FMC Provides Education and Outreach Program
One of Washington, DC's best-kept secrets is an organization that houses a plethora of programs, initiatives, and resources for students, citizens, and educators, as well as current and former members of Congress: the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC).
Founded in 1970, FMC is a bipartisan, nonprofit, educational, and public service organization that is chartered, but not funded, by the US Congress. The association boasts nearly 600 former members of the US Senate and House of Representatives and is supported by a staff of five. FMC's domestic and international programs promote improved public understanding of the role of Congress as a unique institution, as well as the crucial importance of representative democracy as a system of government. Additionally, through the voluntary participation of its membership, FMC seeks to promote civil discourse not only between Republicans and Democrats, but among our citizens and in our communities.
The association's flagship domestic initiative is the Congress to Campus (CtC) program. Established in 1976, CtC is a way for former members of Congress to interact with and educate college students about the US legislative branch.
FMC also places great emphasis on its international endeavors. Programs such as the International Election Monitors Institute capitalize on the experience and skill set of former legislators in democracy-building and parliamentary strengthening missions. For more information about FMC and its programs—or to schedule a Congress to Campus visit—visit www.usafmc.org or contact FMC's executive director, Pete Weichlein, at 202.507.4850 or [email protected].
Foreign Affairs Summer Program Offered to High School Students
The presidential campaign season is heating up —and so is the rhetoric about American foreign policy. How does one get a grounding in foreign affairs? For some, it's through participating in multi-day foreign policy crisis simulations and learning from leading policy scholars and practitioners. This summer, next generation policy makers and world leaders will spend two weeks at the EXPLO Foreign Affairs program on the campus of Yale University.
This new, two-week program for high school students was developed through a partnership of Foreign Affairs, a publication of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Exploration Summer Programs, an international leader in academic enrichment.
Can the next generation of American policymakers manage to hold things together and take the world to new heights, or will American and Western decline trigger chaos or renewed conflict? According to Dr. Gideon Rose, Editor of Foreign Affairs, “No issues are more important, no time is too soon to start learning about them, and there is no better way to do so than through this introduction to American foreign policy taught by the staff of Foreign Affairs.”
Rose is an expert on American foreign policy. In addition to editing Foreign Affairs and writing extensively on American foreign policy issues, Rose was the Olin Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He was also the Associate Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. He has taught American foreign policy at Columbia and Princeton and is the author of How Wars End: Why We Always Fight the Last Battle (Simon & Schuster, 2010).
Moira Kelly, executive director of Exploration, says, “For curious and motivated students, this will be an extraordinary opportunity including trips to the United Nations and the Council on Foreign Relations.”
For more information, visit http://www.explo.org/focus/foreignaffairs. To learn more about all of Exploration's summer programs for students ages 9 through 17 years old, visit http://www.explo.org.
Summer Institute in Political Psychology Announced
Applications are being accepted for the 20th Annual Summer Institute in Political Psychology (SIPP), at Stanford University July 15 to August 4, 2012. The SIPP program takes up to 60 participants and is filling up; there are still some spots available.
The Summer Institute offers three weeks of intensive training in political psychology. Political psychology is an exciting and thriving field that explores the origins of political behavior and the causes of political events, with a special focus on the psychological mechanisms at work. Research findings in political psychology advance basic theories of politics and are an important basis for political decision-making in practice.
SIPP was founded in 1991 at Ohio State University, and Stanford has hosted SIPP since 2005, with support from Stanford University and from the National Science Foundation. Hundreds of participants have attended SIPP during these years.
The 2012 SIPP curriculum is designed to (1) provide broad exposure to theories, empirical findings, and research traditions; (2) illustrate successful cross-disciplinary research and integration; (3) enhance methodological pluralism; and (4) strengthen networks among scholars from around the world.
SIPP activities will include lectures by world-class faculty, discussion groups, research/interest group meetings, group projects, and an array of social activities.
In 2012, SIPP will accept up to 60 participants, including graduate students, faculty, professionals, and advanced undergraduates.Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis until all slots are filled: early application is encouraged. For details visit http://www.stanford.edu/group/sipp/2012.
