POLITICA Newsletter Fall 2017 by A Political Science Newsletter at JCSU

Issue 8, FALL 2017

POLITICA A PROGRAM IN POLITICAL SCIENCE NEWSLETTER JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY

IN THIS EDITION ❖ Our Mission 2 ❖ The PSA Corner 2 ❖ Message From Program Coordinator 4 ❖ Meet Our New Faculty 4 ❖ My Summer as an HBCU Caucus Intern 5 ❖ Political Spotlight 5 ❖ Being a Campus Leader 6 ❖ Reflections From A Study Abroad Experience 7 ❖ First Lady of Cabo Verde Visits Charlotte 8 ❖ University Study Abroad Trip 9 ❖ Picture Gallery 10 ❖ Our Curriculum 16

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER POLITICA, the Portuguese and Spanish word for Politics, serves the purpose of highlighting events, activities and achievements by the Program in Political Science, its faculty and students. It also serves as a space for scholarly and social engagement. Submissions and staff positions are open to all University students, and not limited to political science majors and minors. If you have articles, news or events you would like to submit for publication to POLITICA or are interested in becoming a staff member please contact program coordinator, Dr. Terza Lima-Neves.

OUR PROGRAM MISSION The political science major is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the philosophical and practical issues associated with political systems, institutions and organization, and political participation and governance and to encourage critical thinking about the nature of citizenship, rights, and duties in the modern world. The program also aims to support the mission of the College of Arts and Letters and Department of Social Sciences of providing quality professional preparation in the field of political science as well as academic preparation for graduate studies. It also aims to fulfill the University’s purpose of producing graduates who are able to communicate effectively, think critically, learn independently and demonstrate competence in the field of political science while being responsible global citizens.

The Political Science Student Association Corner (PSA) Juhn-Luke Browne

Junior, Political Science Major President, Political Science Student Association

As a junior and new president of the Political Science Student Association at JCSU, I have learned early on that “If you do not get politics, politics will get you”. We live in a world now where politics is the cornerstone of everything. From the wages that one earns to the social injustices that one may face, politics is always present. I fortunately have learned this through the challenging and engaging curriculum found in the political science program. Although it is my first year as president of PSA, I intend to follow the important, and sometimes arduous process of engaging in conversations about politics with students in other majors, and outside of campus who may have negative feelings about politics in general. However, I believe that the understanding of politics is the key to some of the problems that many of us face in America both socially and economically. As a result, I would like for myself and PSA to engage in further opening the eyes of those who do not understand politics, offering the knowledge that we have obtained through areas of civic engagement. Dr. Terza Lima-Neves and students during a session for her course, Contemporary African Politics

I hope for another year of success for the Political Science Student Association and the Political Science Program, whose awesome students and hardworking professors all contribute to us being one of the best academic programs at the University.  

A Message From Our Program Coordinator

Dr. Terza A. Silva Lima-Neves, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Political Science Coordinator, Program in Political Science

This has been an exciting year for our Program! From welcoming our newest faculty member, Dr. Nick Robbins and the work we do in the community to hosting global leaders and a study abroad trip, I couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of such an active program and campus community. This past spring we said goodbye to our graduating seniors, Tod Herron and Whitney Jones and welcomed new students in the Fall. Senior, D’Andre Carter, a political science major was elected President of the Student Government Association. His leadership has been truly inspiring to watch as he has so confidently led his fellow Smithites and encouraged them to be more actively involved in their local communities. Students like D’Andre are the reasons the work that I do as a professor and mentor is so rewarding. I remember meeting him the spring before he officially joined us as a student, during his college tour. He stopped in my office with his mom and we chatted for almost 40 minutes

about his goals and what we could do as a program to support him. I’ve had the privilege to witness D’Andre’s development as an outstanding young man, leader in his community and remarkable student. Personally, the last few months have been busy with teaching, researching, and doing the community work I am passionate about. With the support of Johnson C. Smith University and local non-profit organization, No Backpack Day, we welcomed the First Lady of Cabo Verde (my homeland), Mrs. Ligia Fonseca to Charlotte as well as Mr. Carlos Veiga, the Ambassador from Cabo Verde to the United States. Additionally, I travelled to Cabo Verde with a group of students, via the University’s study abroad program, a once in a lifetime experience for our students detailed in the newsletter. As an academic program, we continue to expand with new and exciting courses, internship opportunities under the guidance of Dr. Tonya Williams and other experiences that adequately prepare our students to be global citizens. Every year, we welcome a new cohort of students who are eager to learn and expand their worldviews. With the addition of Dr. Robbins, his cuttingedge teaching style and research agenda to our team of committed faculty members, I have no doubt we will continue to be campus leaders based on our rigorous curriculum, commitment to academic excellence and student support for professional life beyond the gates.  

