Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Reminder: Seema Sueko '94 Performance on Campus

A reminder that tomorrow Seema Sueko '94 will be on campus, with performances of her work "remains" at 4 pm in Trimble Forum. There's also a "meet the author" on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., Jones Hall Room 203. If you want to know more about her transition from PG major to political graduate students and from there to the theater, you can find out more in our earlier blog post here.


Monday, April 23, 2007

German State Parliament Fellowship

How's your German?

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY IN GERMAN STATE PARLIAMENTS
PLEASE PASS ON IMMEDIATELY TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
DEADLINE: May 11, 2007
CDS International, Inc. (CDS) is currently accepting applications for the Émigré Memorial German Internship Program - German State Parliaments (EMGIP).
EMGIP provides American and Canadian students the opportunity to intern at the Landtage - German State Parliaments. This is a great opportunity for individuals hoping to pursue careers at a regional level of government in the US or Canada, or who are interested in specific policy issues such as the environment, education and/or healthcare. Participants on the program gain practical work experience with a state parliament, utilize their German skills and experience German culture firsthand.

Participants complete an one- to three-months internship at a Landtag and receive a stipend of up to Euro 500/month ($650/month) to cover their living expenses during the program. For detailed information and applications, please visit <http://www.cdsintl.org/fromusa/sipsp.htm> http://www.cdsintl.org/fromusa/emgip.htm.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- American or Canadian citizenship
- undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at American or Canadian colleges and universities may apply
- maximum age is 30
- high-intermediate German skills (oral and written) are required
- at least 2 years of study in a field related to International Relations, Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Economics, European Studies with an emphasis on Germany, German or German Studies, if applicants have a minor in one of the above fields
FEES
- There is no application fee to this program. Candidates who are accepted will be required to pay a $300 administration fee.
We appreciate your support and thank you for passing this on to prospective students!
Best regards,
Katerina Holubova Sonja Du Bey
Program Officer Assistant Program Officer
Tel.: (212) 497-3515 Tel.: (212) 497-3523
E-mail: kholubova@cdsintl.org E-mail: sdubey@cdsintl.org

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Ron Davison '85 Comes to Campus

RonDavison85
In previous posts we've spoken of Ron Davison '85, who has largely been in DC since graduating from UPS. Last week Ron was in the area for business and took the time both to have dinner with me and to come onto campus to meet with a few of our students about life and work in the Beltway. Ron's done really interesting things in the area of disaster recovery, most recently at BeckDR, and he was able to share his experiences and thoughts about life after graduation. One observation he did make that struck me was the way in which disaster (and general risk) management work in future will likely take more direct consideration of environmental issues--in other words, helping to mitigate damage before it gets done. As global warming becomes a more prominent issue, I suspect that environmental, disaster, and even national security risk management will overlap to an ever greater extent. Thanks to Ron for taking the time to share, and inspire, our students.

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Whip It UK Style

From Professor Share in London:

As part of the British Politics class I’m teaching at our London program I recently took my students to see a new political comedy, Whipping it Up! The play is a biting comedy about the role of parliamentary whips, the top party leaders in the UK who are responsible for making sure that members of parliament vote according to the wishes of the party leadership. Whips play a far more crucial role in the UK than in the US because party discipline is more important in a parliamentary legislative-executive system. The chief government whip is a top cabinet minister and is in constant contact with the head of government. One of the crucial jobs of the whip is to make sure that their party members show up for key votes. When a party member is ill or unavailable, the whip seeks a “pair” with another party whip, essentially making sure that an absence from one party is cancelled out by an absence from an opposing party.

Whipping it Up! is set in the near future under a Conservative Party government with a slim 3-seat majority, led by a young, charismatic, but lightweight leader (read David Cameron) who faces constant rebellion from within Tory ranks. An absurd attempt to levy a tax on tents (used by gypsy caravans and circuses, but also boy scouts) sets off a backbencher revolt while the prime minister is in the United States playing golf with the president. The hysterical play examines the various tactics employed by the whips (from both the governing Tories and the Labour Opposition) to win the vote. The pro-Tory Daily Telegraph called the play the “brightest comedy of the year,” though its reviewer lameted:

There's mixed news for the Tories in Steve Thompson's superbly entertaining new play at the Bush. On the plus side, he is the first dramatist I can recall who has dared to depict the Conservatives back in power. On the downside they have a majority of only three under their energetic young leader, and are portrayed, as is traditional in British theatre, as a bunch of shamelessly devious bastards. Couldn't Thompson have had a good pop at the bad faith, posturing and stupidity of Blair, Brown, Prescott and Blunkett before New Labour bites the dust? The poor old Tories, after all, are still a long way from Number 10.

