Join us to explore the program, guestworkers and immigration, and labor relations in the United States. The Bracero Program, a Mexican agricultural guestworker program between 1942 and 1964, sheds important light on these questions and the broader immigration debate.

The event is sponsored by the Latin American Studies Program and the Department of Political Science.

The prep sessions for both the GRE and LSAT will be 7:00–8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. The session for GRE will be held in 108 Zink Hall, and the session for the LSAT will be held in 106 Zink Hall.

The practice tests for both the GRE and the LSAT will be on Saturday, April 27. The GRE practice test will be administered 9:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in 108 Zink Hall. The practice LSAT will be administered 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 106 Zink Hall.

After the test, students will receive customized score reports detailing their strengths and weaknesses.

To enroll, follow these steps:

1. Go to Princeton Review.
2. Look to middle/left of the page for “Attend a Free Event In Your Area.”
3. Insert Zip Code.
4. Look slightly to the left and Select “Choose Test” (GRE or LSAT).
5. Click “Go” by the Zip Code which you entered.
6. Look to bottom/middle of page and you’ll see both Strategy Session and Practice Test.
7. Click “Enroll” on the right.
8. Follow from there to complete the registration.

Please contact J.B. Smith, vice president of IUP Phi Kappa Phi, at jbsmith@iup.edu with questions.

Department of Political Science 

The title of her presentation is “Increasing Access to Health Services in Rural Bolivia: Successes and Challenges.”

Harlowe has extensive field experience in rural Bolivia. She will address the political, cultural, and logistical challenges to advancing President Evo Morales’ promise of improving health care in rural Bolivia.

Department of Political Science

The personal statement is your one chance to set yourself apart from the hundreds (or thousands) of other applications being reviewed by an admissions committee.

Don’t know what to write or how to get started? Then sign up for the:

Writing a Law School Personal Statement Workshop

• Saturday, April 13, 2013
• 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Taught by Professor Gwen Torges of the Political Science Department 

In this workshop, you will learn:

• the purpose of a personal statement
• what admissions officials are looking for in a personal statement
• what types of information you should—and shouldn’t—include
• how to decide what to write about
• how to banish writer’s block and get started writing!

Besides learning about the components of a personal statement and tips for writing one of your own, you will read and evaluate sample personal statements. The workshop also includes a brainstorming session and other exercises to help you come up with and develop a theme for your personal statement.

To Register:

The workshop is free,but you need to register by sending an e-mail to kburkley@iup.edu by Thursday, April 11.

This workshop is sponsored by:

• The Pre-Law Program at IUP
• The College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• The Political Science Department

If these questions sound familiar, then this workshop’s for you!

Getting into Law School Workshop

• Saturday, April 6, 2013
• 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
• Taught by Professor Gwen Torges of the Political Science Department 

You will learn:

• about the application process and the important deadlines
• what law school admissions officials are looking for
• strategies for getting the best possible letters of recommendation
• how to set yourself and your application apart from the crowd!

The workshop is free, but you must register by Thursday, April 4.

To Register:

Send an e-mail to kburkley@iup.edu. Deadline to register is Thursday, April 4.

This workshop is sponsored by:

• The Pre-Law Program at IUP
• The College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• The Political Science Department

The mission of the Mock Trial Club is to participate in and support mock trial competitions and tournaments, gain a basic education of trial techniques and strategies, and develop an appreciation and general knowledge of the American legal system.

Department of Political Science 

The IUP Pre-Law Society serves as a valuable resource for IUP students who are interested in law school and law-related careers. The organization is involved in events such as the IUP Law School Career Day, LSAT prep courses, guest speakers, visits to law school, and more.

Joining the IUP Pre-Law Society provides:

• leadership opportunities
• access to resources compiled by the Pre-Law Society
• opportunities to participate in mock trial competitions
• information about law school and law-related careers
• a place to meet other students with interests similar to yours

Plus, the Pre-Law Society is a lot of fun!

The Pre-Law Society meeting will be followed by a meeting of the IUP Mock Trial club.

Department of Political Science 

The IUP community can get the inside story on today’s most pressing national security issues directly from a group of national security experts when they come to IUP on Tuesday, February 19, 2013. After visiting selected classrooms throughout the day, members of the panel will mingle informally with the university community at a pizza get-together from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., followed by a public panel discussion at 6:30 p.m., all at the Crimson Event Center. Extra credit vouchers will be available to students attending the panel discussion.

The panelists are part of the Eisenhower National Security Series, which is the U.S. Army War College’s communication and outreach program designed to encourage dialogue on national security and other public policy issues between its students and the public. The program focuses its efforts on students and faculty at academic institutions, professional organizations, civic groups, business organizations, and local media. The panelists are students at the U.S. Army War College. The U.S. Army War College, located in Carlisle Barracks, Pa., represents the highest level of education offered by the military services. It is designed to equip carefully selected senior officers and civilians with the competencies required of strategic leaders of the United States Armed Forces.

