Calling all UHP freshmen!
On Sunday, December 6, 2015, join Prof. Ralkowski and GW TRAiLS for a day of spelunking in West Virginia! Please sign up by Wednesday, Dec. 2 (this is also the cancellation date if you change your mind).
You’ll meet at the glass tables in Marvin Center (by the admissions office) and from there drive the ~90 minutes to Shepardstown, WV. There you will receive some safety equipment (helmet, headlamp) and safety instructions from your guide! Climbing in the cave requires no experience, just a few hours of crawling, walking, and scrambling. You can expect to be back on Foggy Bottom around 6:00 pm, in time to study for upcoming finals.
In the words of GW TRAiLS: “If you enjoy jumpsuits and getting muddy come with us to explore the inside of a sweet cave in West Virginia!”
Make sure you bring these items:
clothes that can get dirty
clean, comfortable clothes for the ride back
closed toed shoes (hiking boots, sneakers)
bag lunch/breakfast/second lunch/snacks and WATER
Please register for this trip here, and contact the office or TRAiLS with any questions!
Check out our recently added Self and Society course, as well as changes to a Scientific Reasoning and Discovery section (with the changes in red!), just in time for Spring 2016 registration!
Gender Activism in the Muslim World
Professor Kelly Pemberton
HONR 2048.MV – 3 Credits
CRN: 77947
R 1:00-3:30 PM Course Description: This undergraduate course is suitable for students who have little to no background in Islamic studies or the Muslim world. It focuses on women’s rights activism and activists in Muslim-majority countries and Muslim communities in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and North Am. We will explore this activism with respect to the intersection of history, society, and geopolitics, using the theoretical lens of socio-cultural anthropology, and in consideration of of cultural complexes and social relationships within their particular historical contexts and geographic environments. These perspectives will give us a unique vantage point for exploring some of the present characteristics of women’s rights activist communities in Muslim-majority lands and communities, including coalitions among secularists, Islamic, and non-Muslim religious groups, while we investigate some of the major cultural and ideological factors that are shaping these movements. The course will feature at least one guest speaker who is a Muslim activist for women’s rights, and will also offer an opportunity for an off-campus visit to a local mosque or Muslim community center.
Human Biology- The Nutrition Edition
Professor Carly Jordan
HONR 1034:MV2 – 4 Credits
CRN: 77382
TR 9:00-10:50 AM Fulfills: CCAS: Natural/Physical Science with Lab, ESIA: Science, GWSB: Science Course Description: Every day we hear all sorts of claims about how to live a healthy life. From what to eat to whether or not to get a vaccine or take a certain drug, we are constantly bombarded with advice about how to live our lives.Who do you listen to? How do you know if the claims you hear are true? In this course, you will develop science literacy and critical thinking skills necessary to make sense of the information you encounter every day. You will learn quantitative skills and basic statistics that will help you interpret data. The major project in this course will be to find a claim and investigate its validity. You will determine the legitimacy of its makers, learn where to find primary sources to support or refute the claim, propose additional studies to help clarify confusing information, and create a dissemination piece to share your understanding with your peers. In this course, we will analyze serious medical claims and silly urban legends, but we will do it all using sound logic and the scientific method. At the end of the semester, you will be armed with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about your health. Note: Spring 2016 will focus on the science of nutrition, metabolism, and exercise.
Prof. Catherine Woytowicz in the Elliott School is looking to hire a PWP (undergraduate teaching assistant) for her spring course – Science, Technology and Policy (IAFF2190W). This is a practical, nontraditional class designed to recreate the experience of a White House briefing team. The class writes talking points, policy briefs, op eds, and briefing books. They interview and brief experts in many fields.
Experience –Students need not be science or policy majors; anyone who has completed the WID requirements is welcome apply.
Duties – The duties are primarily to help people use critical thinking to write about science and public policy issues. Other duties include:
* attend class (7 – 10pmThursday nights)
* hold 2 office hours/week
* maintain experts database for student interviews and
call Society, NGO, industrial, military, and academic contacts
* help manage speakers/experts
* assist with protocol reception
Compensation: $1000
To apply – Interested students should send the items below by 5pmTuesday, 10 November:
* a cover letter stating what they would like to get our of the position
* a writing sample (up to one page) on science policy issue stating why that issue is important to the United States
Interviews – There will be a short interview for finalists during 17 – 18 November.
Cadre dinner – The selected candidate is invited to join the previous PWPs for a welcome dinner on 19 November. PWP’s receive mentoring as part of this program. Instead of ending that at the end of the semester, we keep in touch. Former PWPs now work at the White House, CSIS, and on the Hill. This is a great opportunity for those interested in science policy, teaching, or staff work.
