GV PS

Dr. Diven Teaching in Muenster, Germany

Among other activities during her sabbatical, Dr. Polly Diven is teaching in Muenster, Germany. She is teaching at the School of Applied Sciences at the University of Muenster.  This week she gave a public lecture Wednesday night (see photo) and then taught a seminar in U.S. foreign policy (16 hours over two days) this week. Click through for an article on the University of Muenster's website.

Volunteer Opportunity for We Vote

Our Community Matters.
We Vote.

We Vote is a nonpartisan community effort to increase awareness and participation in Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education elections.

Our next election is May 5th and WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

We Vote will be distributing Voter Guides to Grand Rapids residents; upcoming dates include:

Saturday, April 4 from 10am-4pm (two hour shifts)
Tuesday, April 7 from 5:30pm-8pm
Thursday, April 9 from 5:30pm-8pm
Saturday, April 11 from 10am-4pm (two hour shifts)

If you are able to volunteer to go door-to-door to distribute our Voter Guide and encourage voting in the May 5 election, please contact Janelle Hill at burdejanie@yahoo.com or sign up through the website - www.WeVoteGR.org

We Vote emerged from the belief that public education is critical to the success of our community. Voting is one of the most simple but powerful ways community members can share their voice to support this asset.               

Dr. Martha Nussbaum to Speak on Constitutional Interpretation at GVSU

On Friday, April 3, Martha Nussbaum will deliver a lecture entitled, “Trouble on the Supreme Court: Constitutional Interpretation and the Human Capabilities Approach,” on Grand Valley State University's Pew Campus. The lecture will be held in 215 Eberhard Center on the Pew Campus (downtown Grand Rapids) on Friday, April 3, at 4:00 pm.

Professor Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, appointed in the Philosophy Department, Law School, and Divinity School. She is an Associate in the Classics Department and the Political Science Department, a Member of the Committee on Southern Asian Studies, and Co-Chair of the Human Rights Program. She is the founder and Coordinator of the Center for Comparative Constitutionalism. She has also taught at Harvard, Brown, and Oxford Universities.

Nussbaum is an internationally-known scholar, with over a dozen books on topics ranging from classical Greek thought, feminist theory, liberal education, human rights, and law. Her lecture will bring together her innovative defense of human rights with timely questions of constitutional law and interpretation.

This event is sponsored by the William Baum Fund, Dept. of Political Science, Dept. of Philosophy, Dept. of Classics, Dept. of Liberal Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Office of the Provost.

Panel on Global Financial Crisis

The International Relations Organization will be hosting a discussion panel on the current global financial crisis.  Professors Miller-Adams, Giedeman, Isely, and Simons will be taking part in the discussion. 

 

When:  Wednesday, March 25th from 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Where:  Kirkhof Center, Room #2263

MSU Law Webinar on LSAT Prep

Join MSU College of Law for “LSAT 101” – an online meeting (webinar) that will provide helpful information about the Law School Admissions Test. Topics to be covered include how and why Law School Admission Committees rely on the LSAT; skills that the LSAT assesses; test preparation methods; and recommendations for creating a LSAT prep plan. The presenters for this informative online meeting (webinar) are David Lynch, Director of Curriculum Development for ExamKrackers, one of the nation’s LSAT largest test-preparation providers, and Charles Roboski, Dean of Admissions at Michigan State University College of Law.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 7-7:45 p.m.

Pre-register online

New Political Science Career Guide

The political science has produced a new career guide, available by clicking the careers link on the political science website (gvsu.edu/polisci).