Contact Dr. Terza Lima-Neves Email: tlneves@jcsu.edu Telephone: (704) 378-1095 Twitter: @DrTLimaNeves Instagram: @KriolaMommyScholar

Welcoming The Newest Member of Our Faculty

some point in the future, offer an entirely collaborative course in which students and I work together to create the syllabus and course content at the beginning of the semester. I am currently teaching Introduction to American Government, Introduction to Political Analysis, and Political Theory. Next semester I will be teaching Black Political Thought, Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, and Political Theory and Film. In my mind, the political theorist should use anything and everything to inspire students to clarify their journey for knowledge, freedom and service to humanity. The positive changes that humanity so desperately needs to make at this time, will, I believe, be the result of a sufficient number of individuals committing themselves to our survival and enlightenment as a single human family. With so much emphasis on darkness in the daily headlines it is especially important to keep alive a positive vision of the future that works for all.

Dr. Nick Robbins, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson I see it as my purpose to challenge students to live an examined life, to think broadly and deeply about the world, to become dreamers and philosophers of their own existence. To this end, I am always on the search for ways to connect course content to the lives and interests of students. My courses often use popular culture—including film, music, art, and stand-up comedy—in order to represent concepts from a variety of viewpoints. For example, this semester in Introduction to Political Analysis we analyzed the film Straight Outta Compton, the music of hip-hop pioneers like N.W.A and Public Enemy, and the standup comedy of Dave Chappelle. I believe that education should be experimental, adaptive and engaging; that it should ultimately attempt to synthesize daily life, learning and play. In the spirit of improvisation and democratic cooperation, I would like to, at

My research interests include political theory, film, and popular culture. I enjoy examining the psychological, philosophical and political meanings of cultural products that resonate with the public. This was the approach of my dissertation, Civilization of the Living Dead, which showed how political theorists since Plato have used monster imagery to shed light upon the dark side of human society. I am particularly drawn to narratives and representations of people awakening from various forms of psychological and physical enslavement, such as Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and The Matrix. Douglass is one of my heroes—that is why you will see his picture on my office door!  

Contact Dr. Nick Robbins Email: nrobbins@jcsu.edu Telephone: (704) 378-1097

Dariana Reid Serves as Summer Intern With HBCU Caucus Dariana Reid

Senior, Political Science Major

Over the summer, I secured a position as an intern in the Bipartisan Congressional Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus working in Washington, D.C. in the office of Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Congressman Mark Walker (R-NC) over the span of two sessions, from June 5 to June 30 and July 5 to July 28. As an intern, I performed day-to-day activities such as answering phones and running errands, however, there were opportunities where I could showcase my talents as a student by writing constituent letters, co-sponsorship memos and committee meeting memos. Towards the end, I had the opportunity to write speeches and help with press releases on the communications side of the field. The internship was designed so that I could meet various staffers, members, and other interns on the Hill. These meetings led to me branching out on my own and finding people whose political interests matched my own. I quickly learned how important one’s name and brand were in this type of setting. What stood out the most for myself was the bipartisan aspect. It’s rare that you have an opportunity to work for both a republican and democratic office. By doing so, I gained valuable experience that sets me apart from other students when applying for graduate schools or jobs. At first, I was apprehensive about

working for a Republican, but I never felt that I didn’t belong and the staff was interested in hearing my views. The offices were slightly moderate in their ideologies and were willing to sit and break down why they felt things should work out one way over the other. Overall, I’d say the internship exceeded my expectations and it’s definitely an opportunity I’d persuade others to take.  

POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT My Greatest Revelation Laron Rhone

Sophomore, Political Science Major

As I sat in my Introduction to Political Science class on the first day, I hoped that I would leave with a greater understanding of politics as a whole when I left and not just a few definitions of terms dyed by bias. Just last year I was struck by the realization that every aspect of my life is influenced by politics, from birth to death and absolutely everything in

between. I think many people may understand politics as a sort of force they can detach themselves from, policies and laws that don’t have anything to do with their actual livelihood. They think of old white men arguing about how to be richer, heated arguments at Thanksgiving dinner over things that “aren’t that important”. I used to be one of those people.