The pro-Labour Guardian was also impressed, calling it:

the funniest political satire since Alistair Beaton's Feelgood, which attacked New Labour spin doctors. Like that play, it not only lifts the lid on the process but exposes the fact that politics today is as much about short-term, tactical gains as it is about long-range vision.

Yesterday I took my class to watch a parliamentary debate about the failure of numerous private pension schemes. The government bill to remedy the situation was brutally attacked by the Tories, the Liberal Democrats, and quite a few Labour backbenchers, and together they proposed an alternative bill. The government was clearly on the defensive, and we watched the Labour parliamentary whips wheel and deal to amend the original legislation so that the government would not be defeated on the motion. In the end the government survived, but 15 rebel Labourites voted against the government.

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Friday, April 20, 2007

Your Friday Roundup of Opportunities

Always more on the university MonsterTrak (get the password from CES; it is available to students and alums) and in DC on Hillzoo. And don't forget that there are numerous local internship opportunities with elected officials, city government, and other agencies/non-profits. Ask me (Professor O'Neil) if you want to know more.

1. Wilson Center Internships, DC
A whole lot of internships:
Africa Program
2007 Africa Program Internships
Brazil InstituteSpring 2007 Internship Announcement
China Environment Forum Internship Opportunities Available with the China Environment Forum (CEF)
Cold War International History Project
2007 Internships
Development Office Development Office Internship
Environmental Change and Security Program
Internship Opportunities Available with ECSP


2. Internship, Foster Care to College Mentor Program, Pierce County Alliance
Outreach Case Aide for the Foster Care to College Mentor Program. Outreach case aides will talk with community members about becoming mentors for young adults ages 16 to 20 are in foster care. This will include going to community businesses, community events and schools in order to educate people about educational outcomes for foster youth and recruit for mentors. Innovative recruiting strategies will be a priority.

Qualifications: Energetic, motivated, committed college students who are able to communicate well with others. Must have an outgoing personality and willingness to work with young adults of all races, genders, socioeconomic status, and sexuality.

Requirements: Must be able to pass background check; Must have lived in Washington for three years or more. Must have a car with insurance. Must work 8 hrs/wk minimum.

Benefits: Learn what it is like to work in one area of the social services field. Various training will be provided (CPR, SECURE, HIV/AIDS education, etc.) Build skills in working with people. Earn a resume builder. Find out if this is the kind of work for you or just help your community.
Contact: Debra Jackman
Contact Phone: (253) 502-5435
Contact E-Mail: jackmadl@p-c-a.org
Offered: Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer


3. Carnegie Council Ethics & International Affairs Intern New York, New York
Description:
Ethics & International Affairs seeks a full-time summer intern. The goal of the journal is to bridge the gap betwe! en theory and practice by integrating rigorous thinking about principl es of justice and morality into discussions of the practical policy dilemmas that frequently arise in global politics. The journal publishes articles in three broad theme areas: ethics, war, and peace, global social justice, and religion in politics. The selected candidate's tasks will include:

* Managing peer-review process
* Assisting with administrative duties (e.g., ordering and tracking books for review; corresponding with authors regarding biographical notes and abstracts; drafting and mailing postproduction correspondence with journal contributors, publishers of reviewed books, and advertisers; identifying and tracking potential peer reviewers)
* Researching information on topics relevant to manuscripts for publication in the journal or program materials
* Depending on skill level, suggesting revisions of manuscripts for publication
* Proofreading revised manuscripts (journal articles, prog! ram reports and event summaries, Web site contents)

Requirements:
Candidates must be graduate students in International Affairs, Political Science, Philosophy, International Law or related areas; have a solid understanding of normative and empirical issues in international relations, global policy, and economics; excellent writing skills; attention to detail; strong Web and electronic database research skills; and excellent familiarity with Microsoft Word. Candidates are strongly encouraged to gain general familiarity with the substance of the journal and the program.

