McCarthy Magazine | Fall 2021

IN THE MCC 4. Director's Note 5. Media Rebranding 6. Hands of Earth 7. McCarthy Center Open House

Issue 6

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE

24. Joseph P. Farry Professorship 25. McCarthy Center Staff

EVENTS 8. Voter Registration Day 9. McCarthy Center and the Institute for Women's Leadership 12. The 15th Annual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture with U.S. Senator Tina Smith 14. A Conversation on Labor, Religion, Politics, and Public Engagement 15. The Republican Party: Aftereffects of the Trump Presidency 16. Green Card Voices 17. Resilience and Reconciliation 18. What is Democracy?

21. The 16th Annual Polidazzle with Robert Costa

ENGAGEMENT 10. Twin Cities Study Tour 11. Joetown Walking Crawl 19. Becoming Community Book Club: Inclusion in Higher Education 20. McCarthy Mentor Program 22. Student Conference on U.S. Affairs 23. Cyber Security Summit www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 3

Director's Note A letter from Dr. Matt Lindstrom, Edward L. Henry Professor and Director of the McCarthy Center

Welcome to the Fall 2021 issue of the McCarthy Magazine. Earlier this semester as campus sidewalks, classrooms, and dining halls were filled once again, I was recharged by the new energy around me. As I reflect on the past sixteen years, I am incredibly grateful for the McCarthy Center community. This year’s talented team of student coordinators is led by Victoria M. Evens, McCarthy Center Civic Fellow. She is a leader whose vision and creativity inspire those around her.

The pictures and articles in these pages reflect the vibrant spirit of our students, staff, faculty, and off-campus supporters. Our approach is one of engagement with the world around us while striving to understand the patterns connecting local, national, and global institutions and cultures. This semester, the McCarthy Center team and its partners created an impressive variety of programs and student opportunities which have furthered this core philosophy.

While the 15th Annual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture with Senator Tina Smith did not quite go as planned, the October 14 Humphrey Theater protest generated instructive conversations about what activism can look like; these are ongoing still. Other events such as the St. Joe study tour and the 16th annual Polidazzle in Minneapolis helped connect students to each other and to the wider community of supporters. Our December study tour to New York City is another example of the Center’s mission to inspire, connect, and educate through experiential learning.

Our work is as important today as it was sixteen years ago. No one party, person, or place can fix the problems we, as a community, face today. This is precisely why our John Brandl Scholarship Program offers students financial support for summer non-profit and government internships worldwide. As we look forward to 2022, the McCarthy Center will continue to challenge students to dream big while also giving them the skills, knowledge, and connections to succeed.

Thank you very much for your support throughout the years. And, as always, I look forward to hearing more of your ideas and feedback in the year to come. It is an honor and a privilege to work with such a brilliant and committed team of students, staff, faculty, and supporters.

DR. MATT LINDSTROM Director MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 4

https://www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

A New Look

Written by Landon Peterson '24

If you’ve visited the McCarthy Center social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) recently, you’ve noticed that the MCC has a new look. Gone is the old logo and random assortment of posts, and new is a common theme across all social platforms, highlighted by the white MCC letters on a red background. Several other changes were made, including the uniformity of banner photos and the development of Instagram saved story icons to more accurately portray the information behind them. Those changes were designed and thought out during the summer and implemented in the fall, in large part due to a greater awareness of how to utilize social media to connect to students after a year of no in-person events.

The changes are also part of an initiative to grow the McCarthy Center within the CSB/SJU community and beyond.

As politics, public policy, and civic engagement took root in many of the campus and national conversations, the opportunity presented itself for the Center to grow its voice, facilitating discussions and spreading awareness of certain issues. With fall marking the visual transformation of our social media accounts, spring will mark the introduction of a new series, "MCC Clips," which will feature 30 second to 1-minute clips from past McCarthy Lectures and tie the past to present dialogues. The new year will also bring back the highly popular "In the News" and "Let’s Discuss" series from last year, all part of a focus to push out MCC content.

Social Media Initiatives Written by Lizbet Martinez '22

One of our goals at the McCarthy Center this year is to boost our social media and online presence. We believe that not only can we better connect with students, who often utilize social media as a source for daily communication, but we can reach a wider audience in general. One of the projects we are working on is the expansion of our YouTube channel. Our channel features a variety of videos including interviews with Senator McCarthy himself, recordings of our annual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture, and conversations with the CSB/SJU community on political topics, among other videos. We will continue adding videos to our playlists for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Another project we are kickstarting this year is our new TikTok account. Our first video, a quick tour of the McCarthy Center, already has over 600 views. This platform in particular would help us reach out to students and get them engaged in politics. This will include a weekly segment on politics and pop culture, where we will have different students featured to discuss topics that combine pop culture and politics. Another way we could get students directly and actively involved would be by doing interviews and asking questions around campus to gauge students' thoughts about public policy, civic engagement, and politics.

