Fellowship Opportunities

Congratulations to two graduating politics majors who have recently been selected for prestigious fellowship programs:

Morgan Lee will be participating in the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs. This is a rigorous nine month program focused on preparing fellows for work in public affairs.For more information check out the program’s website.

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Xu Ren will be one of eight junior research fellows for 2012-13  at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C. Xu will be working in Carnegie’s Asia studies program with an emphasis on US-China security relations. More information on the program can be located at the program’s website.

These fellowship programs offer fantastic opportunities for outstanding students. Messiah Fellowship Coordinator and Politics Professor John Harles writes:

“If you are interested in attending graduate school and have an exceptional undergraduate record both inside and outside of the classroom (a lofty g.p.a. is not enough), you may want to consider applying for one of the following national scholarships: http://www.messiah.edu/academics/scholarships/index.html Although these are among the most lucrative and prestigious fellowships available to American undergraduates, Messiah students can be competitive. Our graduates have become Rhodes, Fulbright, Carnegie, and Truman scholars and on several occasions have been finalists for the Rhodes and Marshall awards. In fact, Politics students have been the majority among Messiah’s award winners.

The time commitment involved is substantial, perhaps fifty or more hours per application, but the reward may be equally large. At the very least, you will be forced to consider your motivations and objectives for graduate education, and you will further cultivate the written and verbal presentation skills required for admission to the best graduate programs. For more information contact Dr. John Harles, jharles@messiah.edu, Boyer 458, x6580.”

Dr. Lauermann and Sharon Hoeck at the 66th Annual NYSPSA Conference

Dr. Lauermann and Senior Sharon Hoeck attended this year’s annual NYSPSA (New York State Political Science Association) Conference at Wagner College on Staten Island. Sharon presented her Department Honors Project entitled, “Beyond the Nation-State? Examining Trends in Public Support for Governments in the European Union.”

Internship Advancing Religious Freedom

The Becket Fund’s International and Government Relations Department is accepting applications for two internships for Summer 2012.

Interns will be responsible for research, writing, or public education projects related to the promotion of religious freedom around the world, while receiving direction and supervision. Internships are both an opportunity to learn and to serve.

Candidates should possess a strong commitment to the Becket Fund’s mission to advance human rights and religious freedom for people of all faiths; a sense of initiative; creativity; and integrity. Excellent writing and research skills are a must. Familiarity with databases is a plus. Applicants should be well-organized, self-motivated and reliable. Applicants should also be willing to perform some administrative duties.  Please highlight any previous international, non-governmental organization, or Congressional experience in your application.

Check your email for application information! (Applications are considered on a rolling basis).

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty describes itself as “a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute that protects the free expression of all faiths.”  The organization promotes religious freedom in both national and international settings.

Playing Ball: Five Fundamentals for Success on and off the Court

At this semester’s Career Conversations event hosted by the Career Center and Politics Department, Politics alumni discussed their careers in business. Alumnus Nathan Shive offered some great advice for current students on how to succeed in any career through the application of five “fundamentals.” Watch the video below from the event or read the post below for how you can apply these key concepts to your career path.

In the fall of 2008 I was asked, out of sheer desperation, to coach my daughter’s youth basketball team. Anybody who has been involved with youth sports knows that among the many challenges is the vast disparity of talent found on any given roster. Some kids are the “jocks” and take a more visible role, others show potential, others try as hard as they can, others want to learn, and others simply don’t care.

Assigned a roster of 5th and 6th-grade girls that reflected this diversity, I adopted the strategy of simplifying the game to the lowest common denominator. First, I taught them the five positions, each numbered 1 through 5 – point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center. They were taught (with varying degrees of success) the role of each position, with the hope being that if I sent one of them into the game with instructions to “be the ‘three’,” they would know what that meant.

As for the play itself, and recognizing that young and inexperienced players may be overwhelmed and perhaps intimidated by the apparent complexity of the game, I emphasized that there were also five “fundamentals” that anyone could master, regardless of their age, height or ability.

