THIS MONTH'S HEADLINES:
1. ANNUAL POLITICAL SCIENCE DINNER AT OLIVE GARDEN ON APRIL 24.
2. GRADUATING SENIORS
3. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES DEBATE ON APRIL 26
4. ALUMNUS AND STATE SENATOR GUY RESCHENTHALER VISITS CAMPUS AND MEETS STUDENTS
5. POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS WIN AWARDS
6. PENN STATE BEHREND HOSTS FIRST ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL MODEL UN CONFERENCE
7. STUDENT GROUP NEWS
8. FACULTY IN THE NEWS
9. FACEBOOK PAGE
10. FINAL NEWSLETTER OF YEAR
1. ANNUAL POLITICAL SCIENCE DINNER AT OLIVE GARDEN ON APRIL 24
The annual political science dinner will be held at the Olive Garden on Peach Street on Tuesday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. Graduating political science majors are the guests of honor, but all are invited to attend, and most political science faculty members will be there as well. Friends and significant others are also welcome. We use the regular menu, and people pay for their own meals. Dressing up is not necessary. To attend, RSVP to Dr. Speel no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 23.
If they complete all degree requirements, six Penn State Behrend political science majors are scheduled to graduate next month:
- Chantel Drake
- Christopher Grow
- Daniel Jaskiewicz
- Jaclyn Mitchell
- Echo Seiersen
- Anthony Ventura
In addition, two Behrend students are scheduled to graduate, if they complete all degree requirements, with a politics and government minor next month:
- Mykayla Rossey
- Natalie Szalajko
Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors, and best wishes with your plans for the future!
3. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES DEBATE ON APRIL 26
The Behrend Public Policy Fund and the Jefferson Educational Society of Erie will be co-sponsoring a Congressional Debate for the Democratic candidates of Pennsylvania's 16th district who will be running in the May primary election for the nomination to run against incumbent Republican Mike Kelly in November 2018 in a district with redrawn boundaries. The new boundaries put all of Erie County into the new 16th district. The debate will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at the JES at 3207 State Street in Erie, with JES Program Director Ben Speggen and PPF Executive Director Caitlin Handerhan as moderators.
4. ALUMNUS AND STATE SENATOR GUY RESCHENTHALER VISITS CAMPUS AND MEETS STUDENTS
State Senator, Congressional Candidate, and Penn State Behrend Political Science Alumnus Guy Reschenthaler visited campus on April 9 and 10 as a recipient this year of Penn State's Alumni Achievement Award. During his visit, he enjoyed a dinner and lunch with students, faculty, Chancellor Ralph Ford, and political science advisory board members, and talked to students in several political science classes. More details can be found on the Penn State News website.
5. POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS WIN AWARDS
At Penn State Behrend's Honors and Awards Convocation this year, the following political science majors are among those who won awards:
- Echo Seiersen, Outstanding Political Science Major
- Jaclyn Mitchell, Zachary T. Irwin Humanitarian Award
6. PENN STATE BEHREND HOSTS FIRST ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL MODEL UN CONFERENCE
Penn State Behrend's Model United Nations chapter hosted over 65 students from five high schools for the inaugural High School Model U.N. Conference on campus on April 13. At the conference, Behrend students worked with high school students who tried to reach an agreement about policies for the immigration and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons. More about this story can be found on the Penn State News website.
College Republicans held elections for new officers and has chosen Bailey Rollage as new president, along with Vice President Christian Brooks, Secretary Will Pagotis, and Treasurer Michael Geary. Previous College Republicans President JP Jarecki has been elected as the Student Government Association President. To get involved with College Republicans next year, contact President Bailey Rollage at [email protected].
The Behrend Political Society is making plans for next year. To get involved, contact President Rachel Mills at [email protected].
College Democrats is making plans for next year. To get involved, contact President Tiffany Zinn at [email protected].
Model United Nations is making plans for next year. To get involved, contact Faculty Advisor Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned at [email protected].
Dr. Kilic Kanat, Associate Professor of Political Science, continues to write regular columns for Daily Sabah, an English-language newspaper in Turkey. Those columns, of which the most recent is titled "Thinking Positively on the Syrian War," can be found on the Daily Sabah website.
Dr. Molly Monahan Lang, Lecturer in Sociology, presented a talk titled "Threats to Democracy in America: How Does History Compare to the Age of Trump and Why Should We Care?" as part of a panel titled "American Fascism: Examining the Rise of Extreme Views on Both the Left and the Right," at the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie on April 19. Also presenting were Dr. Amy Carney, Associate Professor of History, and Dr. Colleen Kelley, Associate Professor of Speech Communication. The event was organized and hosted by Rev. Charles Brock, Director of the Institute on the American Dream.
Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science, attended the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association in Chicago this month, where she presented a paper titled “Effects of E.U.’s Norm Promotion on Changes in Cultural Values of Non-member States: Case of Ukraine” and chaired and served as discussant on a panel titled “Policy Choices and Representation in the Post-Soviet States: Impact of Elections and Selection.” Dr. Surzhko-Harned also gave a talk entitled “Russian Politics: No Place for a Woman” at Wayside Presbyterian Church in Millcreek on March 18 and served as panelist for an “Understanding Fake News" faculty panel discussion on campus earlier this month.
All students and alumni are invited to like the Penn State Behrend political science Facebook page and get updated news and find out about events.
This will be the final newsletter of the 2017-2018 academic year. Good luck with final papers and final exams, and enjoy your summer. We look forward to seeing everyone who will return to campus in the fall.