All of the opportunities and resources we offer are highlighted on our website. We also added a link on the homepage of our website, to sign up for an email newsletter from the McCarthy Center to stay up to date on our events and programming as well as other special opportunities. Visit https://www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center to learn more. www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 5

Hands of Earth

Mural by Jennifer A. Evens "Our hands tell our stories; from our visible identities like race and age to our lived experience as laborers, farmers, artists, and more..."

Written by Victoria M. Evens, Civic Fellow Since starting as the Civic Fellow in September of 2020, I've made it my goal to strengthen the interdisciplinary approach of the McCarthy Center through art and creativity. Over the past year, I've designed McCarthy Center tshirts and items, hosted a sticker design contest, and designed and edited this magazine since Issue 4. These creative initiatives have inspired me to think bigger about public art, community, and civic engagement.

In the Spring of 2021, I pitched the idea to commission an original mural to the McCarthy Center team. My goal was to visualize the values of the McCarthy Center, namely the idea of community working together towards the common good of the people, to create a tangible representation of what we believe in. This began a months-long process of drafting and coordinating with CSB/SJU, the McCarthy Center, and local artist Jennifer Evens.

I wanted to incorporate identity and intersectionality into the theme of community work, so I developed the idea to represent diversity and togetherness through hands. Our hands tell our stories: from our visible identities like race and age, to our lived experience as laborers, farmers, artists, and more. My hands tell my story. My hands are pale and freckled, with calloused fingertips and chipped nails, and a rainbow bracelet around my wrist. My mother's hands are artists' hands, strong but delicate, marked with years of painting, sketching, assembling, and creating. My partner's hands are soft but scarred. Our hands are subtle, visual cues of our unique experiences.

Jennifer Evens is a visual artist and advocate of public art. Her bright and welcoming murals can be found in various locations in MN, including St. Boniface pre-school in Cold Spring. Her art spans many mediums including photography, mosaics, painting, and jewelry. She is a memorial artist for Create a Legacy in Stone, where she creates custom designs for granite pieces.

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 6

My mother and local artist, Jennifer Evens, helped me develop this concept further. Her artistic expertise and love for nature inspired an environmental aspect to the design.

After many discussions on the topic, we landed on the idea of hands reaching up, holding up the Earth, with flowers framing the bottom of the piece. To me, this represents the unification of people and nature. As we reach out with hope and unity, we can work together to find peace in the common good for the people and our planet.

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Throughout the painting and design process, we reached out on social media with the prompt, "what story do your hands tell?" Students and community members responded with their own stories, describing their hands, skin, jewelry, tattoos, scars, callouses, wrinkles, and birthmarks along with their cultural, social, or sentimental memories about each detail. As we received responses, we implemented details inspired by these answers into the hands in the mural. These real-life examples enhanced the integrity of our overall design Mural artist Jennifer A. Evens (left) and Civic Fellow Victoria M. Evens (right) with completed 'Hands of Earth' Mural by involving our own community in the final product.

McCarthy Center Open House

Students mingle at the McCarthy Center Open House

Written by Victoria M. Evens, Civic Fellow

As our first McCarthy Center event of the year, hosted an Open House to show off our mural and upcoming events. We promoted the Open House as an extension of our CSB/SJU Involvement Fair booth, where we spoke with interested students about our programming and events, the McCarthy Mentor program, and our volunteer program. We also gave out McCarthy Center stickers, prints, and magnets of the new mural.

Approximately thirty students, staff, and faculty were in attendance at the Open House to celebrate the fall semester at the McCarthy Center. Director Matt Lindstrom commenced the evening with welcoming comments.

He introduced our mission and provided an overview of our event schedule before introducing our wonderful staff of student coordinators. Fardusa Ahmed '23 promoted the McCarthy Mentor Program and offered information for students to apply. Finally, I spoke on the inspiration and process of the Hands of Earth Mural and introduced Jennifer Evens, who was also in attendance.

The evening was overwhelmingly successful with high attendance and heartfelt conversations between students, staff, faculty, and McCarthy Center staff. The event served as a space to inspire collaborations between the McCarthy Center and other CSB/SJU clubs and organizations, provide program information for new students, and connect with those interested in getting involved with the McCarthy Center.

