Carnahan Hall

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Political Science, Philosophy, and Religion -
Public  Events

Fall 2006 - Symposium 2 - The 2006 Midterm Elections
in Crisp Hall, Room 125 (Dempster Auditorium), Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 12:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
    Moderator:   Hamner Hill (Professor of Philosophy)
   
Presenters:  Rick Althaus (Professor of Political Science)Issues and Candidates in Missouri
                     Rick Almeida (Instructor of Political Science) - Competition, Advertising, and Turnout:  Democratic "success" in the 2006 Election
                     Russell Renka (Professor of Political Science)The 110th Congress:  Under New Management


Symposium 1 - Constitution Day Forum:  Article II Powers and Presidential "Signing Statements"
              
in Rhodes Hall Room 121, Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 12:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
    Moderator:   Hamner Hill (Professor of Philosophy)
   
Presenters:  Russell Renka (Professor of Political Science)Presidential Signing Statements
                     Brian Smentkowski (Associate Professor of Political Science) - The Meaning of Article II


Fall 2005 - Symposium 2  -  Scopes II - Evolution on Trial (Again!) - Wednesday, November 16, 2005
             
in Johnson 200, 12:05 to 1:15 p.m.
    Moderator:  Hamner Hill (Professor of Philosophy)
    Presenters:  Lucinda Swatzell (Assistant Professor of Biology) - "The 'e' word."
                     David Probst (Chairperson and Professor of Physics) - "Intelligent Dialogue About Intelligent Design"
                    Russell Renka (Professor of Political Science)"The Political Design of Intelligent Design"

Symposium 1 - The Selection of Judges - Wednesday, September 21, 2005
             
in Dempster Auditorium (Room 125) of Crisp Hall, 12:00 to 1:15 p.m.,
                    co-sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, and Student Government
    Moderator:  Brian Smentkowski (Associate Professor of Political Science)
    Presenters:  Hamner Hill (Professor of Philosophy) – “Judges as Umpires”
                    Russell Renka (Professor of Political Science) – “The Senate's Long-winded Advise and Consent”

Fall 2004 - Symposium 2 - The National Election of 2004 - November 18, 2004
                   
in Glenn Auditorium (Room 105) of Dempster Hall, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m,
                    co-sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha:

Presenters:  Russell Renka, Professor of Political Science -"Election 2004:  This Was 2000 All Over Again!"
                 Tomoaki Nomi, Assistant Professor of Political Science - topic title is pending
                 Willie Redmond, Professor of Economics - "The Economy and the 2004 Election"

Fall 2004 - Symposium 1 - Faith in Politics?  - October 27, 2004

Spring 2004 - Symposium 2 - Brown at 50 (21 April 2004) - April 21, 2004

                         Symposium 1 - The Election of 2004 - March 3, 2004

Spring 2003 - Symposium 1 - War with Iraq - March 5. 2003

Visit to Cuba, 2002 (Peter Bergerson and Alynna Lyon)

Fall 2001 - Terrorism in the 21st Century

    Symposium 1 - War on Terrorism - September 26, 2001

    Symposium 2 - War on Terrorism - October 10, 2001
       
Papers:  Professor Brian Smentkowski, "Conceptualizing Security and Freedom"

    Symposium No. 3 - War Powers:  Understanding the Role of the Commander in Chief and the Armed Services - October 24, 2001 at Dempster Hall, Room 125

    Symposium No. 4 - The Science and Morality of Modern Warfare - November 7, 2001 at Johnson Hall 200

Fall 2000 - Presidential Election Forum

During Fall 2000, the Department of Political Science sponsored a Presidential Election Forum Series.  The purposes of the series was to acquaint students with the presidential selection process, compare the US system to other political systems, and discuss the direction that Campaign 2000 is taking.  The four forums were scheduled from 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m. on the following days and locales:

October 4 - Forum 1 - Gore and Bush on the Issues

Dempster Auditorium in Crisp Hall, Wednesday, 12:00 noon - 1:15 p.m.

    Chair – Dr. Brian Smentkowski, Department of Political Science

    The Supreme Court and Judicial Issues - Dr. Smentkowski

    Economy, Budget and Taxes – Dr. Willie Redmond, Department of Economics

    Health Care – Dr. Desma Reno, Department of Nursing

    The Environment - Dr. Joseph Bidwell, Department of Biology

October 18 - Forum 2 - Congress and the State Elections -
Glenn Auditorium in Dempster Hall, Wednesday, 12:00 noon - 1:15 p.m.

Chair - Dr. Rick Althaus, Department of Political Science

What to Look For on the Ballot - Dr. Althaus

Missouri's U.S. Senate seat - John Ashcroft v. Mel Carnahan – Dr. Peter Bergerson, Department of Political Science 

As Missouri goes, so goes the Nation? - Dr. Steve Galatas, Department of Political Science

Issues and Elections in Missouri - Jack Stapleton, Editor, Missouri Political Newsletter

November 1 - Forum 3 - The Presidential Election 
Glenn Auditorium in Dempster Hall, Wednesday, 12:00 noon - 1:15 p.m.

