Scholarship and Creativity Day

To all members of the CSB/SJU community: you are invited to attend student oral presentations today for the Public Policy Analysis and Recommendation project (Pols 114) in which students diagnose some policy problem and recommend a solution. The presentations will be in Simons G-40. The afternoon session goes from 1-4 PM, and the evening session from 7-9 PM. You do not need to stay for the entire session. These presentations are part of the Scholarship and Creativity Day activities. -James Read, Department of Political Science

Participating Students and Presentation Titles:

1:00-4:00 PM

• Anna Schumacher: Universal Pre-K Program
• Brian Strauss: Southwest Light Rail Transitway: The next step in MSP public transportation
• Ashleigh Leitch: Addressing Human Trafficking through Mandatory Reporting
• Sarah Gaida: Reintegration of Africa's Child Soldiers
• Dan Burgstaler: China's manipulation of currency.
• Casey Wojtalewicz: Feed-In Tariffs in Minnesota: Renewable Energy For and By All
• Jacob Lantry: "Refuse Derived Fuel: A Solution to the Dilemma at St. Paul's Rock-Tenn Recycling Plant."
• Jacob Law: Public Buildings and Environmental Regulation
• Michael Swanberg: Metropolitan Water District
• Kellianne Lauer: Pro Bono Legal Assistance for Undocumented Minors
  

7:00-9:00 PM

• Amy Hoeschen: Common Curriculum: waving an Environmental Flag High
• Tasha Truskolaski: Homeowner Protection Package
• Michael Cronan: The Reinforcement of the Fairness Doctrine
• Sarah Biro: Consistency in Nutritional Education in Public Schools
• Hannah Lammer: Reevaluating Efficiency and Health: Food Stamp Program Reform
• Joe Eiden: Judicial Bypass: Minnesota’s Flawed Option for Minors Seeking Abortion
• Rachel Kohout: Real Costs of War Profiteers: Inefficiency of Private Contracting
• Erik Anderson: Indoor Air Quality in Minnesota Public Schools
• Alan Albert: A New Reformed Health Care System in America
  

CSB/SJU Welcomes Julian Bond for the 2008 McCarthy Lecture

The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement announces that Julian Bond, chairman of the board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), will deliver the secondannual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture at 7 p.m. Wed., Oct. 29, in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater on the Saint John's University campus.

Public Policy Forum Debate

On March 11th at 7pm in the Pellegrene Auditorium, The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement is sponsoring a public debate on environmental policy. The central debate resolution is “Be it resolved that the free-market is best suited to protect the environment.”

This debate will be well balanced, with highly qualified people on both sides of the event.

Christopher Horner, a best-selling author and a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, will be making an encore appearance and speaking on the affirmative side of the resolution.

Denis McDonough, a ’92 SJU alum, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and advisor to Presidential candidate Barack Obama, will argue against the resolution.

The McCarthy Center will also prepare four students to participate alongside the experts, with two students on each side. A larger group of students will serve as a debate prep team.

With growing scientific knowledge of the multitude of environmental issues, many folks are increasingly interested in the debate over the role of government and private sector in response to these issues. Topics like cap and trade systems, carbon taxes, Kyoto Treaty, and other public policy issues are likely to be addressed, along with capitalism’s profit incentive and how environmental integrity plays in to that.

We hope this debate will interest faculty, staff, and students from many disciplines and political ideas. However, we also hope this will be an informative, lively, and civil debate for those who just want to learn more about the issues and trade offs associated with environmental policy.

A look back at Eugene McCarthy

Broadcast: Midday, 12/10/2007, 12:00 p.m.

Listen to program

E.J. Dionne, one of America's top political observers, pays triubute to the late Sen. Eugene McCarthy, one of Minnesota's top politicians, in a speech at St. John's University. McCarthy, whose 1968 presidential campaign galvanized the anti-Vietnam War movement, died two years ago.

Star Tribune: Honoring McCarthy

Full Article

St. John's University in Collegeville has put a very good name on its new Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement. It will bear the name of the late Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy, the 1935 St. John's honors graduate who made his mark on the nation's history when he launched an anti-Vietnam War presidential bid 40 years ago this month.