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 7

National Voter Registration Day September 28

Voter Empowerment, Democracy, and Impacts of the 2020 Census Written by Nayeli Carreno '23 For National Voter Registration Day, the McCarthy Center collaborated with College Democrats and College Republicans to host Voter Empowerment, Democracy, and Impacts of the 2020 Census. The Center was joined by Tiana Johnson ’24 and Caleb Jungling ’22 of the College Republicans and Sydney Walker ’23, Grace Terlinden ’23, and Alexa Varela '23 of the College Democrats, to initiate conversations on voter access, the 2020 census results, and redistricting with the CSB/SJU community.

The event highlighted how American demographics are shifting. Those who identify as white accounted for 57% of the population as compared to previous years such as in 2010, when approximately 63% identified as white. This posed the questions, how will the shifting majority impact elections moving forward, and how can we ensure all communities are being well represented while having equitable resources? Students reflected on their personal experiences with democracy and gave their input in an open and welcoming dialogue with their CSB/SJU community.

Additionally, the McCarthy Center provided resources for voter registration with QR codes for students to easily access registration forms through their mobile devices. We also provided “Go Vote” T-shirts created

by Student Coordinator Landon Peterson ‘24.

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

McCarthy Center and the IWL Written by Sydney Richter '23 On Friday, September 17th, the McCarthy Center and the Institute for Women’s Leadership collaborated on an event to promote sustainable and local grocery shopping. McCarthy Center Civic Fellow Victoria M. Evens designed a tote bag that incorporated the IWL’s classic peony flower to reflect the reduce, reuse, recycle symbol. Around twenty students gathered at Mary Commons to reflect on sustainable farming, women in agriculture, and the impact of buying local produce and supporting local farmers before walking to the St. Joseph Farmers Market. Students used their tote bags to carry their produce and were serenaded by live music from a Bennie/Johnnie band.

In November, the McCarthy Center and the Institute for Women’s Leadership collaborated on their second event of the semester with the same theme of shopping locally and sustainably, while promoting women. Students gathered in the new Multicultural Center and competed in trivia with a theme of “women activists.” Questions consisted of CSB alums, local and global activists, and women in history who provided the foundation for women’s rights there are today. Prizes for the event were supplied by Bennie entrepreneurs, including necklaces, bracelets, rings, hair care, paintings, and more.

With the pandemic limiting even local travel for the past year, the McCarthy Center had the pleasure of leading its first study tour since the pandemic began. Organized and led by student coordinator Kate Fenske ‘23 and Civic Fellow Victoria Evens, the McCarthy Center took a group of students to the Twin Cities over the weekend of fall break. The study tour focused on women's empowerment, women's rights, and various social justice issues and included two days of programming in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

McCarthy Center and CSB students meet with John Goeppinger and Mary Fenske '88 at AllSquare

The first stop on the tour was at a march organized by Women’s March MN. Students marched with a large crowd from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden across the pedestrian bridge over the highway and into Loring Park where they listened to speakers and performers from government officials and local activists. They also visited tents and booths manned by local organizations that focus on women’s rights to learn more about their work.

After the march, the group drove to AllSquare, a nonprofit that invests in formerly and currently incarcerated leaders through a fellowship program, education, and mental health resources. The students had the opportunity to hear from Mary Fenske ‘88 and John Goeppinger, who both work on AllSquare’s “Prison-toLaw" pipeline project, giving individuals who are currently incarcerated access to legal and paralegal education at Mitchell-Hamline School of Law and North Hennepin Community College.

After dinner at the Newsroom restaurant and a night at a hotel in Minneapolis, the group had brunch the next morning with local alumni to provide networking experience for the students and expose them to different career and graduate education paths that CSB graduates have taken. Special thanks to Jacqueline Perez ‘15, Mai Tong ’16, Olayemi (Yemi) Fadahunsi ‘18, Breanna Schafer ‘04, and Lisa Eng-Sarne ‘06 for taking the time to meet and tell us about their careers and education!

Student Coordinator Kate Fenske '23 advocates for women's rights with Women's March MN

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 10

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Before heading back to campus, we stopped at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul to go to the EXTRAordinary Women exhibit. It focused on women throughout Minnesota’s history who fought for different social movements, from Indigenous rights to the March on Washington.

The students undoubtedly appreciated the chance to get off campus during the long weekend and explore the Twin Cities after not being able to easily connect with the alumni association and greater Minnesota during the pandemic.