The intern is an integral part of the editorial team and receives a place on the journal's masthead. Please send us a resume and a short cover letter to Marina Oyuela (moyuela@cceia.org) explaining your motivation and qualifications for the internship.

Terms and Conditions:
This is an unpaid internship. School credit can be arranged and! a transportation stipend of $15 a day will be provided. We require a minimum commitment of 25 hours a week during the summer period.
To apply online, please visit the following site: http://www.cceia.org/about/jobs/position_data/0005

4. Paid Internship, Pacific Lifestyle Homes Public Affairs Department
Pacific Lifestyle Homes, a Vancouver WA based homebuilder, seeks a 20-30 hour intern beginning in May, ending in August. Pacific Lifestyle Homes is a top 10 homebuilder in Oregon and Washington, working in more than 18 local jurisdictions. Pacific Lifestyle Homes Public Affairs Department offers the unique opportunity to work actively on land use, population density, transportation and infrastructure policy issues on a local and regional level.

Position Description:
The ideal candidate for this position has an interest in public policy and its affect on housing markets in the Portland/Vancouver/Salem Metropolitan area. The position will include some clerical work, evenings and a willingness to take responsibility for critical, short term projects assigned by the Public Affairs Director.

Likely Responsibilities Include:
• Attending public meetings and reporting on relevant land use and development issues before public entities throughout the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan Area.
• Developing and maintaining a comprehensive database of jurisdictional contacts throughout the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan Area.
• Developing and maintaining a land use and development policy issue based filing system for Public Affairs/Public Relations.
• Developing in conjunction with the Public Affairs Director a set of model ordinances relating to model homes, clubhouses, pools and signs for jurisdictional adoption.
• Researching and providing recommendations for improving current sign codes throughout the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan Area.
• Providing support for a variety of public relations related functions, including site tours for elected officials.
• Providing support for coordination of schedules and meetings with local officials.
• Providing additional research support for the investigation of lands with acquisition potential; provide support on pre-feasibility research regarding lands with acquisition potential.
• Research the development of a database of land use decisions in local jurisdictions throughout the Portland Metropolitan Area as a reference guide for Acquisition, Development and Legal.

Position Requirements:
• Reliable transportation and a willingness to travel in and around the Portland/Vancouver/Salem Metropolitan area.
• Demonstrated proficiency with standard computer functions and programs including MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook and MS Access.
• Strong communications skills, verbal and written, that allow clear, concise communication of often complex issues to variety of audiences including h fellow employees, local governments and elected officials.
• General understanding of land use planning and local government operations.
• Ability to manage critical, time sensitive assignments.

Monthly Stipend Available
Please Contact:
Joe Keizur
Public Affairs Director
Pacific Lifestyle Homes
360-448-8550
joek@pacificlifestylehomes.com


5. STAFF ASSISTANT OPENING, D.C.
Congresswoman Hilda Solis seeks a Staff Assistant. Responsibilities include answering phones, greeting visitors, sorting mail and faxes, Capitol tours, hiring and supervising interns, drafting constituent correspondence and assisting staff with various projects. Qualified applicants will have strong writing skills, be extremely organized, detail oriented, and able to perform many tasks simultaneously. California ties and fluency in Spanish are strongly preferred, but not required. Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to don.lyster@mail.house.gov.


6. Paid Internship, Innovation Network, DC
We provide program planning and evaluation consulting, training, and Web-based tools to nonprofits and funders across geographic and programmatic boundaries. We want to make evaluation accessible to all nonprofits, so they have the knowledge and skills to:
* Manage their internal matters, programs, and services effectively;
* Gain a stronger understanding of what is happening in their programs, and how those programs are affecting people and communities; and
* Collectively raise a strong voice in funding and policy decisions.
To find out more, go to http://www.innonet.org/?section_id=2&content_id=15


7. AFSC Interns New York, New York
Summary: Join us as we work together, to share with you our principles and the strategies and programs we use to advance social change. Together we can make a difference in the welfare of o! thers and move us all closer to a day of peace and economic and social justice for all!