• Hustle – they were expected to hard on every play, regardless of the score, the match-ups, or their perceived probability of success. “Nobody,” I shouted repeatedly, “will beat our team down the floor!”

• Motion – they were asked to keep moving on every play, particularly on offense. Don’t stand around waiting for someone to pass you the ball – move and get open, not only to help your teammates, but to make the player guarding you work that much harder.

• Learn – you don’t know everything, and you will make mistakes. Learn from them, as well as from your teammates, your opponents, and your coaches. Amateurs practice until they can do it right; professionals practice until they can’t do it wrong.

• Teamwork – You were either on the court or on the bench, but everyone was in the game. The players on the floor had to work together; the players on the bench were to encourage their teammates and pay attention to what was happening, so they knew what to do when I put them in the game.

• Defense – Admittedly, perhaps more of a learned skill, but we played mostly man-to-man defense, and in that system your job is to stay with your opponent. Anybody can make that effort.

As young adults preparing to embark on what will hopefully be a long-term career, you can apply these same fundamentals to whatever path you choose, particularly if you want to rise above mediocrity and make a difference in your life and the lives of others. As has been said before, successful people do what unsuccessful people won’t do.

♦ Hustle – Work harder than everybody else. Hopefully, you can find a career that rewards you for this and doesn’t place artificial time constraints on your success.

♦ Motion – Keep moving, don’t stand still. If you remain in the same place, others will pass you. Look to take on new challenges and opportunities.

♦ Learn – From everything around you. Every event in your life, work-related or not, provides learning opportunities. You want to repeat successes, and avoid future failures, to take the time to learn from both.

♦ Teamwork – Use all the resources available. Develop alliances with your colleagues and professionals in other fields. Build a network of contacts; don’t try to know (or do) everything yourself.

♦ Defense – Protect what you have built. Years of work can be wiped out in a moment’s misjudgment. Your first responsibility should be to strengthen and reinforce your foundation before you build onto it.

A career built on these five fundamentals is well on its way to long-term success. The final piece, however, may be the most important – find something bigger than yourself. Whether a church, a charity, a service organization or a community endeavor, become a part of something that is certain to last longer than you. The more you give of yourself, the more you will receive, and having this element as a central portion of your life will provide the proper balance to your career endeavors.

Written by Nathan P. Shive, Agency Sales Director and Investment Adviser Representative with PennWood Financial Group

Oh the Places You’ll Go!

With only about a month until the end of the semester, the Politics Department has been inundated with possible experiential opportunities for students to engage in during their summer break!

Here’s just a sampling:

Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee, Summer Internship
The Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee is seeking college students and recent graduates for summer internships with the Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention. Charlotte in 2012, the Convention Host Committee, will tell the story of Charlotte as the world focuses on the region during the Convention when over 15,000 representatives from the media, 6,000 delegates and thousands of elected officials and dignitaries attend the Democratic National Convention.

Follow the link for more information and for how to apply: http://charlottein2012.com/images/Summer_Internship_Annoucement_FINAL.pdf

Congressional Campaign Opportunity
Kathryn Boockvar, a Democrat and attorney running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, is seeking staff and interns for the 2012 race. The campaign team is looking for students and recent graduates who are interested in gaining experience on the campaign trail. This would be a great opportunity to get a career started in politics or build upon existing experience.

The campaign is looking for:

-Field Organizers/Field Interns who build support for the candidate through: volunteer recruitment, voter contact, and visibility.
-Finance Interns who assist with the planning and execution of fundraising events, preparing mass mailings, and conducting donor & database research.

For more information, please check out the campaign website: http://www.boockvar.com/

Interested students should send a resume, one-page cover letter, and contact information for two references to Sam Rhodes at rhodes.samuel@gmail.com

Summer Internship with MetLife Camp Hill Office
MetLife is looking to fill at least one and maybe two PAID summer internships at their Camp Hill office. The ideal candidate will be a member of the class of 2013. Interested students can email their resume to Cindy Leonard — cleonard1@metlife.com or call 717-724-4340.