Please send any questions to Prof. Woytowicz at drcat@gwu.edu.
This post was written by Peer Advisor Bridger Christian, a Junior in SMPA studying Political Communication. Thanksgiving is only three weeks away, and I know we’ll all make it! In this week’s edition of the Extra-Curricular, we’re going to look at a really great organization on campus, GW STAR, or Student Admissions Representatives! These are the people who interact with prospective students by participating in information sessions, hosting students on overnight campus visits, and yes, giving tours. I was a member of STAR all of my Freshman and half of my Sophomore year at GW, and I have to say, it was a great experience. I only decided to hang up my GW logo polo after I accepted an internship in the US Senate that also required me giving a lot of tours. No matter how much you like giving tours, four times a week is just too much! Even though I don’t participate in the organization anymore, I can still tell you that it is truly a great group of people, and it’s a great way to get to know GW better. So let’s start from the beginning. Going into college, I always thought it’d be cool to be a tour guide. I visited about 20 colleges across the US throughout high school (and applied to 18!), and I always thought that the tour guide really made a huge difference regarding how I felt about a school. At some schools, I would have high expectations and the tour guide would let me down, and at others I’d be on the fence and the tour guide would sell me on applying. My tour guide when I visited GW was absolutely great. He was a fellow Montanan from Great Falls, and so we had an instant connection. He really made me feel comfortable leaving a state known for the great outdoors and serenity for the hustle and bustle of a city that, including the metro, has more people than all of Montana! When I got to GW, I immediately sought out GW STAR. By the second week I was in an information session, and by the end of the first month I had applied to the student organization. I worked through the interview process, in which you are asked to do things like pretend you are describing a major or building to a group of prospective students, I gave my mock tour, and I was off! I really enjoyed two aspects of the organization more than anything else. The first, of course, was developing incredibly cheesy jokes and trying them out on unknowing students. For example, I always thought it was really funny to stop at the hippo outside Lisner and say “This isn’t a real hippo of course, real hippos live in the same place as people who don’t want to go to GW… Da-Nile!” I always tried to add something new and witty to every tour I gave, and it really made the process tons of fun. The second thing I loved was just interacting with students. GW is a place that people from all over the world aspire to attend, and thus, you get to meet people from all walks of life. I remember one time I was observing a new tour guide give a tour, and I was able to spend the entire time just talking with this dad of twins from South Carolina. He and I really had a great time, laughed, and in the end, I think I was really able to make him feel more comfortable about the prospect of his students attending GW. The custom STAR logo I made for my business cards. If you do become a tour guide, I’ve got one piece of advice for you: make business cards! I developed my own cards, with my own custom GW STAR logo, and because of that, I was able to hear back from many people who had gone on tours with me. Some told me thanks for the tour, but they’d be attending other colleges or universities, while others told me they were accepting an offer to attend GW and that we should grab coffee sometime! It was great to know that, even if it wasn’t especially consequential, I helped play a role in working people through their college decision. One other thing that’s fun about being in STAR is that it’s not only about giving tours (though that is the main part). In addition to showing people around campus, you also have the opportunity (not the obligation) to host prospective students on overnight visits in your residence hall. You get a free dinner voucher, and you get to do fun stuff like take them to class, show them around the monuments, and even visit a museum. I only did this once, but it was a great experience, and the person I hosted now lives in the same residence hall as I do! In addition to all of this, being a member of STAR looks great on your resume. Studies have shown that, outside of holding a leadership position on campus (RA, President of SA, etc.), being a tour guide is one of the best things you can have on your application. It shows you work well with people, that you’ve represented a large institution before, and that you’re energetic and engaged. It also shows you are willing to do a little research and absorb information in order to do you job well. So if you’re looking for an organization on campus, I recommend giving STAR a close examination. They select new members at the beginning of each semester, so look out for the flyers in the Marvin Center elevators after the Holiday Break! It’s a great way to let your GW passion show, to meet new people, and to help prospective students decide whether or not GW is right for them.
Professors Ralkowski and Trullinger are starting up a Thesis Working Group, and the first meeting will be Friday, November 13th at 2:00pm in the UHP Club Room. All seniors are welcome! Maybe you’re in the middle of writing your thesis and you want to share some tips with people who are just getting started. Maybe you haven’t started and you can’t stop procrastinating. Or maybe you just want to hear about the projects that your classmates are working on. Whatever your situation is, come by, have a snack, have some coffee, and join the conversation! Think of this as a stress-reducing support group, an opportunity to share the thesis writing experience with classmates and professors. We are all in it together.