Joetown Walking Crawl

Written by Brianna Kreft '22

On October 29th, a beautiful fall day, students took to the streets for the first-ever Joetown Walking Crawl. Hosted by the McCarthy Center in collaboration with Mary Bruno of Bruno Press, the event allowed thirty CSB/SJU students the opportunity to tour some of St. Joseph’s small-town businesses and meet with their owners.

The tour began at Bruno Press, then students were led into the main street of town, where we visited Jupiter Moon, Flour & Flower, Krewe, Bad Habit, Weathered Revivals, and the Minnesota Street Co-op. At each stop, the students were met with free food, drinks, or merchandise. More importantly, however, they were met with genuine connection between St. Joseph residents, business owners, and students like themselves.

The goal of the event was to improve the relationship between the CSB/SJU community and the St. Joseph community. The walking tour allowed students to explore the thriving establishments of St. Joe and put faces to names of their owners. On the flip side, it allowed the Joetown business owners to see that students are truly interested in their community and care about the town that they get to call their second home. www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 11

The 15th Annual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture Conscience and Courage in Public Life with

U.S. Senator Tina Smith Written by Dr. Matt Lindstrom This year’s McCarthy Lecture was unlike any other. Prior to the main event in SJU’s Humphrey Theater, students were given a unique opportunity to talk with Senator Tina Smith in a small classroom environment. They engaged with her on public policy and political issues, and Senator Smith also offered invaluable advice on professional development. The curiosity was reciprocated, as the Senator learned about their experiences living and learning in the online COVID-19 world.

Following the student gathering, we held a reception where campus and community members could talk with Senator Smith, get pictures and a bite to eat. Continuing a tradition of celebrating Senator McCarthy’s love for poetry, Geonn Taylor ’22 read an original poem he authored and McCarthy’s niece, Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow, read several of McCarthy’s poems.

Senator Smith (left) and Student Coordinator Brianna Kreft '22 (right) during the student gathering

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 12

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

As the reception wrapped up, the audience gathered in the Humphrey Theater for Senator Smith’s talk and subsequent question and answer session with political science professor, Dr. Claire Haeg and Student Coordinator Sydney Richter '23. Outside the venue, students and off-campus activists peacefully protested the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline. After introductory remarks by Dr. Matt Lindstrom and Student Coordinator Fardusa Ahmed '23, Senator Smith opened her remarks by discussing Senator Eugene McCarthy’s life and legacy, the impact of the McCarthy Center, and the CSB/SJU graduates who work for her. Within the first five minutes, an attendee stood up and loudly interrupted Senator Smith’s remarks with repeated comments and questions. Other individuals joined in disrupting the event and creating havoc. When the disruptions continued, the event was ended. Senator Smith graciously reached out to us and will reschedule a private event for students and McCarthy Center friends.

As our politics are seemingly becoming more fractious, it is vital that college campuses act as lightning rods for diverging political voices and activism. When voices are intentionally shouted down, excluded, or marginalized on college campuses, we lose the very essence of what a university is all about - critical thinking, learning, and civil debate.

We thank Senator Smith, her staff, as well as our CSB/SJU partners, for all the incredible preparation and dedication required for this year’s McCarthy Lecture. We look forward to next year!

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 13

This October, the McCarthy Center and Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning hosted “A Conversation on Labor, Religion, Politics and Public Engagement.”

The event featured Eric LeCompte '99, the Executive Director at Jubilee USA Network, and Damon Silvers, Senior Strategic Advisor and Special Counsel to the President at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (ALF-CIO), the largest federation of unions in the United States.

The event featured LeCompte and Silvers engaging in dialogue with each other about the influence of faith in labor unions and debt relief efforts. Both men emphasized the importance of strong partnerships and communication, illuminating that differences in missions do not have to be an eliminating factor in communication, especially because religion can create common ground.

Silvers also shared life lessons that he had learned from longtime AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, who passed away in August. The event was well-received by students and the greater CSB/SJU community, who were able to ask questions about the current labor shortage facing the nation and ways in which Silvers and LeCompte were going to go about addressing it.