Political Journalism Internship with PoliticsPA
Pennsylvania’s longest-running political news website, is offering the chance for students to gain first-hand experience contributing to coverage of Pennsylvania politics.With the upcoming national election, this summer will be an exciting time to be covering political news: politicalcandidates are sure to visit; both parties are beginning to wrangle with newly redistricted legislative and congressional maps; and a number of federal races are heating up.

Interns will have the chance to gain journalism experience and a stronger understanding of Pennsylvania politics. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to build a portfolio with published political writing.The summer internship position is flexible, and applicants are welcome from all parts of PA.

Intern duties include:
• Monitoring press releases, area news outlets, and political blogs for relevant source material.
• Covering political and government events.
• Conducting other research, including taking transcripts.
• Writing news stories.

Requirements:
• Applicants must have strong writing skills.
• Applicants must have working knowledge of Pennsylvania politics.
• Applicants must possess strong research skills.
• A minimum commitment of 15 hours per week, with specific times contingent upon news events.

The strongest applicants will have a background in politics or journalism. Positions are unpaid.

To Apply: Please send a resume, cover letter and a brief (1-2 page) writing sample to keegan@politicspa.com. Email Keegan Gibson keegan@politicspa.com with any questions.

Please check your email for more exciting opportunities!
*** The Department of Politics does not endorse any political party or candidate.

Politics Electives Fall 2012

Still working out the kinks in your schedule for the upcoming Fall Semester? Consider one or more of our politics electives!

Politics 360: Judicial Process in PA, Joseph D’Annunzio

This course will serve as an introduction to law and to legal practice and procedure.  It will be of interest for general knowledge as well as for the student who is interested in a career in law.

D’Annunzio, an attorney in Harrisburg writes: Our society is based upon the principles of law, rules of conduct that regulate human behavior.  From the concept of law as a bedrock for the basis of our society has developed increased regulation of behavior by government, not just in enforcing the prevention of dangerous or criminal conduct, but now in determining how people will live and what must be provided to them.  The course will study this change by examining the origins of law, the development of legal process through the English common law, and how those concepts have been established in American jurisprudence.  We’ll do this by examining cases which deal with practical concepts such as the standard of care in tort cases and duties and obligations in contract cases.  The course is intended to give the students a background that will provide a better understanding of the legal issues that arise in their daily lives.

POLI 240: American Presidency, Dr. Rego

The timing of this class couldn’t be more perfect with the upcoming presidential election this fall. With the election in full swing, students will be able to apply class material and a historical perspective to current events. Dr. Rego is excited to share his enthusiasm for learning about the American Presidency with the class.  Students will analyze, through a combination of primary and secondary sources,  subjects like the creation of the presidency and the historical evolution of the office. Students will be able to discuss changes made to the office through judicial, executive and legislative actions, as well as key players in the office’s development. Other topics include the powers and limitations of the American President, in addition to the importance of personality for each presidential legacy.

POLI 323: Public Policy, William Robert Lloyd

In teaching this class, Professor Lloyd will be able to draw on his experience in state and federal government, including 18 years serving as a member of the PA House of Representatives.

While the first half of the course will focus on how public policy is made, the second half of the course will focus on some specific public policies. This will include analysis of how the policies originated and on whether they are working.  Students will engage in identifying and analyzing policy options. Potential policies to be discussed include: energy/environmental questions (ex. Marcellus Shale), the federal budget deficit, tax cuts/increases/reform, education, and health care.

This class will be of interest to any student who would like to become a better-informed citizen and voter.  Furthermore, the course will be particularly useful for any student who is considering a career in public service or in a private sector job which involves interaction with government agencies and officials.

POLI 330: Terrorism, Walter Harry Leach

As Professor Leach puts it, “this elective offers the opportunity to go behind the headlines and study how and why terrorism works—and often why it does not.” Students will be encouraged to re-examine any preconceived notions about the topic of terrorism and to evaluate them in light of the historical record and academic research. The class is particularly geared toward majors interested in government or the Foreign Service, although anyone is welcome to take the course; this class also fulfills a Gen-Ed ethics requirement!