We will be meeting about twice a month for the rest of the academic year. The idea is to stop by for as long as you want, and to come when you can—if you can’t make it on November 13th, maybe you can come to the meeting after Thanksgiving. We look forward to seeing you soon!
The UHP is now accepting your entries for the 2016 Strasser Writing Prize!
The Strasser prize awards a grand prize of $100 and two runner-ups of $50 to the best papers written in any Honors course over the past year. You can only enter one paper, so make sure it’s your best! Submit your entry hereafter reading the full rules (which have changed from last year). Please remember to remove your name from all pages of the paper. The file title must be “LastName_FirstName.” (.doc or .docx only.)
This year’s deadline for entries is Friday, January 22nd by 5:00 PM.
The paper is already written! All you have to do is submit it!
No Clue what you’re doing for brunch on Sunday, November 15? Concerned that studying for classes and other Trivial Pursuits have a Monopoly on your time? Give your Cranium a break, and get a Life. (That was a little mean… Sorry!) Don’t go through the Trouble of making plans – it doesn’t need to be a whole Operation. We’ve got you covered. The Programming Board will be hosting brunch in the Townhouse next Sunday, November 15 between 11 and 1! There will be bagels, muffins, and board games… oh my!
Show up ready to win or pop in for a quick bite, but either way, please make sure to RSVP!
The Direct Action & Research Training (DART) Center will be on campus on Wednesday, November 11 at 6pm in Marvin Center 506 (800 21st St NW) to discuss careers in community organizing with individuals interested in uniting congregations and working for social, economic and racial justice.
RSVP at www.thedartcenter.org/gwu
DART hires and trains organizers to lead campaigns on a broad set of justice issues including:
* Plugging the school-to-prison pipeline
* Establishing restorative justice programs in schools and neighborhoods
* Expanding access to primary health and dental care
* Prioritizing funding for affordable housing and job training
* Reining in predatory lending practices
Positions start January 11, 2016 in St. Petersburg, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, FL.
Positions start August 15, 2016 in Charleston, SC, Columbus, OH, St. Petersburg, FL and Lexington, KY.
Starting salary $34,000/year + benefits, with regular performance based raises.
Although it may be helpful, no prior organizing experience is necessary. Fluent speakers of Spanish and Haitian Creole are encouraged to apply.
To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to visit www.thedartcenter.org. Still have questions? Contact Hannah Wittmer at hannah@thedartcenter.org or (202) 841-0353.
This internships was passed on to us by UHP alumnus Jason Olin. Thanks, Jason!
The Homeland Security Committee Majority Staff is seeking legislative interns for the Spring internship program of 2016. Candidates should be hardworking, professional, and quick learners. Strong oral and written communication skills and a close attention to detail are required. Those selected will be assisting staff with substantive research projects, press matters, preparing for Committee hearings and markups, and the daily operation of the office. Previous Hill experience is preferred, but not required. The Committee will reimburse travel expenses up to $130 monthly on the DC Metro (WMATA). The deadline to submit applications for the Spring internship program is November 19, 2015.
To apply for an internship with the Homeland Security Committee, please submit the following materials:
current resume and cover letter
references
a writing sample on one of the following topics: cybersecurity, border security, counterterrorism, or DHS management.
These items should be sent to the Committee’s intern coordinator, Nathan Wheat, via email at Nathan.wheat@mail.house.gov.
Should We Summon A Convention to Propose Amendments to the Constitution?
a debate sponsored by the Politics & Values Program and Institute for Humane Studies
The U.S. Constitution has not been amended since 1992 and only 27 times in its history. With the country facing unprecedented challenges, should we summon a convention to propose new amendments to make the federal government operate more effectively? Would such a convention enhance Americans’ ability to control their government? Or would it threaten our basic institutions?
Please join Ian Millhiser and Michael Stern as they debate these important questions. Mr. Millhiser is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he specializes in constitutional issues. Mr. Stern is editor of PointOfOrder.Com, a blog focusing on legal issues in Congress, and a member of the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force.
Event Details
Wednesday, November 4, 3:30-5:00 PM. Marvin Center 406.
The Debate is Free and Open to the Public. For more information, email swgoldman@gwu.edu.
Calling all UHP freshmen!
The Programming Board will be hosting brunch in the Townhouse next Sunday, November 15 between 11 and 1! There will be bagels, muffins, and board games… oh my!