GV PS

Alum Lewis to Host Spike TV Show "Repo Games"

Here is some additional evidence that Political Science is an incredibly versatile major. Political science alumnus Josh Lewis ('08) has been named the co-host of a new show on Spike TV called "Repo Games." Josh's bio and information on the show can be found here. The show premieres April 26th at 8 pm Eastern.

Sex, Power and Politics: New Winter 2012 course

Sex, Power and Politics
Dr. Karen Zivi
PLS 380 – 03
Winter 2012
Tuesday, Thursday 11:30 – 12:45 in Honors 236E

Note: This course counts for the political theory category of the political science major, and for the "four courses at the 300-level" requirement. This is not an Honors course.

Course Description:

The course brings works of feminist and political theory together with the study of contemporary public policy controversies and raises questions such as: Are men and women born or made? Is biology destiny or is it social constructed? And what difference does difference make?

In this class we will call into question the certainty with which we designate individuals “male” and “female” as well as explore the role these terms play in our political, social, and cultural lives. We will explore the way in which theoretical conceptions of sexuality inform and/ or are challenged by public policy and practices. In particular, we will investigate the connections between theories of sexuality and the politics of sexuality as they are manifest in debates over motherhood, reproductive freedom, pornography, and marriage. At the heart of this course is an attempt to understand the processes by which femininity and masculinity are constructed and come to shape the lives of everyday citizens in both positive and negative ways. To that end, we will consider questions such as how do theories of sexuality inform politics and public policy? How do these theories, and the policies they engender, perpetuate or minimize relations of subordination and domination? How do our gender norms undermine or enable human flourishing and freedom? And what, if anything, can or should be done in response?

About Dr. Zivi

The political science department is very pleased to welcome Dr. Karen Zivi to GVSU. She will begin a position in the Honors College in fall 2011, and will sometimes offer courses in the political science department. She holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University and has taught at UCLA and the University of Richmond. She is the author of the forthcoming Oxford University Press book Making Rights Claims.

 

Student Receives Padnos Scholarship to Study in Russia

Political Science major Alexandra Spurlock has been awarded a $10,000 Barbara Padnos International Scholarship. She will use the scholarship to spend the next academic year attending the School of Russian and Asian Studies Russian as a Second Language program in St. Petersburg, Russia. 

 

Student Attends UN Conference

GVSU's Success Stories features Political Science and Women and Gender Studies major Kirsten Zeiter, who was selected as a delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women meetings held at the United Nations. 

 

 

The Arab World Awakening

 

 

The Arab World Awakening 

A Panel Discussion of Recent Events in the Middle East

 

Featuring:

Professor Gamal Gasim, Middle East Studies Program and Political Science

Professor Thomas Walker, Political Science and International Relations

Professor Sebastian Maisel, Arabic and Middle East Studies Program

Professor James Goode, History

Wael Berjaoui, MD, Honors Student 

 

Monday, April 18, 7 pm

Kirkoff Center, Rm. 2266

 

Sponsored by the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and the International Relations Organization