GV PS

New Internship Director for Winter 2008

While Professor den Dulk is away on sabbatical leave in winter of 2008, Professor Donald Zinman will be filling in as Internship Director for the GVSU Political Science Department. Students with an interest in an internship - and we hope that is all of you - should feel free to contact Professor Zinman at zinmand@gvsu.edu.

Students who are currently in the process of obtaining or registering for an internship should attempt to complete the process before Professor den Dulk leaves (effective December 19). His regular office hours are MW 1-2:30; he will have additional office hours Thursday, December 6, from 9:30-11:30 am.

Professor den Dulk will be back as Internship Director for the spring/summer 2008 semester.

Dr. Kieh's new book on Liberia's First Civil War

George Klay Kieh, Jr., Professor of Political Science, has published the book Liberia's First Civil War: The Crises of Underdevelopment, New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2008.

State Department Division Chief Visits PLS Classes

On Tuesday, November 6th, Professor Diven hosted John Matuszak in her U.S. foreign policy classes. Mr. Matuszak works in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science in the U.S. State Department. He works to represent U.S. environmental policy overseas and helps negotiate U.S. participation in bilateral and multilateral environmental agreements. In class, Mr. Matuszak talked about the importance of global environmental issues and careers in the State Department.

Mr. Matuszak was raised in Grand Rapids, attended Aquinas College, and completed his graduate work at Michigan State University. In 1978, he studied abroad with the GVSU program in Cracow, Poland. He had some interesting insights about how to pursue jobs in the State Department. Students who would like to contact Mr. Matuszak can do so through Professor Diven.

Internship Opportunities

PLS and IR students should take a look at the GVSU Blackboard site for majors and minors, where several new internship opportunities have been posted. These include:

Two opportunities at a US Senator's office
Several internships with presidential campaigns
A paid internship with a leading political research organization

And many more!

Don't hesitate to contact Professor den Dulk with any questions about internships. High political season is almost here!

Professor Diven Elected to Midwest ISA Governing Council

At the annual meeting of the Midwest International Studies Association in St. Louis last weekend, Professor Diven was elected to a two-year term on the governing council of the organization. As a member of the council, Professor Diven will be asked to help plan the annual conference, including choosing conference themes, locations, and invited speakers. She will also be involved in choosing the papers which received awards at the conference.

During the conference Professor Diven also presented her current research on "The Foundations of Anti-Americanism in Europe."

Michigan Service Scholars Program for 2007-08

The New and Improved: Michigan Service Scholars Program for 2007-08

The Michigan Service Scholars Program (MSS) is an AmeriCorps program that encourages students to serve on their campuses and in their communities.
MSS promotes civic engagement and active citizenship among college students.

Students willing to complete 300 hours of community service during one calendar year will receive a $1,000 education award to help further their education. Service hours may be completed during the academic year and/or over class breaks, including over the summer.
The MSS program has defined "Service" into 2 categories: Volunteer Recruitment & Community Service

Volunteer Recruitment members serve to recruit other students, faculty, community members, etc. to participate in service activities for a 501(c)3 nonprofit, K-12 school or higher education institution doing community work.

Community Service members complete their hours by helping community agencies achieve their mission by volunteering in various capacities. You can do that by working the various social issues tackled by 501(c)3 nonprofit, K-12 schools or colleges/universities doing community work. Internships, service learning courses, and Federal Work Study Positions focused on community needs may qualify.

For more information, please contact the Site Supervisor - Jodi Griffin - by phone at 616.331.2468

Some additional information from Jodi:

This non-competitive program is simple. Students who will volunteer 300 hours in a calendar year are eligible for the $1,000 education award through AmeriCorps if they serve in the following capacities of Volunteer Recruitment and/or Community Service that furthers the mission within a 501©3 organization, K-12 institution or through GVSU.

Students are required to attend a one-time training through Michigan Campus Compact and are then able to start recording their hours. GVSU will also host a short training on the resources and opportunities available in our local areas and on campus. Because this is not a competitive process, anyone eligible to apply is allowed into the program up to 450 students state wide. Students who are completing an internship, and/or working through Federal Work-Study may also be eligible. The education award can be used by students for a variety of educational purposes: graduate school, current tuition/fees, student loans, etc.

Here is the website.

Model Organization of American States

LAS 380 01: MOAS*
Model Organization of American States
General Assembly
Winter, 2008
T/Th 11:30 AM-12:45 PM
ASH 1204

Prof. Dennis Malaret
Sociology
2152 AuSable Hall, 616-331-3113
malaretd@gvsu.edu

When: Winter, 2008
Where: Washington, D.C., April 8-12, 2008.

We need an additional 8 students to make up the GVSU delegation.

LAS 380 is an interdisciplinary course offered to students interested in Anthropology, Business, Criminal Justice, International Relations, Communication, Spanish language and culture, History, Political Science, and Sociology. Furthermore, this course will study important issues such as Human Rights, Immigration, and issues of health, education, and poverty across the Americas.

In this course, you travel together with the class as a delegation for one week to Washington, DC. Our delegation will represent the country of Ecuador this year. You also develop career skills of leadership that can only be acquired outside the classroom. Additionally, you will meet students and diplomats from all across the Americas.

Requirements: interest in any of the fields listed above

Cost: The student is required to register for a 3 credits and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies and the Latin American Studies program will pay all travel and lodging costs for all members of the delegation while in Washington, D.C.! If this is a course of interest you, hurry up and sign up now. Only 8 seats remain to be filled!

The Model Organization of American States (MOAS) General Assembly is a simulation of the General Assembly of the OAS, the 55- year- old regional multilateral organization of the United Nations. In 2007, the Latin American Studies Program organized a group of 12 highly motivated students under the direction of Dr. Dennis Malaret, representing the country of Costa Rica at the simulations.