The center, a joint enterprise of St. John's and its sister school, the College of St. Benedict, promises to bring Benedictine values of hospitality and stewardship to public policy work. That's an activity that could use more of those gentle graces.

CSB and SJU receive commitments of $10.3 million to establish Academic Centers

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University have received pledges of $10.3 million to establish two centers of academic excellence and distinction that will engage students in making connections and crossing boundaries in the 21st century. The centers will enhance student learning, promote faculty development and raise public awareness about pressing issues of our day.

The College of Saint Benedict received a $5.3 million commitment from Tom Petters, founder, chairman and CEO of Petters Group Worldwide, for the creation of the Thomas J. Petters Center for Global Education. Petters, a St. Cloud native, is a member of the CSB Board of Trustees. His company has investments in a collection of more than 60 companies around the world including Polaroid, Sunbeam and Sun Country Airlines. Petters is an active philanthropist with particular interest in the development of young people pursuing global understanding and international business. He previously provided funding for the Petters Auditorium of the Benedicta Arts Center at CSB.

Saint John’s University received a $5 million gift pledge from Dan and Katharine Whalen for the creation of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement. Dan Whalen, who began his career in the public policy arena, is a 1970 graduate of Saint John’s and immediate past chair of Saint John’s Board of Regents. Katharine Whalen, who has an M.A. in public policy from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Affairs, has held various positions in city and environmental planning at the local, state and federal level and at Stanford University.

The Petters Center will help broaden understanding and strengthen engagement of students and faculty in looking outside the United States to understand the global nature of business and model citizenship in our world. It will also build on a nationally-recognized study abroad program. CSB and SJU operate 17 separate study abroad sites on six continents including a 25-year partnership with Southwest University in BeiBei, Chongqing, China.

“The future is dependent upon our youth having a broad understanding of other cultures,” Petters said. “It’s essential to teach students about the importance of understanding cultural differences and exchanging ideas that can be used to enhance the lives of all people, and encourage dialogue for a more peaceful world.”

“Tom Petters has a gift for bringing people together,” said Mary Ann Baenninger, president of the College of Saint Benedict. “Whether supporting our award-winning performing arts center, offering scholarships to students passionate about international business or giving our interns challenging and engaging work around the world, Tom has had a profound impact in the lives of our students, their families, our faculty and staff and our global community.”

The McCarthy Center, named after the late Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy, who was a 1935 graduate of Saint John’s, will grow on a strong foundation in the academic exploration of public policy, governance and citizenship at CSB and SJU and their record in bridging the classroom to the wider world. “I’ve seen what Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s does for students,” Dan Whalen said. “This place really does transform people. And it’s a first rate education. I can’t think of a better investment.”

“We are extremely grateful to Dan and Katharine for this generous commitment and are pleased to meet their request to honor Senator McCarthy in this way,” said Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president of Saint John’s University. “Our institutions have a long record of producing prominent political leaders and developing programs in the area of public policy. Through Dan and Katharine’s generosity, this center will prepare our students to serve and help address real-world challenges in our communities.”

Both gifts were announced nearly two years after the institutions jointly publicly announced the largest fundraising drives in their respective histories, together totaling $230 million. To date, the institutions have raised $212 million in current and deferred gifts and pledges toward the $230 million goal.

White House internship

The application deadline for the Spring 2008 White House Internship is September 25, 2007.

A White House Internship is an opportunity for current students and recent graduates to experience everyday life at the White House while working with high-level officials on a variety of tasks and projects.

Strong applicants should exhibit:

• Sound academic credentials
• A demonstrated interest in public service
• Solid written and verbal communication skills
• A history of community involvement
• Strong character and leadership skills

Beyond experiencing the day-to-day operations of the White House, interns participate in a speaker series, tours, community service projects, and various White House events. For more information and an application please visit our website at:http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/wh-intern.html Applications should be submitted to intern_application@whitehouse.gov on or before September 25, 2007 for the Spring 2008 Internship. If you have any questions please contact Meghan Espinoza at 202-456-5979.

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge honored at annual Red Mass

Judge Diana Murphy of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will be honored with the Fidelis Apparitor Award during the sixth annual Red Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, on the College of Saint Benedict campus. The public is invited to attend.

The award, which means “faithful servant” in Latin, is given to individuals who have been good and faithful servants of the law. John Simonett, a former associate justice with the Minnesota Supreme Court and a 1948 graduate of Saint John’s University, received the award last year.