BEING A CAMPUS LEADER D’Andre Carter

Senior, Political Science Major President, Student Government Association

Now I see that many things I’ve never viewed as “political” are very much so. During my freshman year at JCSU, my greatest revelation was that all things are political. But now I am a Sophomore and I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing a course that looks into many facets of what politics is and because of that I’ve grown and had an even greater revelation. Our world is shaped through the manifestation of ideas, in fact all of politics is based on ideas. I lay in bed wrapped in my most comfortable blanket reading a comparative analysis of Hitler and Mussolini’s expressions of fascism. In those moments I came to a full realization of what it means to have a powerful idea. The reality is that a man who previously had no power came to be one of the most prominent historical representations of evil because of his ideas. Fascism was an idea that spread like wildfire. This idea reshaped a government, it’s military, and its citizens. While reading that chapter I saw many connections between fascism and how America defined democracy during its beginning. Ideas and their manifestation has shaped mankind, theories become fleshed into ideologies and those manifest as full systems of governing a people. 

In 2014, I visited the campus of Johnson C. Smith University while deciding which college to attend. During my campus tour, I had the opportunity to meet political science professor, Dr. Terza Lima-Neves (Dr. T) and then Student Government Vice-President, Refiloe “Fifi” Moshoeshoe Seakamela. Fifi saw my passion for student leadership and persuaded me to join the Student Government Association (SGA). At that time, I told her “My goal is to be in your position one day.” She didn’t hesitate to reply, “I see you as the Student Government Association President.” My role as the Student Government Association President has been a very challenging, but yet rewarding experience so far. I previously served on SGA for 3 years. As cliché as it may sound when I took on this position, I wanted to make a change. My goal as SGA President is to connect the student body with our neighboring community. This year’s board has focused on community outreach and connecting with our Charlotte roots. I have attended conferences on Segregation and Re-segregation of Charlotte’s

schools. The Conference gave insight into The Siloam School which shed light on the educational, agricultural and community perspectives of early 20th century AfricanAmerican families. During my time as SGA President, I have collaborated with North Carolina Legislators on the impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in education. I would never have achieved my goal of becoming SGA President were it not for the support and encouragement of my political science family. My proudest accomplishment as President has been getting the chance to assist with ushering in a new University President. My plans after graduation is to pursue a Masters Degree in Political Communication at American University.  

My Travel Abroad Experience to The Republic of Cabo Verde Norsharra James

Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies Student Concentrations: Political Science and Psychology

Norsharra (left) during a private lunch reception hosted by the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, His Excellency Mr. Jorge Fonseca and First Lady, Mrs. Ligia Dias Fonseca at the Presidential Palace in the nation’s capital, city of Praia.

This past summer, I participated in the study abroad program where I spent 10 days in the wonderful country of Cabo Verde. I had the opportunity to travel to 3 of the 9 inhabited islands: Santiago, Santo Antao, and São Vicente, where each of these islands gave me something different to reflect on. The thing that I’m most grateful that my trip taught me was how to step away and live in the moment. As a senior getting ready to embark on my last semester of college

this was the perfect lesson for me. But that wasn’t the only thing this trip did for me it. It also opened my eyes to how closed off I was to other cultures. I thought that the American way was the best way and that any other way was beneath me. The moment I stepped foot off that airplane I was proven wrong. I had never seen so much beauty in one place at one time in every direction I turned. Here is an excerpt from a journal entry I wrote while on the trip, “When São Vicente came into view it was the most breath-taking thing I have ever seen in my life. Seeing that clear BLUE (and I mean CLEAR AND BLUE) water touching the sandy beaches it was amazing, one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. Once we landed and I saw the island, I fell in love with it even more.” The way that I was treated, like I was a long lost cousin that had finally returned back home was the most amazing feeling in the world and I fully embraced it. As a future teacher this trip shaped how I am going to not only teach but how I interact with my students. Showering them with love and support is a necessity that will take place. I have also pledged to teach every student that takes a seat in my classroom about the world around them and not this bubble that I was placed in. I don’t want to be responsible for continuing the injustice that I was given as a child. “Seeing how much this culture cared about their children with exceptionalities made me think that we don’t do enough of that in the States. Once we find out a child has an exceptionality we put them in a corner and leave them in that box thinking they can’t do things the “regular” children can do which does not help the child but further hinder their growth and progress.” My trip to Cabo Verde changed my life for the better, made me a better person and opened my eyes to so many things that I will cherish and use to advance my life and those of the students that I will come in contact with throughout my career. I would encourage anyone to leave the United States and learn more about the world outside of their bubble. Visit places that you don’t already know about and when there don’t hang around the resorts but find the locals and ask them where they hang out. I promise the locals will not mind showing anyone a good time and will take you to all the good places.  

