Ideopolis Volume 6, Issue 1, Fall 2018

Volume 6, Issue 1

Fall 2018

idea noun \ī-ˈdē-ə, -ˈdēə also ˈī-(ˌ)dēə or ˈī-dē\: a thought, plan, or suggestion about what to do; an opinion or belief; something that you imagine or picture in your mind polis noun \ˈpä-ləs\: a Greek citystate; broadly: a state or society especially when characterized by a sense of community

Learning Leaves the Classroom Exploring and Competing at Yale

by Aaron Isaac ’19

Six Rhode Island College students (Jacob Madore, Leslie Medina, Jordan Moment, Julia Testa, Samuel Tubman, and Aaron Isaac) spread their wings to compete in the International Policy Competition at Yale University on October 13th and 14th. Undergraduates from different colleges across the United States divided into teams to brainstorm solutions to the South China Sea dispute.

From left to right: Aaron Isaac, Samuel Tubman, Leslie Medina, Julia Testa, Jordan Moment, Jacob Madore

Student Community Government: A Valuable Experience for Political Science Students

Jacob Madore wants more people to go on more trips like this. Being able to tackle real world policy problems helped Madore understand “the best ideas are not the hard ones to comprehend, but the hard ones to think of.”

The competition was sobering for Samuel Tubman. He learned that his ideal virtues could not be implemented until there was a “fundamental redefining of power and structure on a global scale.”

The RIC students did not win the competition, but still made the most of their time at Yale University by exploring the campus. The competition was a great learning experience for these students; hopefully, more students in the department will be able to participate in the future.

by Catherine Enos ’19

One characteristic that unites all political science students is their eagerness to learn. Though a great deal of what we learn comes from our professors, it is the work done outside of class that determines our marketability in future careers and distinguishes us as individuals. As busy students, it can be difficult to find these types of experiences that cater to our schedules, especially for the many students who also work outside of school. One of the rare opportunities that does cater to the schedule of busy students is RIC’s own Student Community Government. continued on page 8 1

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Alumni Spotlight: Annie Dickson Annie graduated from RIC magna cum laude in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, and a minor in Political Science. She knew she wanted her career to be directed towards alleviating poverty in creative and holistic ways as opposed to the common industry of “aid.”

Looking to RIC for further knowledge, she found the International Non-Governmental Organizations Studies Certificate Program. Annie had traveled to Dakar, Senegal in 2009 for a study abroad program, which confirmed her interest in culture, inclusion, and work with impact, and in 2012 she began the INGOS program.

In 2013, she completed her internship for this certification at the Haiti location of Communitere International, a grassroots non-profit which transitions disaster response initiatives to community-led development. Not wanting to leave Port au Prince, a city she’d grown to love, Annie began working with REBUILD Globally, a non-profit organization providing education and job-training opportunities in Haiti, and incubated an ethical fashion brand, deux mains designs. While she started off in the non-profit side, she transitioned to managing operations for the deux mains workshop. Deux mains (“two hands” in French) builds a relationship between the consumer and the craftswomen and men involved in the creation of the product, in this case using locally sourced materials to handcraft sandals, bags, jewelry and other accessories. Along with a new interest in fashion, she developed new products, streamlined operations, and built partnerships allowing for expansion, always with the intent of generating enough business to continuously create new jobs.

While Annie lived and worked in Haiti, it became very clear to her that the standard approach to aid and poverty alleviation worldwide simply doesn’t work—cycles of

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dependency help no one in the long-term—and appreciated her time with Communitere and deux mains as examples of what dignified, living-wage employment can do as an alternative. She became even more dedicated to solutions that empower, and looked to continue in the field of social enterprise after deciding to return home to Providence after more than three years in Haiti.

This lead her to reconnect with Capital Good Fund this year. Capital Good Fund is a Providence-based non-profit, focusing on poverty alleviation with a creative solution that appealed to Annie.

Capital Good Fund offers small loans (for emergency, immigration, and weatherization, for example), while building credit, and works towards financial equality and inclusion via access to financial education and resources. As a positive alternative to predatory institutions such as “pay day” lenders, Capital Good Fund offers rates and payment schedules that are affordable and manageable. Community members can access one-on-one financial coaching here as well. The dedicated team of 30 individuals at Good Fund brings diverse and valuable knowledge to their work, along with a striking commitment to their clients and communities. As COO, Annie manages the day-to-day operations of Capital Good Fund’s main programming and works on new opportunities for growth and scale.

The INGOS certificate program's attention to the complex relationships between all actors in the developing world helped give Annie direction for her interest and provided the essential field framework and background knowledge to begin her career. It is also what introduced Annie to the impact that social enterprises can have on creatively and sustainably working towards social justice.