Our director has a number of diverse and exciting ideas for short term projects. In our Immigrant Rights Program you could assist an immigrant worker to be understood and to understand court proceedings or work with immigrant communities on leadership development skills and surveying on attitudes toward immigration policy. Working with the Criminal Justice Program with clients whose lives have been impacted by the "criminal justice system" would be eye-opening, enraging, depressing and rewarding. You might help them write a resume and find a job or read their letters from "the inside" and work with staff to find a helpful way to respond to them. You could study the status of incarcerated children and youth. With the Conflict Resolution Program, you can be a part of helping people rebuild community ties, or you might work on addressing the root causes of community violence. Other Options to Military Recruitment will engage you in working with those who work with young people to help them examine the realities of military service. Advocating for alternatives may stretch your creativity and put you in touch with activist groups, the media and elected officials.

Compensation: These internship opportunties are not paid Staff positions, however there is financial compensation offered to all Interns participating in the program in the New York, NY and Newark, NJ offices. AFSC offers this stipend as a way of providing Interns who need to earn something over the summer with an opportunity to experience an AFSC Internship with us.

Contact: Anne Wright, Internship Coordinator, 15 Rutherford Place, New York, NY 10003. Telephone: 212-598-0950. Email: NYMRORecruit@afsc.org.

For more information on any of these internship opportunities please visit the following site: http://www.afsc.org/volunteering/intern278.htm

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Thursday, April 19, 2007

Face(book) The Music

As I mentioned earlier, I'm experimenting with a Politics and Government/Political Science Association Facebook group as an alternative way of sending out information to our majors/minors and linking them to one another. So students and alums with Facebook pages, please look up the group and join (you may have to "make me your friend" first).

Upcoming talk: Hamas and Al Qaeda

hamas alqaeda

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Social Networking Alternatives

A few days back I wrote about LinkedIn, and suggested to students (especially those getting ready to graduate) that this was a resource they should consider using. This morning on my way to work there was an interview on the radio with someone taking a critical view of MySpace, and speaking to the general power of social networks. I noticed today that the IPE program has set up a Facebook page. Given the difficulty (I find) of getting students to read email, I wonder if that is a smarter way to feed information to students--and I'd be very interested in getting feedback from students on that. Email me or comment below, and I will tinker with a Facebook page.

Some time back I proposed to the university that in fact UPS needs its own social network software that would link prospectives, students and alums. We'll see what comes of that.

Congrats Jon Roberts, Cain Scholarship Recipient

Congrats to PG major Jon Roberts who has been award the Harry Cain Scholarship administered by the School of Business and Leadership. The Cain 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."

As important, we want to thank alum Mark Smith '61, who not only was central in creating this scholarship, but also making certain that it was made open to all students, irrespective of major. Mark was himself a family friend of former Tacoma mayor and US Senator Harry Cain, and while an undergraduate wrote a impressive thesis on Cain's political career (I've got a copy if anyone would like to borrow it).

As is so often the case, we are indebted to our alums for both creating opportunities and directing our students to them.

Students, what are you doing this summer?

Students, here is one of my periodic naggings to remind you that summer can be a great time to do an internship, attend a summer workshop or otherwise round out your education and get out of the campus bubble. It may be late for many opportunities, but here are a couple of general resources:

Summer programs:
http://del.icio.us/upspolitics/summerprograms
A collection of over 30 summer opportunities across the country and world. Most deadlines have passed, but note the ones you might like to do next summer.

Internships:
http://del.icio.us/upspolitics/internships
We can also help place you in politics and government-related internships in town or around Seattle if you are interested and want to combine interning with part time work or school in the area. If you are heading home, most likely there are internships there as well, still waiting to be filled--or created. City government (offices of economic development, city council) and local offices of congressional representatives are good places to start. Remember, just because they don't have an internship listed doesn't mean they won't be happy to accept someone who is looking to gain experience.

As always, the best opportunities go to those who plan ahead--so start thinking about summer '08.

