? Feed content to things like a Blackberry? As importantly, shouldn't these systems be linked into Admissions so that prospective students could have the ability to see what alums have done and, with permission, be able to contact alums about what life is like at Puget Sound? There's so much we could do here in creating a single "life cycle" experience for our students, from pre-student to alum phase, that is more seamless. It's not that UPS is behind--I think everyone is behind on this, while social networking companies wind up capturing our attention and connections.

I'll keep you posted on this as the work develops. We've got quite a bit to do in the coming year.

One last discussion point was what to name this thing. Logger Online? Linking Loggers? Logger.net? I suggested logos, but maybe that's too snooty sounding. Anyone else out there have some good ideas for a catchy name for the alum network?

Welcome, Molly Tamarkin!

Some weeks back I noted that I was serving on the search committee for a new Chief Technology Officer for the university. I was pleased to hear that the university has secured Molly Tamarkin for the position. In our search Ms. Tamarkin was an impressive candidate, and I was personally taken by the way in which she had come to technology through a liberal arts education. We also had some fun emails back and forth joking about Second Life, which as you've seen is my latest running joke (see comment from her in my SL post just below). Here's part of the email from Vice President for Finance and Administration Sherry Mondou:

Molly comes to Puget Sound from Duke University, where she currently serves as associate dean of Arts & Sciences Information Science & Technology. At Duke University, Molly led and developed information technology services for a community of more than 20,000 faculty, students, and staff. She previously served as director of information technology at the Graduate Center of Marlboro College in Vermont, where she held a faculty appointment in the Teaching and Technology program. Prior to her career in information technology, Molly served as Marlboro’s library director, and held positions with Welles-Turner Memorial Library in Connecticut, Brooklyn Public Library in New York, St. Louis Public Library in Missouri, and the University of Chicago Libraries.

Molly has a national profile in her field, having published several papers and frequently participating on panels discussing information technology issues in higher education at conferences throughout the country. She earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences from the University of Chicago in 1986, a master’s degree in library science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1990, and master of fine arts degree in English from the University of Florida in 1992.

Here's a podcast with Ms. Tamarkin from 2005 where she talks about technology, organization, and leadership.

A final note is the Duke is known for a recent initiative where they distributed ipods to encourage podcasting. Ms. Tamarkin, I'll take mine in black, please.

Don't bother with I-5

The nasty weather here earlier in the week has I-5 flooded between Centralia and Chehalis. Word is that the road should be open by the weekend. In the meantime, you can get real-time images (where the above picture came from) from the Department of Transportation camera here.

Build it virtually and they won't learn, either

From the College of Higher Education (hat tip: Professor Weinberger):

Colleges worldwide are establishing their presence in Second Life to advertise their programs, conduct online classes or conferences, and do research. At least 170 such campuses can be found there, says an article in the most recent issue of the International Journal of Social Sciences.

But the virtual campuses he has seen, says Mr. Ludlow, lack imagination because they duplicate real institutions.

"Is that what you've got if you could start over, and you're not constrained by the laws of physics, and you could build whatever you want to enhance learning?" he asks. "What kind of message are you sending when you say, 'If I could create the ideal learning environment, I would duplicate Building 7 and go to work?'"....

Mr. Ludlow tried to teach a freshman seminar in Second Life on issues arising in multiplayer online worlds. He and his students were represented by avatars. But it wasn't successful, he says, because avatars don't communicate as richly as people do.

"When I'm teaching in a classroom, I can read the body language of students," says the philosopher. "I can tell if it's too warm. I can tell if they're tired. I can tell if they're looking quizzical because they don't understand. I don't get any of that feedback when I'm trying to address students online."

And here I was looking forward to teaching my courses from home, through an avatar of a giant robot. Read the whole article here.

Build it and they will come?

From the Economist, an interesting piece on the campus construction boom, especially in the sciences, and questions about whether bigger is really better:

...according to the Department of Education, the average annual cost of a standard four-year course at an American university has trebled since the 1985-86 school year. Ohio University increased its tuition fees by 2% to pay for its student centre, which contains a 250-seat theatre, a food court and a five-storey atrium. In addition, universities are increasingly being forced to rely on debt....Hiring more teaching staff and cutting class sizes would probably be of more help to undergraduates than much of the new construction. Universities such as Harvard may have the money available to improve their faculty to student ratio, allocate cash for assisting poorer students and go on competing in the building frenzy. But others do not have that luxury...

Read the whole thing here.

Food Drive

The Food Salvage Program and the Staff Senate is holding a food drive December 3-7, 2007. We have placed a box in the PG department to collect donations. Do you have something to share? Bring it by and help someone for the holidays.

Want a paid internship in DC in January?

Short notice, yes. But perhaps you're graduating in December, or are an alum who is looking for a transition to DC? Congressional Committee on Science and Technology--what could be cooler than that?

From: Steep, Stacey
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 3:37 PM
Subject: Have any interns for the Committee?

Hi everyone,

Do you know of anyone in your districts (or anywhere else) who would be interested in a winter internship with the Committee? If so, the internship starts in January, lasts 120 days, and pays $1,500/month. Here's the link to the Committee website www.science.house.gov and the intern application http://www.science.house.gov/docs/intern_apply.pdf (which can be sent to Bess Caughran at bess.caughran@mail.house.gov).

Thank you and hope all is well!
Stacey Steep
Research Assistant
Subcommittee on Energy and Environment &
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
Committee on Science and Technology
2319 RHOB
(202) 225-8844

Kari Manlove '06: DC opportunites, Center for American Progress

Thanks for Kari for thinking of us. A great place to intern as well--that's how Kari got her start at CAP:

Hi Professor,

So, I'm always trying to get UPS students to either intern here at CAP, with Campus Progress or the think-tank, or check out jobs here. If you don't mind, I try to send e-mails whenever I remember it may be good timing. Anyway, if there are any students graduating in December, at semester, and looking to come out to DC afterwards, this is an ideal time to look at jobs (even though I know it coincides with finals), and there are a handful of entry-level assistant positions open at CAP. The webpage is here: http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/jobs. For example, we're looking for a Fellows Assistant (what I do but diff. boss) on climate strategy, and special assistants to the Econ team, the Development team, the Executive VP of policy, and I do believe an Executive Assistant to John Podesta shortly. CAP is a great organization to get your foot in the door, especially as the election gears up. I guess I'm just so eager for a UPS student to take interest in CAP because it's a great starting off place.

Cheers,
Kari.

Senior requests alum input

Any alums out there working in political campaigns who could provide some feedback to Callie? See below--

For my senior seminar in Communication Studies at UPS, I am conducting an experiment regarding how an increased use of technology within the workplace has altered the jobs and behaviors of those involved with political campaigns. I have interviewed/given questionnaires to several UPS alums and it has been extremely success! So...if you currently or have recently worked on political campaigns and would be interested in participating in this study, please send me an interest email to: csnyder@ups.edu. Thanks again and I look forward to talking to some of you!

Callie Snyder '08

Student-Faculty-Alum Holiday Fest this Friday

Students, faculty, see you there! Alums, please join us as well!