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NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS FACULTY UPDATES Dr. Claus Hofhansel published an article on citizenship deprivation in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, the leading European journal on migration related issues.

Dr. Natalie Rogol published “Going Public: Presidential Impact on Supreme Court DecisionMaking,” (with Matthew Montgomery and Justin Kingsland), in Justice System Journal 39(3) 210-227, 2018, and “Merging Undergraduate Teaching, Graduate Training, and Producing Research: Lessons from Three Collaborative Experiments,” (with Toby Bolsen, Bailey Fairbanks, Eduardo Aviles, Reagan Pritchett, Kristina LaPlant, Justin Kingsland, and Matthew Montgomery). in PS: Political Science and Politics, 2018.

Dr. Rich Weiner has been on a book tour for his coauthored book, Los Indignados: Tides of Social Insertion in Spain, at Harvard, Université du Québec à Montréal, Universidad Zaragoza, UNED Madrid, & Brooklyn College. This past summer, Dr. Weiner led a workshop on “Sustainable Community Movement Organizations (SCMOs) and the Degrowth Movement” at the Copenhagen Business School, which is emerging as the basis of a coming anthology. At the Council of European Studies annual meetings in Chicago last Spring, he presented papers on recent Swedish resistance to migrations; and the manipulation of nationalist tropes in the illiberalism of Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán. His article, “Les Reciproqueteurs: PostRegulatory Corporatism,” inspired by the policy analysis of Elinor Ostrom, appeared in print in the Journal of Policy & Planning, 20:6 (2018) 775-796.

SPRING COURSES POL 334: Contemporary Constitutional Problems, M & W, 2-4pm, 4 credits (Dr. Schmeling) Can a criminal case be brought against a sitting president? Can the president pardon himself? Does the Constitution’s “Emoluments Clause” forbid a

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president from profiting from his office? Can Congress punish “sanctuary cities” for refusing to enforce immigration laws? These and other questions will be explored in POL334: Contemporary Constitutional Problems. In the first half of the course, we will read and discuss Supreme Court cases on the Constitution’s provisions regarding the Separation of Powers and Federalism.

In the second half, we will run a Supreme Court simulation (Moot Court) focusing on a topic chosen by the class. Prerequisite: One of the following— POL208, 315, 331, 332, 333 OR permission of the instructor.

POL 350: Political Activism and Social Movements, T & TH, 10-12, 4 credits (Dr. Linde)

Photo by Lorie Shaull

From the American Civil Rights movement and the Arab Spring to #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #Marchforourlives, grassroots mass movements for justice have been driving forces for social and political change. Social movements can raise popular awareness, sway public opinion, influence lawmakers, help set the political agenda, shape law and governance, and affect global civil society. In this course, we will cover several important historical and contemporary activist movements, including the revolutions in India, Chile, and Argentina; ACT UP; the Arab Spring; and Black Lives Matter. All of these movements employed tactics of nonviolence, including civil disobedience and creative uses of art, music, and social media. By focusing on people power, we will examine nonviolence as a vital strategy for change, and explore the ways that social movements learn from one another and spread or diffuse ideas and tactics to other movements. This course counts toward both the political science elective and the INGOS elective, and is a hybrid (online and in-person) course.

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Fall 2018

GEOGRAPHY CORNER

Oh the PLACES You’ll Go with…

GEOGRAPHY!!!

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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CORNER

The PERKS of Being a PUB AD Major!

Exciting New Course!

The Department launched an exciting new course this fall, PBAD 326: Public Sector Information Systems. The course focuses on technologies that are both innovative and disruptive, and on what information systems are needed to keep track of them. For example, the impacts of drones, e-bicycles, Facebook, Uber and Airbnb are explored. The role of Bitcoin and its positive and negative features are examined.

The big question in the course is what should be the government’s response to these and other innovations in technology? The level of government response varies with the technology, sometimes inspiring local and other times requiring national government regulation.

At the municipal level, Bird e-scooters appeared in 2018 in Providence for pedestrians downtown to have a way to go the final mile to their office. These electric scooters can be rented for $1.00 and are located in “nests” near bus stops and commuter lots. These lasted only a few weeks in Providence, but e-scooters

have thrived in other major cities. How did local governments in various cities across the United States respond to escooters, and why? Take the course to find out.

At the national level, the increasing role of the United States Air Force in outer space is considered. Are we headed for a new branch of the military, the United States Space Force?

PBAD 326 is taught by Professor Nancy Oppenlander and is a four-credit course.

It also covers skills used to maintain information systems such as Excel, pivot tables and Access. It will be offered annually.