Honorees are chosen by virtue of their exemplary service, outstanding competence and leadership, and their adherence to the directive in the Rule of Saint Benedict: “No one is to pursue what is judged better for oneself, but instead, what is judged better for someone else.”

Murphy, who was born in Faribault, Minn., received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, and her law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. She was in private practice from 1974-76 in Minneapolis, then served as a judge on the Hennepin (Minn.) County Municipal Court from 1976-78 and as a judge on the Minnesota District Court Fourth Judicial District from 1978-80.

In 1979, she was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat created in U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. She was confirmed by the Senate in 1980, and served as chief judge from 1992-94. In 1994, she became a judge in the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals following a nomination by President Bill Clinton. Murphy also served as chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission from 1999-2004.

Murphy served for 19 years on the SJU Board of Regents, chairing the board from 1995-98. She is now a Regent Emerita. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul.

The celebrant and homilist for the Red Mass is Abbot John Klassen, OSB, of Saint John’s Abbey.

The judicial year in many jurisdictions around the world is traditionally opened with a Red Mass. The celebration of the Mass is designed to provide judges, lawyers, civic leaders and academics of all faiths the opportunity to reflect on the powers and responsibilities that are part of their offices.

Red Mass participants ask God to grant the virtues and gifts necessary for the proper and just administration of their duties. The Red Mass name comes from the red vestments and garments that early legal participants wore on this occasion.

Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator

The Minnesota Office of United States Senator Amy Klobuchar is seeking interns for the Fall, 2007 Semester.

An internship in Senator Klobuchar’s office will provide unique experiences to students while they assist staff members with constituent issues and concerns. Here, students will work directly with congressional aides on issues involving constituent concerns and requests. They will also assist the staff in working with city and town officials and non-profit organizations applying for federal grants.

Every effort is made to pair interns with legislative staff based on their interests and experience. Interns will also assist in supporting the legislative and professional staff by conducting research and providing administrative support.

All interns will be asked to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. This will include time both in the Twin Cities office and at various locations throughout Minnesota. If your institution allows or requires college credit, accommodations can be made. These are un-paid internships. To apply or for more information, please call (612) 727-5220 or send an e-mail with a cover letter and resume attached to Joe_Campbell@klobuchar.senate.gov. Please put “Internship” in the subject line.

Writing contest for high school students to recognize interest in public policy

Students from public and private high schools from across the Upper Midwest are invited to enter the second annual College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University Public Policy Learning Community Essay Contest.

“Contested Ideas and Methods: Debating Public Policy” is the topic of the essay contest, sponsored by the Public Policy Learning Community at CSB/SJU. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2007. Entries should be submitted by e-mail to mlindstrom@csbsju.edu or by mail to: Dr. Matthew Lindstrom, Public Policy Learning Community, Saint John’s University, Simons Hall 150, Collegeville, MN 56321.

The Public Policy Learning Community at CSB/SJU is offering this essay contest to foster awareness of and interest in public policy issues at any area and level of government.

Entries may address policy in any area of government, from domestic to foreign, and any level of government, from local policy to international law. Essays will be judged on the quality of writing and support of the theme through evidence, not on the policy issue chosen or specific position held by the writer. A bibliography using any standard academic style is necessary.

Papers should address the importance of the issue and the policies involved in that issue, why they are important, and what improvements could be made to the policies or their implementation. Topics within the scope of public policy include, but are not limited to, education, war, environment, poverty, health care, taxation, trade, criminal justice, civil rights and liberties, international refugees, and much more. Essays should be 1200 words at a minimum.

“This writing contest is meant to show students how public policy affects their lives, and how they can affect public policy,” said Lindstrom, CSB/SJU associate professor of political science and director of the Public Policy Learning Community.

“Through active citizenship, we can help government advance the good of society,” Lindstrom continued. “Many of us are unaware of the effects of even the smallest policy changes on important issues. This writing promotes thought among students about the issues of interest to them, and allows them to research these issues and suggest improvements to public policy that would improve life in society today. With this encouragement, students will hopefully become more politically aware and active citizens.”

There is a first prize award of $200 and a second prize award of $100. Certificates of merit will also be awarded.