The first part of the course will examine foundational issues of ethical decision making and defining our use of the word terrorism.  The class will then survey historical uses of terrorism, a learning experience which should cause students to put aside some commonly held beliefs and look for continuities that may inform future study.

The class will also focus on case studies for terrorism and counter-terrorism. The first case study will involve Algeria and will contribute to discussions of issues about combatants, noncombatants, strategic goals and the general population into stark contrast for study.  The next case study will involve domestic terrorism in the United States followed by a unit on al Qaeda.

POLI 362: Theories of International Relations, Dr. Curry

This class entails a survey of theoretical approaches to international relations, including realism, theories of conflict, integration, and decision making. The course will also examine contending normative and empirical methodologies of international relations.

My Semester in DC

Messiah offers a variety of excellent off-campus study opportunities, which many politics students choose to take advantage of. The American Studies Program  in Washington, D.C. is particularly beneficial for politics majors. The program consists of a semester–long internship, seminars and housing in apartments eight blocks from the US Capitol and Supreme Court. In this post Junior Havilah Mendez, a current participant, provides insight on the American Studies Program from her personal experiences interning in Washington, D.C.

As I was performing my daily routines of this past fall semester – wading through my economics assignments, writing papers for my foreign policy class, and trying to wake up twice a week for my 8 am – all that I could think of was my upcoming off-campus semester. So while I did all my regular semester work, I wrote my application and sent out resumes for the American Studies Program in Washington,

Junior Havilah Mendez is spending this semester studying and interning in Washington, D.C.

D.C. I’m now in the middle of my semester “studying abroad” engaging in what I call long-term experimental learning through my classes in Global Development and through my internship with LIFT-DC.

Coming to LIFT, I only knew superficially what the organization does, but now I have learned much more about LIFT as a missional-organization. LIFT’s basic mission is to work with people who want to get out of poverty and set goals for their future. The organization depends quite a lot on the contributions of student volunteers and this framework influences our work every day.

In a typical day at LIFT, I may meet with a client looking for market-rate housing to utilize a Section 8 voucher or I may have a homeless client looking for a transitional shelter or job training. I discuss all the options with each client and work with them to set goals for what they want to accomplish. LIFT assists clients in employment searches, applications for housing and public benefits, and refers clients to local resources or services like professional training or healthcare.

During my first few days of client meetings at LIFT I found myself asking my supervisors and colleagues lots of questions due to my insufficient knowledge of public benefits and public housing available in DC.. I continue to ask many questions of my site coordinators and other student advocates because every client is different. Each meeting is successful if something positive was accomplished or some action was taken. In one day I can have as many as 6 fifty-minute client meetings, each with a different story and with a different need. LIFT understands that student advocates are sifting through lots of possible solutions to the challenges and questions clients bring, and my job is to guide the client through these solutions.

Havilah has enjoyed immersing herself in the city of Washington, D.C. and exploring future career options.

This position has demanded a lot from me. Through the initial training and continuing through my first few client meetings, LIFT has emphasized learning by doing. . I came to more fully understand this approach when I wrote a resume for someone recently released from prison and when I called pro bono lawyers on behalf of a client. LIFT’s “strength-based approach” is challenging, because it requires me to see beyond what I assume are someone else’s weaknesses or failures. A lot of times I feel like I am faking interest or concern. Other times, a client’s immediate needs can seem so distracting that I forget about the ultimate mission to set goals for them. I have learned through experience that “creating value” as an individual is a long process—it depends on the response of clients and the knowledge I already have.

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Messiah’s service-oriented environment has been great preparation for my internship in D.C. and I often think back to service projects I did for classes. I have also enjoyed the opportunity to explore career opportunities in D.C. as an International Relations major and to learn more about a city I’d like to work in someday. While I miss my friends back at school, I know this time is great preparation for senior year and beyond. I could go on and on but I need to go to bed soon to make the bus in the morning! See you all in the Fall!

LIFT was covered in a recent story by the New York Times .

and also in this YouTube video

Written by Havilah Mendez, ’13