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Fall 2018

INGOS CORNER

In the Know about INGOS? Welcome back!

INGOs courses are running smoothly this semester.

Core courses are running in the spring: Professor Ramos will be back to teach INGO 301 Applied Development, and Professor Linde will teach INGO 302 Social Entrepreneurship. Both courses require either sophomore status OR the successful completion of POL 203 Global Politics. Additionally, INGOS students can take INGO 303 (Pre-internship prep) or INGO 304 (INGOs Internship) as an independent study. Also in the spring, Professor Linde will be offering POL 350 Political Activism and Social Justice, a course that will count for your INGOS elective as well as meet political science elective requirements. (for more information, see page 3).

INGOS has one student intern this semester, Michael Sweeney (Environmental Studies and INGOS), who is doing great work in environmental education with the Partnership for Providence Parks. Additionally, two other students are looking to intern in Providence and abroad in the spring. Finally, there are many

internship opportunities available for the spring and summer. Feel free to drop by the Political Science office.

There is a file outside Amy Tibbett’s office with current internships and job opportunities. For more information about the INGOS program, please contact Professor Linde at rlinde@ric.edu.

ANNOUNCEMENT If anyone is interested in helping to start a Model UN Club to correspond with a Model UN course for the 2019– 2020 school year, please let Professor Linde know. Model UN is great preparation for graduate school, foreign or political service, or law school. We will have the opportunity to travel to New York or D.C. to compete.

THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE Students in Professor Linde’s POL 203 Global Politics class participated in September in a Model UN simulation of a Zombie Apocalypse. At stake: extra credit and……brains.

Photos by Robyn Linde

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Meet Our Faculty: Natalie Rogol

by Kazandra Delos Reyes ’20 Professor Natalie Rogol, the newest member of RIC’s Political Science Department, comes from Reading, Pennsylvania. She has always been inspired by her mother, an educator, who influenced her own career path. As a high school student, Professor Rogol’s favorite classes were history and English. She played soccer and field hockey, and also played the flute in her school band. Additionally, she participated in the Science Olympiad. In her senior year, right before she had to pick a major for college, she took an AP American Government class that ultimately led her to apply to the Political Science Program at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

In college, she remained dedicated to extracurricular activities and continued to play band for two years. She also played intramural sports, and kept up with her assignments and classes so well that she became a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha honor society. During the summers, she worked for think tanks. After completing her undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Communications, she pursued her Master’s at East Stroudsburg University, followed by her PhD in Political Science at Georgia State University.

Before Professor Rogol came to RIC, she spent four years teaching at Georgia State as part of her PhD program.

She chose to teach at RIC because it is a good school for balancing research with classroom involvement. When she was being interviewed for the job, she saw the interactions between students and professors. She thought that the professors really seemed to like their students and get along well with them, and vice versa.

She wanted to be a part of something like that because she does not see it often enough in academia. Of course, when Political Science students are not sleepdeprived and/or stressed, we really do get along well with our professors in the department, whether it’s asking them about classes or career advice.

When Professor Rogol is not working, she hikes or reads biographies of American presidents. Since moving to New England, she takes advantage of the nearby

seashore, taking her dog, Truman, to the state park beaches on weekends. Any guesses as to why her dog’s name is Truman?

Hint: the best book she has ever read in her life is Truman by David McCullough, which she read right before starting grad school, and which directed the path of her research. She just finished reading a John Quincy Adams biography and is currently reading The Price of Greatness: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and the Creation of American Oligarchy.

Today, her proudest accomplishment was defending her dissertation on how U.S. presidents decide to interact with the Supreme Court. She is now working towards publishing the dissertation, and, has an very active research agenda. Professor Rogol and her friend/coauthor have completed a project on the Supreme Court, in which they studied when and why the Court sometimes calls for the view of the Solicitor General.

They have also completed a project analyzing how the public’s opinion of the Supreme Court is influenced by what the president says.

Her most recent project, which she will present at the Southern Political Science Association in January 2019, is about whether or not state courts defer to governors after they give their “state of the state” addresses.

Lastly, Professor Rogol wants the readers and students to know that her door is always open for anyone who wants to come by and say hi. And in case you wanted to know, her favorite sport is soccer and she likes the team Atlanta United.

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Learning Leaves the Classroom SCG continued Especially for students interested in a career in politics or policy making, SCG provides students with direct experience in a multitude of areas. Students are able to join the main body for parliament meetings and/or a committee (or multiple committees). Examples of some of the many committees include finance committee, bylaws/adjudication commission, student entertainment commission, and more.