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 14

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

The Republican Party:

Aftereffects of the Trump Presidency Written by Sydney Richter '23 On Tuesday, November 2nd, the McCarthy Center hosted Kevin Poindexter, President of KP & Co Strategies and 2010 alum. Previously, he served as the Minnesota State Director of the Republican National Committee from November of 2019 until December of 2020 and from October 2017 until May 2018, the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Minnesota from May 2018 until November 2019, and has had a plethora of campaign and official experience both on the State and Federal levels. Along with Student Coordinator Sydney Richter '23 and Director Dr. Matt Lindstrom, the three engaged in a discussion about the past and future of the Republican Party. Specifically, much of the conversation surrounded the aftereffects of the Trump presidency. Students were able to gain an insider look into the Republican party and where it is going, in addition to hearing from Dr. Lindstrom who provided a political scientist’s perspective on the matters discussed. www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 15

Immigration Stories of Green Card Holders in the CSB/SJU Community Written by Nayeli Carreno '23 As part of the Festival of Cultures celebration this October, the McCarthy Center and the Multicultural Center presented "Green Card Voices," a panel discussion about immigration with Green Card holders and naturalized citizens in the CSB/SJU community. Panelists included Heriberto Caballero-Gonzalez ‘23, Diana Fernandez Lojano ‘22, and Aisha Sadik ‘23. Political science professor Dr. Pedro Dos Santos moderated the conversation. The event included an opportunity for audience members to talk about their own experiences and share their stories as well.

The event provided a safe environment for attendees to learn the perspectives and experiences of Green Card holders through their own stories. The conversation highlighted the importance of learning and listening through story-telling in order to gain a higher understanding of others' backgrounds and identities. It encouraged approaching difference with an open mind to expand our own perspectives of identity and immigration. This allows us to challenge our own preconceptions and is essential to gaining a greater understanding of those around us.

As the event concluded, many attendees expressed their gratitude to the panelists and requested similar events for people to share their experiences and hardships with the immigration system. Normalizing these important conversations makes it easier for people to process and discuss these experiences and promotes positive change.

Dr. Pedro Dos Santos Political Science Professor

Heriberto Caballero Gonzalez '23 SJU Senate

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 16

Diana Fernandez Lojano '22 CSB 1st Gen Coordinator

Aisha Sadik '23 Multicultural Center Student Manager

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Resilience and Reconciliation: Native American Boarding Schools and the Actions Crucial for Healing Written by Fardusa Ahmed '23

This fall, the Native Nation Revitalization project at CSB/SJU brought Jaime Arsenault, tribal historic preservation officer for White Earth Nation to campus to speak on her collaborative work with sociology professor Dr. Ted Gordon and the OSB Monastery, St. John's Abbey, and the McCarthy Center. The event began with the recognition of the Native land that both schools reside on. Gordon then proceeded to introduce the speakers, Sister Pat Kennedy from the OSB Monastery and Jamie Arsenault. This is the first event in the series of Native nation’s initiatives. Maija Eickhoff ’21, founder of Azhen, introduced her non-profit student-guided venture that focuses on returning resources to Native Nations and building sustainable relationships with Native Nations and explained the mission with respect to the White Earth Nation.

Jamie Arsenault spoke on Native American Boarding schools in respect to her research. She explained how each Native nation has its own story and that the history of the communities is the best route in working towards reconciliation. Arsenault brought up the fact that even the history that we’ve been taught and exposed to can shift the narrative in ways that we might not intend to.

For example, over 60% of food originated in the Americas but the narrative we were taught was that Native people had to be taught how to farm or taught things in order to be a part of society. She went on to mention that Native people are people of adaptability.

Knowledge acquisition and the willingness to try new things as well as family values existed in these communities before boarding schools and continue to exist now. Arsenault found through her research that survivors of these schools can appear younger than her, www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Jaime Arsenault speaks on her research

highlighting how recent this history is and that the language we use when we talk about boarding schools is taken into account. Arsenault reminded us that persons that attended these schools are called survivors, not alumni because of the trauma they faced. She explained how even though there are 367+ boarding schools they’ve discovered, there are still more to be found.

Arsenault offered incredible advice on what we can do as students if we want to get involved in reconciliation. In order to help indigenous communities, we have to listen to their needs rather than disrupt the work that is already happening in these communities. You have to know what you're looking at to understand the significance.

Saint Benedict Monastery and Saint John's Abbey operated four out of six Catholic boarding schools in Minnesota. The Monastery was the first apology to the community of White Earth and was the first in the nation.

The night ended with a Q&A session where Ted Gordon asked the panel questions regarding what we as students can do knowing we exist and operate on land where boarding schools once walked and these horrific acts happened. Arsenault stated not only should we go further than the land acknowledgment but funding towards indigenous students and faculty. Arsenault states that transparency is the start to reconciliation.

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 17

What is

Democracy?