JCSU AND CHARLOTTE WELCOME THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CABO VERDE In late Spring 2017, the Program in Political Science collaborated with Charlotte non-profit, No Backpack Day Organization in welcoming the official visit from the First Lady of the Republic of Cabo Verde, Her Excellency Mrs. Ligia Dias Fonseca. Mrs. Fonseca served as keynote speaker for the No Backpack Day Annual Conference, held at JCSU, highlighting the successes of access to education for young girls and raising awareness of the challenges still faced by millions of girls in Africa and worldwide. The No Backpack Day Organization and its founder, 14 year-old Cameroonian-American Mongai Fankam have attracted the attention of global leaders like Liberian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee and former president of Malawai Dr. Joyce Banda who are both mentors to the young girl. The organization has collected more than 10,000 backpacks and school supplies over the last 5 years that have been sent to Cameroon, South Africa, Liberia and this year, Cabo Verde. Students in Dr. Lima-Neves’ political science courses have actively served as volunteers of No Backpack Day for the past four years. This year, students enrolled in her course on Cabo Verdean society and politics helped in welcoming Mrs. Fonseca and also planned the process of collecting backpacks. Mrs. Fonseca’s visit shed light on the growing Cabo Verdean community in the southern region of the United States, namely North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. It also introduced Charlotte to the historical connections between the United States and Cabo Verde. The founder of the United House of Prayer For All People, Marcelino Manuel Da Graca, commonly known as “Sweet Daddy” Grace was born on the Islands and is featured in an exhibit at the Levine Museum of the New South. In addition to the Levine, the First Lady visited local elementary and middle schools, and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African/African American Arts, met with the mayor of Charlotte, Mrs. Jennifer Roberts as well as local businesses interested in exploring African markets, and the local Cape Verdeans of the Carolinas Association.

Photo on the Left: (L-R): First Lady Ligia Fonseca with students Malaika Beverly, Hajirah Attah, Valeria Hernandez, Natoshua Kamara, Norsharra James and Dr. Terza Lima-Neves during a reception hosted by JCSU President Ronald Carter. These students were enrolled in Lima-Neves’ course on Cabo Verdean society and politics Photo on The Right: University President with the First Lady and her delegation: Front Left: Abong Fankam and Mongai Fankam, No Backpack Day Founders; Back Left: Oriana Goncalves, Jaqueline Marques; Center: First Lady Ligia Fonseca, President Ronald Carter; Right: Dr. Terza Lima-Neves and Alzerina Gomes

Dr. Terza Lima-Neves Leads a Group of Students To The Republic of Cabo Verde As Part of The University Study Abroad Program The visit from the First Lady of Cabo Verde created a buzz for the JCSU Study Abroad Experience to Cabo Verde in May 2017, led by Dr. Terza Lima-Neves, a native of the West African Islands. Dr. Lima-Neves and 6 students from various majors on campus including psychology, social work, political science, and business travelled to Cabo Verde with 250 backpacks and donated them to the mayor’s office community bank in the Island of Sao Vicente. They also collected school supplies and personal care items such as diapers, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions, and shampoos. The overall purpose of the study abroad trip was to rebrand and reimagine the way we think and speak of "Africa", beyond the sensationalized media portrayals of war, hunger and corruption, to truly get to know the people, the history, and the culture. The trip included visits to a day care center, primary and secondary schools, a day center for street children and another center for children/young adults with exceptional needs. As a result of the existing relationship with the First Lady of Cabo Verde, the study abroad group had the unique opportunity to meet with Mr. Jorge Fonseca, the President of Cabo Verde during a private traditional lunch hosted by his office. By using Cabo Verde as a case study and visiting three of the ten islands, the students learned that even in the same country, there is diversity in people’s experiences, history and local culture. As a continent, Africa is made up of over 50 countries with different cultures, ethnic groups, and historic backgrounds. It is very important to travel and get to know people, to hear their stories through their own voices and not through what outsiders imagine and conclude them to be. As Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie mentioned, “The single story creates stereotypes and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” For the full story of the First Lady’s visit and University the Study Abroad Program trip please visit https://terzalimaneves.com/2017/08/04/mrs-ligia-dias-fonseca-the-first-lady-of-the-republic-of-caboverde-and-delegation-visit-charlotte-north-carolina/