There are several advantages to joining SCG. One of SCG’s best qualities is that the time commitment to be involved starts at a mere 30 minutes a week.

Additionally, for any involvement you have as a member of a committee or parliament, you are provided a stipend. On top of it all, by joining SCG, you become an informed student: you become aware of some of the issues on campus and aware of how some of your tuition is being spent!

Parliament meetings are held biweekly on Wednesday nights at 7:15, and are open to the public for attendance (or can be viewed via Anchor TV). If you’re interested in joining SCG or attending a meeting, go to https://www.ricscg.org/ for more information, or visit the SCG offices in room 401 of the Student Union.

Congressional Internship in DC

by Kathryn Myrtle ’19

This past May, I was able to take advantage of the incredible opportunity provided by Rhode Island College: to participate in a week-long internship program in Washington, D.C. I worked for Congressman Jim Langevin in one of the House of Representative office buildings. Everyone in the office was so kind and eager to help me make the most of my experience there. Throughout the week, I was able to attend committee hearings, report on various forums for employees in the office, meet different representatives, see votes on both the House and Senate floor, and so much more. One of the other interns

in the office gave me an incredible tour of the entire office complex and Capitol building.

One of my favorite parts of working in Congressman Langevin’s office was that the staff encouraged me to explore all of Capitol Hill, in order to discover what it is really like to work there. I was able to tour the Library of Congress, see almost all of the Smithsonian museums, and even see the White House. Overall, the experience interning in Congressman Langevin’s office, and being in Washington, D.C. in general, was unforgettable.

Congressional Internship in DC

by Kazandra Delos Reyes ‘20

When I heard there was an internship opportunity at the Rhode Island congressional delegation’s D.C. offices, I applied on a whim (like pretty much everything I do). I took the chance in applying because I thought to myself, what do I have to lose? I didn’t actually expect to be selected, and so, when I got an email and read the first word, “Congratulations,” I was immediately terrified. I thought that I didn’t really know what I was signing up for and felt unprepared. Even though the internship continued next page

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only lasts for a week, and not a month, or even the whole semester, I was stressed and anxious. Fast forward to being in Washington, D.C., last May. It was not my first time being in D.C., but I don’t really remember much about the last time I was there, because I was fairly young and didn’t quite appreciate it.

The hectic traffic, fast-paced and crowded streets are definitely different from Providence. It was like New York City, but the people are less competitive over baseball teams! As I was walking towards the Senate office, there were crowds of people left and right. There were tourists, who were taking advantage of the free admissions at the museums like I did (I recommend the National Museum of Women in the Arts), and people in business-casual attire who always seemed to be late for a meeting.

I had the opportunity to intern at Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s office and my week was both short and long. One of my first tasks was to go around the building to visit some other senators’ offices to ask them to sign a document. Of course, I didn’t actually get to meet them because I only had to interact with the people at the front desks, but I figured being at the same office as them was swell enough.

On my second day, the internship director sent Stephen Lachapelle (the other RIC Poli Sci student interning in Whitehouse’s office) and me on a scavenger hunt. I had the chance to explore not just the Senate office, but also the Library of Congress and the Capitol building in its full glory. The architecture is exceptional, and the subway that connected all the buildings was amazing and also very convenient, especially when someone asked either of us to retrieve something at the Capitol. We also had the opportunity to sit where Congress meets, and it felt surreal to be sitting on that balcony.

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I also didn’t know that there was a hair salon in one of the buildings, so that was fun! A lot of my time in the buildings was spent on not getting lost. In fact, I was so preoccupied and focused on not getting lost that I rode an elevator with Representative Jim Langevin and I didn’t even notice. Oblivious, I asked which floor was he wanted, and only when he got off and the doors had already closed did I realize that it was him!

When I finally got to meet Senator Whitehouse, the first thing that went through my mind was that he was really tall, taller than I had expected. He gave me a few pieces of advice and we took a picture, which he signed, and which currently sits in my living room.

Overall, it was interesting to gain insight into how people work in the Capitol. It was an experience that I am glad to have had, and one that I will remember for a long time. I hope that the skills I have acquired in the short time I was there will be used in the future.

The moral of the story: do more things on a whim.

Readers, do what you are scared to do, and I don’t mean talk about your personal issues in front of a stranger, but take a chance —something that you have always wanted to do for yourself. You might meet Rep. Langevin and not know it, like I did.

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Goings-on in Gaige and Beyond A look at student organizations, events and activities...Go ahead, get involved!

College Democrats: We are seeking executive board members so that we can continue to be an official student organization. If you are interested, please contact Jemma Weibrecht, President (jweibrecht_5455@email.ric.edu), or Professor BrophyBaermann, Advisor (mbrophy@ric.edu).