Chair – Dr. Russell Renka, Department of Political Science

What the 2000 Election Polls Tell Us – Dr. Renka

The Presidential Debates – Dr. Larry Underberg - Department of Speech Communications and Theater

The Candidates and the Character Question – Dr. Brian Smentkowski, Department of Political Science

On Vice-Presidential Candidate Joe Lieberman  – Dr. Mitch Gerber, Department of Political Science

November 15 - Forum 4 - The Election and the Future
Dempster Auditorium in Crisp Hall, Wednesday, 12:00 noon - 1:15 p.m.

Chair – Dr. Alynna Lyon, Department of Political Science

Voter Turnout and Competition - Dr. Steve Galatas, Department of Political Science

The Old and the New Congress – Dr. Russell Renka, Department of Political Science

The Past and Present Electoral College - Dr. Chris Schnell, Department of History

Media Coverage of the Election - Mr. Mark Bliss, Political Reporter, Southeast Missourian

All Forums are open to the public and will include an audience question and answer session.  For further information, please contact Russell Renka by email or by phone (573/651-2692); or contact the Department of Political Science at 573/651-2183.

Links to background material on Election 2000 and related topics are at the following locations:

  • Link to Parties and Elections (PS360), including PS360 Links - State of Missouri (Russell Renka)

  • PS360 Links - Year 2000 Political Events Calendar and PS360 Links - Campaign 2000 (Russell Renka)

  • Renka's Legislative Links (Russell Renka)

  • Presidential Links (Russell Renka)

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    Spring 2000 - Presidential Election Forum

    In Spring 2000 the Department of Political Science sponsored the first part of the Presidential Election Forum Series.  We presented four forums on the presidential primaries in the crucial January-to-March period of that presidential election process.  This Forum Series acquainted students with the presidential selection process, compared the US system to other political systems, and discussed the direction that Campaign 2000 is taking.  Links to follow-up papers are included below:

    1. January 26:  The Iowa Caucuses

  • The Results Analyzed (Dr. Michael Levy)

  • Media and Momentum (Dr. Brian Smentkowski)

  • The Pre-Primary (Dr. Russell Renka)

    1. February 2:  The New Hampshire Primary

    1. March 1:  Missouri and Mega-Tuesday

    • Missouri:  an Insider's Guide (Drs. Rick Althaus and Peter Bergerson)

    • Titanic Tuesday:  The Iceberg Cometh (Dr. Russell Renka)

    • Does Anybody Care? Voter Interest in Campaign 2000 (Dr. Michael Levy)

    1. March 22:  Super Tuesday

    Schedule to be announced

    Links to background material on the 2000 primaries and general election season can be found at the following locations:

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    Fall 1998 Events

     SEMO students oppose impeachment

    During October, Drs. Levy and Smentkowski surveyed student attitudes toward Clinton.  The results (Word format) showed that students were generally less supportive of Clinton than the rest of the country and slightly more in favor of impeachment.  However, they gave Clinton a 59% approval rating and only 37% supported impeachment from office.  Additionally, the survey found that students from Southeast Missouri were more critical of the president; 43% students from Missouri's 8th Congressional district favored impeachment while Clinton's job approval rating was a mere 51%.

    Future of the Clinton Presidency

    On Sept. 23, 1998 Dr. Smentkowski and Dr.  Levy organized a panel discussion concerning the Monica Lewinsky scandal and its potential repercussions.  Dr. Peter Bergerson moderated the debate and predicted that Clinton would not be forced to resign and might be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.  Dr. Chris Schnell (History) argued that Clinton should resign and had no moral leadership.  Dr. Brian Smentkowski discussed the constitutional aspects of the scandal, the independent counsel statute, and the legal implications of the events.  Dr. Michael Levy argued that while the events surrounding Lewinsky do not constitute "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" and should not have been investigated, that Clinton should resign for the good of the country.   About 100 students attended and the event was covered by the Southeast Missourian and KFVS news.

    The following are the commentary given by:


    "Primary Colors" Viewing

    On October 5, the Political Theory Club (advised by Dr. Mitchel Gerber) viewed Primary Colors and discussed the film in the context of the Lewinsky scandal.


    1998 Election Wrap-Up

    The Department hosted an  election wrap-up to the November 3 elections on November 4.  Moderating the discussion was Dr. Bergerson, Chair of the Political Science Department.  Dr. Renka presented on the US House and Senate contests; Dr. Althaus presented on the elections at the state level, including a discussion on the Minnesota governor's race; Dr. Smentkowski talked about referenda in the various states including medical marijuana, assisted suicide, and gay marriage; Dr. Levy made an overview of the election and spoke about the "locality" of elections including a discussion of Democratic governors being elected in the south, the Missouri Senate election,  and Missouri's Amendment #9.


    Myers Residence Hall Adopted

    About a dozen people attended the first in a series of presentations by Political Science faculty members to students in Myers Hall as part of the "Adopt of Residence Hall" Program.   Dr. Renka, Professor of Political Science, focused on "Why Americans Hate Politics."   Future topics are to include Sexualized Violence, Minority Politics, Students and Politics, among others.  The effort to adopt Myers Hall has been spearheaded by Dr. Gerber, Professor of Political Science.

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    Thursday, 22 July 2010 03:06:15 PM

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