JCSU Study Abroad Group with President Jorge Carlos Fonseca, First Lady Ligia Fonseca and Staff in the President’s Office

PICTURE GALLERY POLITICAL SCIENCE ACADEMIC AWARDS CEREMONY, 2016-17 Congratulations to Our Graduating Seniors, Tod Herron and Whitney Jones! (Spring 2017)

Our students with noted Historian Dr. Aminah Fernandes Pilgrim, keynote speaker for the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Month Lecture and Film Series (March 2017)

A Visit from the First Lady of Cabo Verde! (April 2017)

Mrs. Fonseca and her delegation visit JCSU

With Mayor of Charlotte, Ms. Jennifer Roberts

(Left) Mrs. Ligia Fonseca, Mongai Fankam with Dr. Felicia Eybl, Principal of Waddell Language Academy that participated in No Backpack Day. Students at Waddell donated over 200 new backpacks (Right) No Backpack Day Annual Conference at New Science Center Building, JCSU Campus

STUDY ABROAD TRIP TO CABO VERDE (MAY 2017)

Bemvindo a Cabo Verdeâ&#x20AC;¦Welcome to Cabo Verde!

Political Science senior, Dariana Reid and the group officially presenting our donations to the community bank

Fun in the truck and touring Sao Vicente Island!

STUDY ABROAD TRIP TO CABO VERDE, continued…

Reception with University of Mindelo Students, Sao Vicente

In the Mountains of Santo Antao Island

Standing at the historic “Gate of No Return”, Santiago Island

Amidst the clouds in the Mountains of Santo Antao Island

Resort in Sao Viccente Island

Visit to Day Care Center in Sao Vicente Island

SENIOR THESES PRESENTATIONS (NOVEMBER 2017) Congratulations to Our Seniors: (L-R) Quaneisha Payne, Dariana Reid, D’Andre Carter, Quanetta King, K’aira Wilson Thank you, Dr. Williams for Your Guidance in this Process!

Cultural Event Co-Sponsored with The Cape Verdeans of The Carolinas Association, Featuring Mr. Carlos Veiga, Ambassador From Cabo Verde To The United States

Ambassador Veiga Offering Remarks to a Crowd of nearly 100 in Duke Hall

Campus Leaders, Laron Rhone, Shakoya Brown and Aria Springfield Chat with Ambassador Veiga

Professor of English, Matt DeForrest, Board of Trustees Member, Christy Bryant and Senior, Norsharra James, Bring Official JCSU Greetings to Ambassador Veiga. Mr. Veiga also toured the University campus.

SPRING 2017 COURSES

REQUIRED COURSES

Dr. Terza Lima-Neves

The required courses for the Political Science Major are (27 credit hours):

POL 100A: Intro to Political Science TTH 9:30-10:45AM

POL 437: Foreign Policy TTH 1:30-2:45 PM

POL 100 Intro to Political Science POL 131 American Government POL 230 Intro to Political Analysis POL 333 Comparative Politics POL 334 International Relations POL 335 Political Theory POL 398 Research Methods POL 431 Policy Analysis POL 434 Constitutional Law POL 499 Senior Paper

Dr. Tonya Williams

Electives

POL 131B: American Government ONLINE

An additional 15 elective hours in the Major from the following courses:

POL 398: Research Methods W 1-3:00PM

POL 231 State and Local Politics POL 235 Intro to African Politics POL 330 Public Administration POL 332 The Developing World POL 339 Black Political Thought POL 430 Women in Politics POL 432 Seminar in American Politics POL 433 International Organizations POL 435 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties POL 437 Foreign Policy POL 439 Internship POL 491 Special Topics in Political Science

POL 100B: Intro to Political Science ONLINE POL 333A: Comparative Political Systems TTH 12-1:15PM

POL 439: Internship T 6-9PM POL 491: Seminar: Black Politics Dr. Nick Robbins POL 131A: American Government MWF 1-1:50PM POL 339A: Black Political Thought MWF 3-3:50PM POL 435: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties MWF 2-2:50PM POL 491: Seminar: Political Theory & Film MWF 4-4:50PM

Majors must also take (12 credit hours): ECON 231 Principles of Macroeconomics HIS 136 History of the United States to 1865 PSY 233 or SOC 233 or MTH 136 Statistics The Program in Political Science at Johnson C. Smith University is located on the Second Floor of McCrorey Hall (MCH). Join us on Facebook at Political Science Program at JCSU!