Report Finds Seven Factors Why Women Don't Run for Office
Despite the prodigious attention the media devote to female political figures, such as Michele Bachmann, Hillary Clinton, and Sarah Palin, a new study conducted by American University School of Public Affairs associate professor of government and director of the Women and Polititcs Institute, Jennifer L. Lawless and associate professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University Richard L. Fox reveals a continued and substantial gender gap in political ambition among both Democrats and Republicans. Men tend to have it; and women don't.
In their new report, Men Rule: The Continued Under-Representation of Women in US Politics, Lawless, a 2006 candidate for Congress seeking the Democratic nomination in Rhode Island's second district, and Fox detail the results of a survey of nearly 4,000 lawyers, business leaders, educators, and political activists, all of whom are well-situated to run for office. Even with the emergence over the past ten years of high-profile women in politics, the authors find that the gap between women and men's interest in running for office is the same today as it was a decade ago.
The report is availalbe from American University at www.american.edu/spa/wpi/upload/2012-Men-Rule-Report-final-web.pdf.
More than 700 attended the 2011 NPSA Annual Meeting, held in Philadelphia in November 2011. G. Bingham Powell, President of the APSA, was one of the plenary speakers (along with author Robert Shachtman (the Pi Sigma Alpha lecturer) and former U.S. Senator Arlen Spector. Pictured are NPSA Past President Tom Baldino, NPSA Program Chair Joe Moskowitz, Powell, and NPSA President Eric Budd.
Pi Sigma Alpha Chapter Activity Grants, 2011
Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, annually awards grants to its chapters to carry out activities they could not support on their own. Chapters submit proposals for the competition in October, a selection committee meets in November, and grants are announced in December for projects to take place during the spring semester. In 2011 the honor society awarded grants to 75 chapters for 102 activities, with some chapters receiving grants for two activities. This year the honor society gave grants totaling $66,000.
Programs funded in 2011 included 55 Pi Sigma Alpha initiation banquets, some with invited speakers; many campus-wide speakers, panels, and symposia; numerous student paper competitions; support for several student political science journals; at least four student trips to Washington, DC, state capitals, and regional political science conferences; model UN programs; community service projects, and more.
The 2011 Selection Committee consisted of professors James I. Lengle and Diana Owen of Georgetown University, and professor Stephen Farnsworth of George Mason University.
University of Akron, Alpha Alpha Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
Alabama A&M University, Omega Omega Chapter—Essay contest
The American University, Beta psi Chapter—Initiation banquet; Research paper contest
Arizona State University, Delta Theta Chapter—Initiation luncheon with speaker
Austin College, Chi Chi Chapter—Luncheon with guest lecturer
Boise State University, Xi Chi Chapter—Initiation luncheon banquet
University of Bridgeport, Alpha Gamma Pi Chapter—Series of Colloquia on the Arab Spring
Brigham Young University, Beta Mu Chapter—Forum on civic discourse, with reception
California State University, Chico, Upsilon Delta Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker; Student paper contest
California State University, San Bernardino, Theta Iota Ch.—Initiation banquet with speaker
Capital University, Phi Epsilon Chapter—Events at Martin Luther King Day of Learning; Speaker
Centenary College, Psi Gamma Chapter—Initiation banquet
University of Central Oklahoma, Sigma Mu Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
Columbus State University, Upsilon Sigma Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker; Film discussion series
Cornell University, Alpha Beta Eta Chapter—Initiation luncheon with speaker
Creighton University, Theta Alpha Chapter—Speaker and banquet at Midwest Undergraduate Conf.