With Astra Taylor

Written by Brianna Kreft '22 "What is democracy?" That was the question that documentarian and activist Astra Taylor set out to answer in her 2018 documentary “What is Democracy?” On November 4th, the McCarthy Center teamed up with Extending the Link (ETL) and the Multicultural Center to virtually host Astra Taylor at CSB/SJU. McCarthy Center Student Coordinator Brianna Kreft '22 joined forces with Maeve Miley, an ETL student videographer, to interview Taylor. The interview allowed Taylor to talk about why she chose democracy as her topic, her thought process while filming the documentary, and the broader impacts of her work. Students were able to learn first-hand about important topics like race relations, class dynamics, and capitalism. In this way, the Astra Taylor event went beyond the boundaries of simply watching a movie on screen. Taylor’s documentary and interview were able to lead to real-life dialogue about some of the most pressing issues of today’s society. The event ended with a viewing of Astra Taylor’s documentary, and lit a spark for future conversation about what democracy truly is.

The McCarthy Center has funds devoted to supporting student opportunities relating to professional development, academic, or civic engagement opportunities. Student funding is available to CSB/SJU students in any major. If you are interested in applying for funding, scan this code for more information.

This year, ETL will be traveling to England to meet Dr. Miro Griffiths as well as various non-profits in Manchester and London for their documentary project on disability activism. The McCarthy Center is pleased to support this project through our student grants program.

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 18

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Becoming Community: Inclusion in Higher Education

Written by Sydney Richter '23 Each Monday during November, students, faculty, and staff met in the Multicultural Center to engage in discourse surrounding inclusion within higher education, specifically on our campuses. In collaboration with Dr. Amanda Macht Jantzer (author and editor),

Becoming Community, and Student Coordinator Sydney Richter '23, the McCarthy Center hosted book club discussion groups on the recently published book written by CSB and SJU professors and students: Inclusion In Higher Education: Research Initiatives on Campus. The book “presents an inquiry-based approach to inclusion in higher education that embraces scholarly inquiry, collaborative efforts, and data-driven interventions to inform transformative institutional change. Contributors analyze inclusion initiatives that address the experiences of marginalized groups on college campuses and recommend tailored interventions for the needs of underrepresented students in varied fields of study.” The book club concluded with a panel event featuring the authors in December where students, faculty, and staff were able to pose their questions about the book directly to those who wrote it.

Written by Fardusa Ahmed '23 The Eugene J. McCarthy Mentorship program started with the first in-person mentor meeting of the year. Forty mentees gathered to start a year of growth and success. The night started with introductions by Mentor Program Student Coordinator Fardusa Ahmed '23. During this time, she went over the goals, expectations, and upcoming McCarthy Center events. Dr. Matt Lindstrom then gave students further insight into what the mentor program has achieved in the past and gave introductions to both past and present mentors.

One of the main goals of the program this year is finding commonality throughout all majors and professions to make sure that students can utilize the skills they learn during the workshops to help navigate their future workplace environments. A key step into learning about effectively working in these spaces is embracing the concept of intersectionality. Dr. Deborah Pembleton, Associate Professor in the Global Leadership Department and Director of the Asian Studies Program here at CSB/SJU presented to mentees about intersectionality in the workplace and her journey through academia as a Black woman. She highlighted important events in her life that helped shape her professional experiences which ultimately led her to the CSBSJU community. Dr. Pembleton facilitated a discussion that encompassed the unique parts of intersectionality and how we all should view our roles in society as multifaceted and value the unique perspectives we all can bring to the table. By becoming self-aware of the spaces that we exist in, it’s also important to address the biases that we all hold. Dr. Pembleton addressed different ways self-awareness can manifest and how that looks for different individuals. She also recognized some common setbacks of intersectionality and why it may be harder for individuals to express themselves authentically. By repressing one's perceived features that fit the stereotype of being terrifying, threatening, or simply "too much,” it makes it that much harder to participate in professional spaces. Mentees expressed gratitude to Dr. Pembleton for her fresh perspective and understanding of what it means to unlearn these preconceived notions to embrace the importance of intersectionality.

We can all strive towards fostering inviting cultures in professional and academic settings by removing preconceived beliefs.

The final meeting of the semester explored what it means to be a professional and how to effectively network with mentors. Edwin Torres ’16, a mentor in this year's program and the Political Director for Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan's re-election campaign, joined us via Zoom alongside Dr. Lindstrom to talk more about Polidazzle.

Edwin gave mentees an insight into Polidazzle from the mentor and mentee perspectives. He acknowledged how important the night was in building on everyone’s networking skills and viewing it as a night of growth.