Poli Sci Club: Members of the Executive Board are: Kazandra Delos Reyes, President; Valmore Dumont, Vice President; Jevonte Silva, Secretary; Kathryn Myrtle, Treasurer. The purpose of the Political Science Club is to generate interest and participation in the political process to all interested RIC students. We meet regularly during the free period in the Poli Sci Lounge.

Pi Sigma Alpha: Each semester, the Alpha Beta Epsilon chapter of the National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, invites a small group of students to become members. To become a member, a student must have: completed 60 credit hours, taken a 300 (or above) level course, a 3.3 in their political science courses and a 3.25 cumulative GPA. This fall, 14 students were invited to join. If you did not receive an invite but think you qualify, please contact Prof. Brophy-Baermann (mbrophy@ric.edu). Learn more about Pi Sigma Alpha at: www.pisigmaalpha.org. Pi Sigma Alpha’s Executive Board is: Jemma Weibrecht, President; Tierra Saunders, Vice President; Kathryn Myrtle, Treasurer; Valmore Dumont, Secretary.

Pre-Law Club: The purpose of the Rhode Island College Pre-Law Society is to provide information and resources to undergraduate and graduate students of Rhode Island College who are interested in pursuing a career in the legal field, in addition to fostering engagement with the law by facilitating discussion and exploration of its various applications in society. Members of the Executive Board are: Kathryn Myrtle, President; Jean-Marie Arnold, Vice President; Adrianna Cousins, Treasurer; Kai-Asia Boyer, Secretary. We meet regularly during the free period every other week at 1pm in the Poli Sci Lounge. Our next meeting is November 14th.

Turning Point, USA: Turning Point USA’s mission is to educate students about the importance of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government. Through non-partisan debate, dialogue, and discussion, Turning Point USA believes that every young person can be enlightened to true free market values. Members of the Executive Board are: Emily Miller ’19, President; Robert D’Amico, Vice President; Melissa Lemoine, Treasurer; Kara Mitola, Secretary. Contact Emily Miller for more information on joining the club: emiller_4736@email.ric.edu.

NEW CLUB!

Holiday Party: Be on the lookout for information about a party for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to be held on Wednesday, November 28th, during the free period.

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After nine years, Dr. Schmeling has stepped down as chair of the Political Science department. I want to thank him for everything he has done for the department and its students over those years! I know I have huge shoes to fill!

Now in my 12th year at RIC, I’m excited to take the helm, but I also recognize it’s a challenging time to be chair. Enrollments, especially in the liberal arts, are declining.

Students (and/or their families) want to know “what can I do with a Poli Sci (or Geography, or Pub Ad) major?“ There’s no obviously direct path to a career like there is for students who go into nursing or accounting. And yet, there are countless opportunities for students who major or minor in one or more of the programs our department offers. We know our alumni are succeeding in the worlds of graduate school and work. Why? They are leaving our department with the crucial knowledge and skills that employers and graduate programs seek. Beyond getting that message out to prospective majors, I want to promote the many opportunities our students have, from internships to alumni lunches, student organization events to community partnerships, field trips to guest speakers. I also want to reach out to our alumni to foster a vibrant network of folks who have “been there”

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and whose experience can help and inform our current students. To that end, I have created a brief alumni update survey that can be completed at: https:// form.jotform.com/81836149461159.

I n t h e s e t r y i n g t i m e s o f p a rt i s a n polarization, I want to continue to foster in our department a sense of camaraderie, a sense of belonging, for all. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me, for instance, to see Turning Point, USA, the College Democrats, the Poli Sci Club, and Pi Sigma Alpha working together to host a Gubernatorial Debate Watch Party on November 1st!

There is much for me to learn and do as a new chair, and I am asking you to help me in promoting our programs and our department. I also want you to let me know when you think there are things I (and we) can be doing better.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about some of the great stuff going on within and outside of Gaige Hall! Thanks to all of the students who took the time to write articles, and to Amy Tibbetts, Administrative Assistant Extraordinaire, for her copy-editing!

—Michelle Brophy-Baermann 11

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Ideopolis Rhode Island College Department of Political Science 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave. Providence, RI 02908

Editors Michelle Brophy-Baermann

Amy Tibbetts

Visit the Political Science Department's website, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

IDEOPOLIS WANTS YOU! If you like to write and have ideas for the newsletter, consider joining the Editorial Board. Ideopolis comes out once each semester. Send all comments, questions, suggestions, news and more to mbrophy@ric.edu.

Find this and previous issues of Ideopolis online at: http://issuu.com/ideopolis, or on the Political Science website.

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