DeSales University, Alpha Beta Sigma Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
Elizabethtown College, Theta Sigma Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
Fayetteville State University, Alpha Alpha Psi Chapter—Student trip to NCPSA Meeting
University of Florida, Beta Gamma Chapter—Student trip to state capital; Initiation banquet
Georgetown University, Delta Eta Chapter—Initiation banquet
Gettysburg College, Nu Psi Chapter—Student trip to Washington, DC; Initiation banquet
Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Chi Phi Chapter—Initiation banquet; Political science alumni panel
University of Illinois, Springfield, Tau Eta Chapter—Reception with speaker
Illinois State University, Kappa Sigma Chapter—Paper prizes at Illinois student political science conference
Lamar University, Zeta lambda Chapter—Youth education program on criminal justice system
Liberty University, Alpha Epsilon Rho Chapter—Speaker on Qur'anic law; Initiation banquet
Loyola University, Chicago, Zeta Mu Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
Loyola University, New Orleans, Eta Epsilon Chapter—Initiation banquet; Student paper prizes
Macalester College, Delta Chi Chapter—Initiation banquet; Student conference with paper prizes
University of Maine, Epsilon Delta Chapter—Foum on 2012 elections; Initiation banquet with speaker
University of Maryland, Baltimore Co., Omicron Eta Chapter—Undergrad Political Science Research Conference, host
Mercer University, Upsilon Iota Chapter—Student research symposium with paper prizes
University of Minnesota, Morris, Alpha Zeta Eta Chapter—Student trip to Midwest PSA meeting; Initiation banquet
University of Missouri, Kansas City, Eta Zeta Chapter—Initiation banquet
University of Montana, Epsilon Mu Chapter—Initiation banquet; Student paper prizes
Morgan State University, Zeta Psi Chapter—Initiation luncheon with alumni speaker
Muhlenberg College, Eta Upsilon Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
University at Buffalo, SUNY, Rho Tau Chapter—Initiation Banquet with speaker
SUNY Cortland, Zeta Delta Chapter—Initiation luncheon, prizes
SUNY Geneseo, Xi Xi Chapter—Initiation banquet
SUNY New Paltz, Iota Tau Chapter—Initiation luncheon, best paper awards
University of North Carolina, Charlotte, Theta Epsilon Chapter—Initiation and awards banquet
University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Sigma Xi Chapter—Student trip to Washington, DC
North Dakota State University, Mu Xi Chapter—Initiation banquet
University of Oregon, Beta Theta Chapter—Initiation banquet; Speaker series
University of Pennsylvania, Beta Tau Chapter—Faculty-student lecture luncheons; Recruitment events
Providence College, Epsilon Chi Chapter—Initiation banquet with paper prizes
Purdue University, Delta Omega Chapter—Panel discussion; Initiation banquet
Purdue University Calumet, Tau Psi Chapter—Model UN; Initiation banquet with paper prizes
Ramapo College of New Jersey, Xi Epsilon Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker; Student paper awards
Regent University, Alpha Epsilon Theta Chapter—Initiation luncheon; Speaker on social justice
Rhode Island College, Alpha Beta Epsilon Chapter—Alumni forum; Initiation luncheon
University of Richmond, Beta Xi Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
Saint Michael's College, Psi Rho Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
St. Olaf College, Omicron Alpha Chapter—Forum on human trafficking
University of St. Thomas (MN), Chi Theta Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker; Student paper contest
University of St. Thomas (TX), Alpha Alpha Alpha Ch.—Initiation banquet with speaker; Panel on Politics of Sustainability
Shepherd University, Sigma Delta Chapter—Essay contest for high schools; Speaker from Federal government
University of South Carolina, Columbia, Gamma Chi Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
University of South Florida, Zeta Pi Chapter—Student trips to State political conventions
Temple University, Delta Rho Chapter—Initiation banquet
University of Texas, El Paso, Epsilon Epsilon Chapter—Initiation banquet; Forum on political rhetoric
Union College, Zeta Upsilon Chapter—Initiation banquet and essay contest
Utah State University, Alpha Iota Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker; Student paper awards
University of Vermont, Chi Nu Chapter—Initiation banquet
Wake Forest University, Nu Zeta Chapter—Initiation banquet and awards
Walsh University, Alpha Gamma Theta Chapter—“All Politics is Local” conference
University of Washington, Nu Chapter—Student journal, The Orator
Wheaton College, Upsilon Psi Chapter—Initiation banquet; Welcome reception for freshmen
Whittier College, Gamma Tau Chapter—Initiation banquet with speaker
Wilkes University, Sigma Pi Chapter—Panel on impact of 9/11; Initiation luncheon with awards
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Pi Chapter—Student-faculty research opportunity forums
University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Pi Chi Chapter—Student paper contest on “Social Responsibility”; Initiation banquet