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 20

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Polidazzle With Special Guest Robert Costa Written by Dr. Matt Lindstrom After spending many months behind the Zoom machine, it was a thrill to gather in Minneapolis with old and new friends at the International Market Square for the 16th annual Polidazzle.

What exactly is a Polidazzle? Is it a Dr. Seuss character? A toothpaste guaranteed to whiten your smile? Nope. Though, the McCarthy Center’s yearly main event never fails to deliver on fun and vibrancy. Over a decade and a half ago, several students asked me how they might best connect with our extensive Bennie-Johnnie alum network, specifically with those individuals working in government, law, policy, and politics. I contacted some graduates and friends of the colleges, organized a van of students, and gathered together at a downtown restaurant along the Minneapolis Holidazzle holiday parade route. And so, Polidazzle was born, and it has become the signature event of the Center’s Mentor Program.

This year’s Polidazzle provided a special treat as award-winning journalist, Robert Costa, joined us, speaking to the enthusiastic group of approximately 150 event guests. He shared riveting stories from his time covering Sarah Palin, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and others on the campaign trail. Drawing on his reporting for Peril, a best-selling book co-authored with Bob Woodward, Costa reminded the audience that our democracy should not be taken for granted. While acknowledging the public’s palpable discontent for national democratic institutions, Costa encouraged the audience to get involved with local politics, be civically literate, and lead with courage like Senator Eugene McCarthy.

A very special thanks goes to Mark Kennedy, former Congressman, and most recently past president of the University of Colorado. Kennedy arranged for Costa’s visit and the Mark Kennedy Frontiers in Freedom Lecture Series provided crucial resources.

We are deeply grateful for so many generous friends of Polidazzle. Additional sponsors include Kiyoshi Nakasaka, John Taylor and Leigh Dillard, Kim and Michael Dady, David Weinberg, John Knapp, Dawn and Mike Erlandson, as well as Lori and Mike Zumwinkle. Thank you all and thanks to all Polidazzle attendees.

If you are interested in sponsoring the mentor program or participating, please contact me or Fardusa Ahmed, a junior political science major and McCarthy Center student coordinator of the mentor program. www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 21

72nd Annual Student Conference on U.S. Affairs Written by Julia Krystofiak '23 The theme of the 72nd Annual Student Conference on United States Affairs was “Disruptive Technology and American Influence in the Coming Decade.” Student delegates from over 100 colleges and universities worldwide joined together to develop policy proposals on various topics relating to disruptive technology. Student delegates were divided into eleven roundtable groups with distinct topics, three of which met virtually as a COVID-19 precaution.

Roundtables were led by West Point Cadets and included two experts to act as advisors as delegates developed foreign policy proposals. The focus of my roundtable was Russia, specifically Russia’s use of technological advancements to further project its power across Europe and threaten the United States and the NATO military alliance. From November 3rd to November 5th, my roundtable group discussed specific disruptive technologies, cyberattacks, and information campaigns that Russia has developed and launched against states, companies, and organizations.

We produced a policy memo that addressed the strategic analysis of Russia’s cyber capability, relevant national interests and critical infrastructure, and strategic options and recommendations. Organizers of SCUSA 72 brought in several experts in disruptive technology and U.S. foreign policy to share their expertise and advise our discussions. Among these experts was General Paul Nakasone, a graduate of SJU, who serves as Director of the National Security Agency, Chief of the Central Security Service, and Commander of the United States Cyber Command. Gen. Nakasone stressed that it is imperative that the United States remains a leader as states navigate the borderless challenge posed by disruptive technologies.

I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to represent CSB/SJU at SCUSA 72 and urge students with an interest in foreign policy and national security to seek out this opportunity at SCUSA in future years.

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 22

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

For the past several years, CSB/SJU students have had the opportunity to receive scholarships to participate in the annual Cyber Security Summit. This year, the summit was held virtually and addressed the theme “Power and Peril of Connection.” Speakers included industry experts on cybersecurity and representatives from federal and state cybersecurity offices. Sessions also included networking opportunities, including opportunities for “Women in Cyber” and “Cyber Career Exploration.”

Four students, Edison MacDonald ’21, Aretha McDonald ’23, Alexandria Watkins ’23, and Luke Broghammer ’24, attended various sessions, learning more about career opportunities in the cyber security sector.