Laurel Bandy '07, Mountbatten Finalist

Congrats to Laurel Bandy '07 who has been selected as a Mountbatten finalist. She'll head to San Francisco during Finals Week for an interview and if accepted, is off to London after graduation. The Mountbatten Programme "offers a carefully designed 12 month training program that provides an opportunity to learn about British and International business techniques, and to experience the rich cultural diversity of London. Successful completion of the Programme leads to the Certificate in International Business Practice".

Who is eligible? You need to have your bachelor's degree in hand by the time you start the program, so it is a perfect opportunity for graduating seniors and young graduates who are looking for career opportunities. Interestingly, though it is a 12 month program, there are both fall and spring application periods.

PG alum Ashley Vroman-Lee '01 was a Mountbatten Intern after graduation, and spoke to Laurel about the program in advance of her application, providing advice on how to apply as well as recommending her to the program coordinators.

Good luck on your interview, Laurel, and thank you, Ashley, for providing your insight on this program and helping our students expand their opportunities.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Student Conference: Bridging the Partisan Divide

Student conference in DC, and almost all expenses paid:

Each year the Arsalyn Program sponsors a national conference designed to serve as a respectful, neutral forum where diverse individuals promoting youth civic and political engagement can meet as collegues. In addition to opportunities for networking, Arsalyn’s national conferences enable participants to look at ways to get involved in the democratic process and develop a sense of common purpose in working toward their goals.

Arsalyn's national conferences are open to individuals and organizations that identify with Arsalyn's mission and are working to promote youth civic and political engagement. Arsalyn provides funding for participants’ travel, lodging, food, and conference materials. To optimize interaction between participants attendance is usually limited to 120 people.

This year’s national conference will take place in Washington DC the 9th through 12th of August and will be entitled “Bridging the Partisan Divide: Rediscovering Deliberation.” The goal is to bring young people together so they can discuss how people with differing opinions can deliberate to solve common problems through the political process.

Find out more here.

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Crack Worthy Email

I'm still on my quest to provide better information to those of you out there reading your email on mobile devices like cell phones or Crackberries. To hear tell, while the link-only weekly email might be good for us regular PC users, having links--and only links--aren't the best way to get info from the department on a mobile.

Here's an alternative. From Feedburner, you can subscribe to get a daily email with the text of that day's blog postings from the department. Sadly, it can't be configured to a weekly aggregration, so the trade-off is that you get an email a day, which may be too much for your taste.

If you are interested, subscribe by clicking on the link Daily Email Update (text) here or over on the right column.

If you give it a try, do let me know what you think.

UPDATE: I've been using it as a test, and so far the emails seem pretty clean, at least on my PC. Again, I'll be interested in hearing from anyone who gets them sent to their mobile gadget.

New Organizing Institute: Summer Boot Camp

From NOI:

Graduating this spring? Want to work in progressive politics?

The NOI's Summer Campaign Boot Camp might be for you. At NOI's Summer Campaign Boot Camp, you'll spend one intensive week learning the fundamentals of traditional political campaigning... plus how to leverage technology to maximize a campaign's fundraising and organizing potential.

During the day, you'll learn from Dean, Kerry, Clark, Lamont, and MoveOn alums; leaders from current presidential campaigns; experts in voter files, microtargeting, paid advertising, and earned media; top bloggers and respected authors; and experienced professionals working in this field. In the evening, you'll work in teams to put the lessons of the day to work on a mock campaign.

Don't miss this opportunity to receive ALL EXPENSES PAID training in the nation's capital, from top experts in the field.

Apply here; deadline is April 30.

And this is pretty cool--they have their own job list.

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Pelosi in Town

Late last week Nancy Pelosi was in Seattle, and thanks to the good offices of Congressman Norm Dicks (and intern Ryan Dumm '07) several of our majors were able to go up and attend the event. A professional photographer took some nice "meet and greet" shots; here are a few (you may have to register to see them:

with Katie Rose '05; with Econ major Ana O'Neil, and our majors Sarah Glancy '08 and Cat Fish '08; and with Brie Coyle '09 and Ali Edwards '09.

Thanks to everyone who made this opportunity possible.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Torey Holderith '09: Summer Intership, Merchant Marine Academy

As we draw closer to summer student plans are firming up. Congrats to Torey Holderith '09 who has been invited to intern at the US Merchant Marine Academy in New York. Among other tasks, he'll be helping coordinate John McCain's address to the 2007 graduating class.