Registration Issues and How To Get Help

If you are finding that Banner is keeping you out of a course despite the fact that you have met the prerequisites, please let us know via email and we will get you into the course. We will need the following information:

Name, number, section and CRN of course
Your name
Your G#
Your email address

Political science majors/minors contact:
Dr. Mark Richards, Department Chair
richardm@gvsu.edu

International Relations majors/minors contact
Dr. Robert Stewart-Ingersoll, Interim Director of International Relations (through winter 2009 semester)
ingersor@gvsu.edu

Starting with the spring 2009 semester, contact
Dr. Polly Diven, Director of International Relations
divenp@gvsu.edu

PLS 380s, Special Topics, 2009-10

Fall 2009

PLS 380 01 Environmental Policy
Professor Laura Schneider
Counts for American politics category and 300-level requirement.
TR 11:30-12:45, LSH 154
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to a variety of environmental issues and policy responses. The course will begin with a brief introduction to the policy process, but the majority of the course will be spent covering major environmental policies and policy concerns. Some topics covered in the course are air, water and toxic waste pollution, energy, land management, climate change, and sustainability.

PLS 380 02 U.S.  Public Opinion
Professor Whitt Kilburn
MW 3-4:15, ASH 2123
Counts for American politics category and 300-level requirement.
In the study of democratic politics, no subject is more critical than public opinion.  In this course, we will examine questions that have puzzled observers of American politics since the founding.  To what extent is the American public's interest in politics sufficiently stable, thoughtfully based in principle or self-interest, and resistant to manipulation by elites, such that American democracy can be true to its name --- a place where the people rule?  The course counts toward American politics and 300-level credit.  Neither math nor statistics is required for the course, and there are no pre-requisites.  

PLS 380 03 Middle East Politics
Professor Gamal Gasim
M 6-8:50, 2132 ASH
Counts for comparative category and 300-level requirement.
This course presents a survey of Middle East politics since the collapse of Ottoman Empire with a brief historical background of Islam and the rise of early Islamic states. This course will introduce students to the most salient political, social and economic issues in the region. By the end of the semster students will be able to:
• Describe the impact of Islam on Middle Eastern Politics.
• Explain the Rise of Arab and Turkish Nationalism and  how it affects the overall political development in the Middle East after World War II.
• Analyze the major social and political changes in the Middle East.
• Explain Middle Eastern political economy and the politics of gender.

Winter 2010

PLS 380 01 Women, Politics, and Policy
Professor Laura Schneider
MW 4:30-5:45, ASH 2120
Counts for American politics category and 300-level requirement.
This course explores the ways that gender structures government and policy decisions. Students will develop a familiarity with many gendered issues and the relevant policy responses. Topics include domestic violence, reproductive policies, divorce and the family, marriage and the family, poverty, class, and pay.

PLS 380 02 State Policy
T 6-8:50, ASH 2119
Counts for American Politics category and 300-level requirement
This course examines contemporary issues in Michigan state policy. Prior courses in state politics (PLS 203) and/or the policy process (PLS 205) recommended.

Law Society Events

· March 11th PERL (Johnson Living Center): Guest Speaker: Dean of MSU Law
· March 16th 136E Devos: Guest speaker on Business Law and Local and National Internship Opportunities Information
· March 25th Fairlaines, Grandville: Bowl-a-thon
  Bowl to help raise money for our Relay for Life team
· End of March: Cooley Law School Panel -Location and Date TBA
  Ask questions to current law students about applying, the class load, or whatever you like.
· April 1st: Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser
  Enjoy great food while raising money for Law Society, bring your friends too.
· April 15th 164 LOH: Guest speaker from Kaplan
  Learn about how to prepare for the LSAT

Classics Course in Roman Law

Professor Pazdernik is offering a course in fall 2009 on Roman Law that will be of interest to pre-law students.

CLA 287 Roman Law. Multidisciplinary introduction to the legal system that governed the Roman Empire and influenced all subsequent Western legal thought. Interactive, case-based approach focuses upon analysis of hypothetical situations. Topics include substantive private law, Roman legal history, and contributions to modern legal systems. Especially valuable for pre-law students. All readings in translation. Part of Freedom and Social Control Theme. Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the Freshman Writing Requirement. Three credits.

F09 MWF  1200PM-1250PM  233 LSH

Follow the link for an entertaining and informative poster. Download CLA 287 Roman Law poster