MacDonald, who is a double major in political science and math and graduating in December 2021, noted, “one piece of information that stuck with me was that salaries in cyber-security are similar for entry and mid-level jobs across companies and government. I think knowing this is beneficial so I don’t limit myself when looking for jobs. I feel like I picked up a lot of good information at the conference which I will use when I search for jobs in the future.”

McDonald and Watkins, who are both computer science majors and work together on several projects, appreciated the opportunity to learn more about cybersecurity and the threats it poses as they develop their own platform. McDonald particularly appreciated a workshop entitled “You CAN Stop Stupid,” which featured experience cybersecurity expert Ira Winkler. She reflected, “he spoke about the responsibility of the programmer to perceive solutions to problems that have not yet happened. He talked through the user problem and comprehensible strategies to apply to cybersecurity to reduce losses from user actions.” Watkins noted that “prior to this conference I had no knowledge of the careers in the field and the intricate details of their job description, ransomware, and the significance of cybersecurity in general.”

Broghammer, a political science major with a data analytics minor, was excited to learn more about cyber threats and measures that could be taken to better secure systems. He attended sessions on hacking and the need for a more personal approach to cybersecurity, malware and malware producers, and the military’s approach to cybersecurity.

Overall, he found the summit “very good and informational.”

Given the increasing role of the internet and social media platforms in all aspects of society, understanding the challenges and opportunities in the cybersecurity sector is crucial to anyone interested in public policy. The McCarthy Center appreciates the opportunity for students to learn about the latest advances in government and industry innovations in the field.

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 23

Written by Dr. Christi Siver Christi Siver, the Joseph P. Farry Professor for Public Policy and Civic Engagement, has been active this semester promoting greater civic dialogue and engagement.

In August, the Farry Professor sponsored a Racial Gaslighting Workshop featuring Professor Angelique Davis and Dr. Rose Ernst. Davis and Ernst are the authors of “How to Recognize and Respond to Racial Gaslighting,” which won the 2019 Best Article Award for the Politics, Groups, Identities journal of the Western Political Science Association.

Prof. Davis and Dr. Ernst have conducted numerous workshops and joined members of the CSB/SJU community in a discussion about identifying and interrupting racial gaslighting.

In November, the Farry Professor was one of many sponsors that brought Alok Menon virtually to campus. Menon is an internally acclaimed gender non-conforming writer, performer, and public speaker. This event was also supported

by Q+, CSB Alumnae Office, the Multicultural Center, The McCarthy Center, The Experience Hub (XPD, UR, CGE), Becoming Community, and the Gender Studies Department.

Finally, the Farry Professor is looking forward to getting students debating. She attended the Civic Debate Conference virtually in August 2021 and has sponsored the CSB/SJU Dynamos Speech and Debate Team that recently formed.

She will be teaching POLS 295 Public Policy Debate in spring 2022 ang hopes that the team can engage in competitions during the spring semester.

What the Constitution Means to Me Written by Brianna Kreft '22

On October 17th, the McCarthy Center team traveled to the Twin Cities to take in a show at the Guthrie Theater.

"What the Constitution Means to Me" told the story of one woman’s profound relationship with the U.S. Constitution, and how it influenced each of the four generations of women in her family. The MCC team left the Guthrie not only thoroughly impressed by the performance itself, but reinvigorated by a real-life example of how public service and civil engagement can shape people’s lives. While eating dinner after the show, the McCarthy Center coordinators shared their own ideas of how the Constitution has influenced their life experiences. Additionally, the performance prompted conversation about how to enact more progressive changes while staying within the confines of the Constitution. This then divulged into a debate of how to make the Constitution more fluid: is it more feasible to abolish it completely and start over, or work through the process of adding amendments? Overall, the day included a captivating performance at the Guthrie and delicious, localized food, but more importantly, it fostered dialogue on the founding document of our country.

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 24

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

McCarthy Center Staff

Dr. Matt Lindstrom Director

Dr. Christi Siver

Professor Joseph P. Farry

Fardusa Ahmed '23 Mentor Program Coordinator

Kate Fenske '23 Programming Coordinator

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Nayeli Carreno '23 Programming Coordinator

Lizbet Martinez-Port '22 Media Coordinator

Landon Peterson '24 Media Coordinator

Victoria M. Evens Civic Fellow

Brianna Kreft '22 Programming Coordinator

Sydney Richter '23 Programming Coordinator MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 25

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 26

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

Thank You

to all who contributed to the McCarthy Center this semester!

www.csbsju.edu/mccarthy-center

MCCARTHY MAGAZINE | 27

SJU Simons Hall 136 2850 Abbey Plaza Collegeville, MN 56321 (320) 363-3266