Just as important is to recognize that this internship was made possible through the help of Kevin Billings '77. We appreciate all the advice, opportunities, and connections that he and so many of our alums have provided in the short time since we've been up and blogging.

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Professor Share on Muslim Council of Britain

Professor Share writes from London:

My British Politics class was fortunate to have a recent visit from Dr. Daud Abdullah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (the chief umbrella group representing British Muslims.

Abdullah


Dr. Abdullah provided a brief overview of Muslims in the UK, noting that there about two million Muslims in the UK (about 3% of the total UK population), concentrated largely in London (where 1 out of every 7 residents is Muslim). The 2001 census was the first to identify respondents as Muslim, allowing Abdullah to paint a picture of British Muslims as the UK’s most marginalized group that face endemic poverty, high unemployment, low life expectancy, job and housing discrimination, and political marginalization (only 5 members of the lower house are Muslims).

Much of Dr.Abdullah’s talk described the growing hostility against British Muslims, a trend that he contends started before 9/11, but that has certainly exploded since then. He argued that measures aimed at isolating Islamic fundamentalists have been implemented in ways that alienate the bulk of British Muslims, and that are therefore counterproductive. Indeed, a headline in today’s Times of London noted that the UK’s intelligence agency, MI5, has launched a program to track Islamic fundamentalists modeled on the system in place to track sex offenders. Abdullah noted that of the over 12,000 arrests of British Muslims since 2001, only 43 convictions have resulted, the vast majority of which are unrelated to terrorism. Dr. Adbdullah blamed the UK media for fanning the flames of anti-Muslim hysteria.

There has been much controversy in the UK about the right of women to wear the niqab, a face veil favored by a tiny minority of UK Muslims (though no French-style controversy over the headscarf). In October 2006 Jack Straw, Labour leader in the Commons, stated that, ”the increasing trend towards covering facial features was "bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult,” referring specifically to doctor-patient relationships and other interactions in the public sphere. In February 2007 the UK’s highest court upheld the right of schools to ban the wearing of the niqab in UK schools, on the grounds that the niqab prevents teachers from viewing facial expressions of students. While admitting that the niqab is a source of division within the UK Muslim community, Dr. Abdullah argued that the British Muslim Council favors a policy of tolerance, unless public safety is clearing compromised. He views the debates over clothing as a smokescreen for a larger societal attack on the British Muslim community.

When asked about the major political parties, Dr. Abdullah noted that while British Muslims traditionally vote Labour, many view Labour as having taken their votes for granted. And while the Liberal Democratic Party has opposed the Iraq war and has consistently supported civil liberties in the face of domestic security legislation, Abdullah thought that Muslims would not likely vote for the LDP until it appeared that the Liberal Democrats had a realistic chance to take power.

In preparation for Dr. Abdullah’s visited I assigned (among other materials) a provocative article from the National Review (here). You can read an article by Dr. Abdullah in the Guardian (link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1924197,00.html

Professor Share provides a second relevant article here.

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Friday, April 13, 2007

Your Friday Roundup of Opportunities

Always more on the university MonsterTrak (get the password from CES; it is available to students and alums). And don't forget that there are numerous local internship opportunities with elected officials, city government, and other agencies/non-profits. Ask me (Professor O'Neil) if you want to know more.

1. IFES Freelance Editor, Flexible Location
IFES (www.ifes.org) is an international, nonprofit organization that supports the building of democratic societies. IFES provides targeted technical assistance to strengthen transitional democracies. Founded in 1987 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, IFES has developed and implemented comprehensive, collaborative democracy solutions in more than 100 countries.

Consultancy Description: Support IFES' Communications department through freelance editing. The successful applicant will edit (proofread, copyedit, or substantively edit) internal and external IFES publications, including project reports, proposals and possibly marketing materials. The position is part-time with no set hours and all work will be done offsite.

To find out more about the kinds of documents you might edit, you can search our publications database located here: www.ifes.org/pubsearch_results.html. We are looking for an editor for the kinds of documents listed under "Surveys" and "Reports."

