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  1. Home
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  5. Political Science Newsletters

Political Science Newsletter - October 2024

THIS MONTH'S HEADLINES:

  1. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SPRING BREAK TRIP
  2. TRAVEL GRANT FUNDS FROM STUDENT ENGAGEMENT NETWORK
  3. NEW COURSE TITLED PEOPLE POWERED: THE PARTICIPATORY DIMENSION OF DEMOCRACY
  4. VISIT TO CAMPUS BY ALUMNUS ADAM FRACASSI-WIER, MICHIGAN DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS
  5. NO TEXTBOOK COST ATTRIBUTE ON PENN STATE SCHEDULE
  6. INTERNSHIPS WITH U.S. SENATOR BOB CASEY
  7. PRE-LAW ADVISER NEWS
  8. FACULTY IN THE NEWS
  9. STUDENT GROUP NEWS
  10. FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES

1. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SPRING BREAK TRIP

DC Picture

PLSC 177N during Spring 2025 will include a Spring Break trip to Washington, D.C., where students will meet members of Congress, international diplomats, executive branch agency officials, political party consultants, and interest group leaders, and will tour government buildings, potentially including the White House, Pentagon, State Department, U.S. Capitol, and Library of Congress. Students also meet many of our Penn State Behrend alumni who now live and work in Washington. Students cannot register for the course via LionPath and will need to fill out a form to commit financially to pay for their hotel rooms before being enrolled in the course.

The course meets several different general education requirements and can count toward a Political Science major or minor.

You can find more details and photos from past trips.

Brochures and forms are available outside the office for Dr. Speel (156 Kochel) and in the HSS School office (170 Kochel).

2. TRAVEL GRANT FUNDS FROM STUDENT ENGAGEMENT NETWORK

The Penn State Student Engagement Network offers grant funding assistance for travel costs related to Penn State courses. In past years, students in the Washington, D.C., course or study abroad programs have received enough funding to cover all or much of their travel costs.

Applications next open on November 20, with awards announced in mid-January.

3. NEW COURSE TITLED PEOPLE POWERED: THE PARTICIPATORY DIMENSION OF DEMOCRACY

PLSC 197: People Powered: The Participatory Dimension of Democracy - Spring 2025

While much of the premium is placed on elections and voting turnout in democracies, how do people engage in decision-making process between these rare opportunities to exercise their sovereignty?

In this course, we go beyond elections and explore meaningful channels to practice democracy – engage with our neighbors, solve public problems, and decide together. We will examine different models of participatory democracy, including participatory budgeting, participatory policymaking, citizens’ juries and assemblies, and legislative theater. The goal is to encourage students to rethink our assumptions regarding the nature of participation and representation, and to realize the potential for new mechanisms that can remedy the challenges of our times – deep polarization, distrust of government, skepticism of democracy itself.

4. VISIT TO CAMPUS BY ALUMNUS ADAM FRACASSI-WIER, MICHIGAN DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS

Adam Fracassi-Wier

Adam Fracassi-Wier, a Penn State Behrend political science alumnus who graduated in 2012 and is the current Michigan Deputy Director of Elections, came to campus on October 21 as part of the Penn State Behrend Speaker Series. He spoke about election administration in the swing state of Michigan and some of the intimidation and threats that Michigan election officials and workers have encountered in recent years.

He commented on his experiences in this Behrend Blog post. News about his visit appeared on YourErie.com.

5. NO TEXTBOOK COST ATTRIBUTE ON PENN STATE SCHEDULE

There is a new Penn State “course attribute” about required textbook costs that can be found when scheduling via class search or via schedule builder. The course attribute shows up as an additional menu option when looking for general education courses. The attribute titled “Required Text Cost” can help you find courses where required materials for the course will have no cost or will have low cost (under $50). Because this attribute started last year, most are not aware of it yet. As of the date of this newsletter, the only Behrend College courses that can be found on the schedule with $0 required text costs next semester, are PLSC 3, PLSC 177N, and PLSC 482. If you are concerned about course textbook costs, start searching with that attribute and let faculty members know about it.

6. INTERNSHIPS WITH U.S. SENATOR BOB CASEY

We received the following email:

My name is Isabel Pérez, and I am the Intern Coordinator for U.S. Senator Bob Casey. I am reaching out regarding our internship programs, both in the Senator’s state offices throughout Pennsylvania and in Washington, D.C.

I wanted to connect to let you know that applications are now open for Spring 2025, available on our website. The application closes on November 11. Internships are paid $16/hour and intended to be part-time.

I hope you encourage students from your program to consider internship opportunities with our office, particularly your students with ties to Pennsylvania. Interns in our offices receive a firsthand look at how policy is formed and implemented as well as how Senate offices assist and connect with constituents. These experiences are a great introduction to public service and the work of the United States Senate.

7. PRE-LAW ADVISER NEWS

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) will be sponsoring a digital Law School Forum on Thursday, November 14. This will provide an opportunity for students to meet with law school representatives and get their questions answered one-on-one via chat or video. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend workshops and meet virtually with financial aid representatives. For more information, please visit LSAC's website.

Any students who are interested in attending law school in the future are encouraged to meet with Behrend's Pre Law Adviser, Melissa H. Shirey. She has office hours on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 in 155 Kochel. She can also schedule appointments in person and via Zoom by emailing her at [email protected].

8. FACULTY IN THE NEWS

Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of Political Science, has been interviewed during October about the U.S. elections in Pennsylvania by Newsweek, WTAJ-TV in Altoona, The Mirror U.S., the Erie Times-News, and L’Humanité, a French newspaper. He also spoke with Dr. Ralph Ford, Chancellor of Penn State Behrend, for the podcast “Behrend Talks.”

Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, associate teaching professor of Political Science, published this article in October. She was also interviewed on France24 in late September about Ukraine and the U.S. election in Pennsylvania after President Zelensky visited a factory in Scranton.

9. STUDENT GROUP NEWS

  • The Behrend Political Society meets every Monday 6:00-7:00 p.m. in 112 or 114 Reed. To get involved, contact President Bella Eibl at [email protected].
  • To get involved with College Democrats, contact President Nick Richar at [email protected].
  • To get involved with College Republicans, contact President Anthony Farrar at [email protected].

10. FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES

All students and alumni are invited to like the Penn State Behrend Political Science Facebook page, get updated news, and find out about events.

Photos and posters for upcoming events get posted on the Penn State Behrend Political Science Instagram page.

Political Science Newsletters

  • Political Science Newsletter - April 2025
  • Political Science Newsletter - March 2025
  • Political Science Newsletter - February 2025
  • Political Science Newsletter - January 2025
  • Political Science Newsletter - December 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - November 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - October 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - September 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - April 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - March 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - February 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - January 2024
  • Political Science Newsletter - December 2023
  • Political Science Newsletter - November 2023
  • Political Science Newsletter - October 2023
  • Political Science Newsletter - September 2023
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