Qualifications:
· BA from an accredited college or university
· Excellent writing/editing/organizational skills
· Strong grammar and copyediting skills (ability to edit for clarity, accuracy and limited space)
· Experience editing the work of non-native speakers of English
· A commitment to meet mutually agreed upon deadlines
· Knowledge of international development a plus
· Knowledge of AP style a plus
· Experience using MS Word (including its "track changes" function) a plus

How to Apply/Express Interest:
IFES maintains a consultant database of development experts with the technical skills and expertise to implement our programs. If you are interested in this consultancy please visit www.ifes.org/consulting.html and create a consultant profile. When creating your profile you will be asked to upload a resume (in a single .doc, .rtf or .pdf file) please include a cover letter and two versions of a text you edited (before/after) with your resume file.

2. Mercy Corps- Summer Intern- Washington, D.C. (Mercy Corps also offers internships in Portland--Prof. O'Neil)
Mercy Corps is seeking a well qualified, committed intern to support the advocacy and policy work of our Public Affairs team in Washington DC during the summer. Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. The agency works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic povert! y and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds.

Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1 billion in assistance to people in 94 nations. Supported by headquarters offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, the agency's unified global programs employ 3,200 staff worldwide and reach nearly 13.5 million people in more than 40 countries. For more information about Mercy Corps, please visit our website at www.mercycorps.org. Through our Washington DC public affairs team, we seek to influence U.S. government policy through public and private advocacy and policy work on regions like Africa and the Middle East and issues, such as foreign aid and strategic approaches to conflict and post-conflict environments. Our policy and advocacy activities focus on the U.S. Congress, U.S. government agencies - including the State Department and USAID - and the UN and our supporters around the country.

Qualifications: We are looking for a graduate school student in an accredited educational program , with a strong interest in and knowledge of international humanitarian and development issues. Strong research and writing skills are a must. A good understanding of Washington politics and policymaking is also important.

Terms: This position is unpaid. Minimum of 16 hours per weeks in the Mercy Corps office. Additional hours are welcome.

Responsibilities: Undertake long and short-term research projects. Attend meetings and briefings - including on Capitol Hill - and prepare written summaries for Mercy Corps staff. Track legislative developments relevant to priority Mercy Corps countries and issues. Assist the Public Affairs team with web advocacy strategy and initiatives.
Deadline for Applications: April 13th.
Contact: Nathaniel Hurd, Public Affairs Associate
E-mail: nhurd@dc.mercycorps.org.


3. ISHR Intern, New York
Job Title: United Nations Monitor for Women's Rights Treaty-body Meeting
International Service for Human Rights (NY Office)

Description: The New York Office of the International Service for Human Rights' (ISHR) seeks an intern to monitor and report on the 38th session of the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York to be held from 14 May to 1 June 2007. The internship offers a unique opportunity to view the UN human rights system at work in New York.

The CEDAW was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, and is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. A country becomes a State party by ratifying or acceding to the Convention and thereby accepting a legal obligation to counteract discrimination against women. The Committee monitors the implementation of national measures to fulfill this obligation. For further information, please see: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/38sess.htm
For previous ISHR report on CEDAW see: http://www.ishr.ch.

Duties:
The interns' main responsibilities are to:
. Monitor the meetings of CEDAW, which take place from 10am-1pm and 3pm-6pm.
. Prepare an analytical narrative report on the session for our web and print-based journal, the Human Rights Monitor. The report is due two weeks after the close of the UN session.
. Liaise with Committee members, non- governmental organizations NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations for relevant information.
. Carry out other duties as required, including assistance with preparation and promotion of ISHR- sponsored side events.
Qualifications:
Exceptional writing and editing skills in English.
Knowledge of CEDAW and women's rights.
Ability to work in a team, organized with excellent attention to detail.
Education: BA or equivalent in Law, International Affairs or other relevant field. (Preferred JD, LLM or Masters in relevant field)

Salary: Unpaid
Closing Date: 4/18/2007
Contact Information: Applicants should send a resume and a cover letter to kobi.leins@ishrny.org or fax to 212-490-1396 by April 18 2007. ***IN THE SUBJECT LINE PLEASE WRITE: CEDAW INTERNSHIP 38th SESSION*** Unfortunately our organization is not in a position to offer financial assistance to interns. Also due to the large number of applications received, the Office will only be able to respond to shortlisted applicants. Email: kobi.leins@ishrny.org
URL for more information: http://www.ishr.ch

4. MPAC 2007 SUMMER INTERN Los Angeles/Washington D.C.

Are you, or someone you know, interested in working for the Muslim American community, bridging the gap between Muslims Americans and decision makers, understanding how policy gets shaped, and gaining experience in the non-profit sector? The Muslim Public Affairs Council is now accepting applications for its Summer 2007 Internship Program in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA.

THE MPAC INTERNSHIP -- Education. Experience. Service.
MPAC interns gain hands-on education, experience and skills in media, community, and government relations. You won't just be filing, you'll get to use your creativity and initiative to enhance or even create effective projects that help fulfill our mission. We are looking for team players who are self-motivated and enjoy working hard.

On any given day, MPAC Interns keep up-to-date with local and national politics and media, write reports and analyses, have an opportunity to interact with government officials, attend press conferences and organize events. The MPAC-DC office is located across the street from the Supreme Court, Capitol Building, and all of the Senate Office Buildings, allowing interns to experience the political atmosphere of Washington firsthand. MPAC-LA is located in the center of one of the nation's media capitols, and regularly engages with media and government professionals as well as interfaith dialogue, hate crime prevention, and community outreach.

HOW TO APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP (Deadline: April 30, 2007)
Applications for the Internship Program are now available by visiting www.mpac.org. The Summer Internship is an 9-week program, which runs from June 18 to August 17. There are limited internships available, so act now! For more information, please contact Communications Coo rdinator Zabie Mansoory at zabie@mpac.org.
[CONTACT: Edina Lekovic, 213-383-3443, communications@mpac.org]

5. Internship, Rep. Denny Rehberg, DC
Republican Representative Denny Rehberg of Montana seeks summer interns in his Washington D.C. office. This is an exciting and challenging experience designed to give individuals first-hand Capitol Hill experience. Candidates should possess excellent written and oral communication skills, have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and be detail-oriented. Intern responsibilities include constituent correspondence projects, giving U.S. Capitol tours, aiding legislative staff in conducting research, answering phones, and other administrative duties. This is an upaid internship, but there is opportunity for college credit. Preferrable candidates will be entering their Junior or Senior year of college. Exact dates and times of internship are negotiable. Please send resume to Molly Sweeney at molly.sweeney@mail.house.gov and add “summer internship” in the subject line.

6. Summer Internship, Congress, DC

New York City Democrat seeking responsible, goal oriented individuals for SUMMER internships in Washington, DC. This position will provide individuals the chance to work in a fast-paced Congressional office and receive hands-on political experience. Daily tasks will include: responding to constituent correspondence, working closely with other Capitol Hill offices, and aiding press, legislative and administrative staff. This position is both exciting and rewarding. Interns will gain knowledge of the inner workings of the legislative process. If interested, please email a cover letter and resume to InternJob@Hotmail.com.

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Thursday, April 12, 2007

Crack that Feed

I received an email today asking if there were a way to get the UPS blog on a mobile device, like a Blackberry (also commonly called a "crackberry" for its addictive properties). I'm not all that hip to things like RSS feeds and the like, but I did find that you can use Google Reader on your mobile (or your PC) to get each and every morsel of our blog as they come out of our Politics and Government test kitchen:

https://www.google.com/reader

And on using this on a mobile device:

http://googlereader.blogspot.com/2007/04/go-go-reader-gadget.html

Would someone out there with web access on a mobile device let me know how this works?

College, Unmasked!

A piece in today's New York Times about how students and parents are using more online resources to learn more about colleges they are considering. I hadn't visited Collegeconfidential.com before. No anonymous reviews of UPS, as with other schools--don't know if that's bad or good. However, I did find some interesting threads from parents discussing whether their child should come here, the relative costs and benefits of private versus public school, even a comparison of their kids' SATs and GPAs and financial aid offers. Lurk worthy if you've got a minute and are interested in getting a different perspective on getting in and choosing a school. Another interesting piece from Michelle Slatalla who we've blogged about before (and who commented back on our comments).

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