Though the members will address government policies, the views they express are their own, based on personal experience, research, academic study, and reflection. Panel members are prepared to discuss national public policy and current social issues and their impact on the United States Armed Forces.

The presentation by the Eisenhower Fellows is sponsored by the Political Science Student Leadership Committee and by the Department of Political Science.

Martin joined IUP in 2002 and served as a devoted teacher and colleague.

Her professional interests included American state and national politics, Congress, organizational management, and leadership style.

Her courses focused on the legislative and policy processes. She also recently developed a popular course that explored the tension between individual liberty and the authority of government to legislate morality.

In addition to teaching in the traditional classroom, Martin developed online versions of the five courses she taught most regularly.

A desire to empower students infused everything Martin did. This included empowering students to take an active role in government and to obtain civil service positions. Over the years, she recruited an impressive array of politicians and government leaders to come to speak to her students. When she wasn’t bringing speakers to campus, she was taking students to observe the workings of government for themselves. Each semester, Martin took a group of students to Harrisburg for discussions with key legislators and officials.

Before coming to IUP, Martin had an impressive career in a variety of management positions within various Pennsylvania state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Welfare.

She brought these real-world experiences to her teaching, and her extensive professional contacts were a tremendous asset to students in her role as the department’s internship coordinator for the past two years.

She also served as graduate studies coordinator for the department from 2008 to 2010.

This year marks the 26th anniversary of the IUP Law School Fair. The event provides an opportunity for students who are thinking about law school, but who still have lots of questions, to learn more about law school and the admission process. It also provides law schools with a chance to tell students about their programs.

Students are encouraged to stop by at any time between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to pick up information or chat with admissions officials.

“It’s never to early for a student to come to the law school fair,” said Gwen Torges, a professor in the Political Science Department and director of IUP’s Pre-Law Program. “Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, there’s something for everyone to learn.”

All students who attend the Law School Fair will be entered in a raffle to win a legal dictionary.

The 26th Annual Law School Fair at IUP is sponsored by the Pre-Law Program, the Political Science Department, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

If these questions sound familiar, then this workshop’s for you:

Getting into Law School Workshop

• Saturday, November 3, 2012
• 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The workshop is taught by Gwen Torges, a professor in the Political Science Department and director of the Pre-Law Program.

In this workshop, students will learn:

• about the application process and the important deadlines
• what law school admissions officials are looking for
• strategies for getting the best possible letters of recommendation
• how to set yourself and your application apart from the crowd

The workshop is free, but you must register by Thursday, November 8, 2012. After you register, you will be sent information about location and about a packet that you need to purchase. To register, please send an e-mail to Kyleen at kburkley@iup.edu.

This workshop is sponsored by the Pre-Law Program, the Political Science Department, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

This year marks the 26th anniversary of the IUP Law School Fair. The event provides an opportunity for students who are thinking about law school, but who still have lots of questions, to learn more about law school and the admission process. It also provides law schools with a chance to tell students about their programs.

Students are encouraged to stop by at any time between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to pick up information or chat with admissions officials.

“It’s never to early for a student to come to the law school fair,” said Gwen Torges, a professor in the Political Science Department and director of IUP’s Pre-Law Program. “Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, there’s something for everyone to learn.”

All students who attend the Law School Fair will be entered in a raffle to win a legal dictionary.

The 26th Annual Law School Fair at IUP is sponsored by the Pre-Law Program, the Political Science Department, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Two national experts are coming to IUP to discuss what the U.S. has—and has not—learned from a near miss with nuclear annihilation as we approach the 50 anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Their presentation, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 15, 2012, in the Ohio Room of the Hadley Union Building, is part of IUP’s Six O’Clock Series.

“This is an event of extraordinary importance,” said Political Science professor Dighton “Mac” Fiddner, who coordinated the event. “But it’s important more for what didn’t happen—no nuclear weapons were fired—than what did happen, which was that Soviet missiles were removed from Cuba.”

An American U-2 reconnaissance plane had photographed a Soviet SS-4 medium-range ballistic missile being assembled for installation on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores, on October 14. President John F. Kennedy was briefed about the situation on October 16. For nearly the next two weeks, the President and his team wrestled with a diplomatic crisis of epic proportions, as did their counterparts in the Soviet Union. President Kennedy enacted a naval blockade around Cuba and made it clear the U.S. was prepared to use military force if necessary to neutralize this perceived threat to national security. Disaster was avoided when the U.S. agreed to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s offer to remove the missiles from Cuba in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba. Kennedy also secretly agreed to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.

Guest Speakers:

• Peter Kornbluh, Senior Analyst, Director of Cuba and Chile Documentation Projects, the National Security Archive, George Washington University
  
  Dr. Kornbluh is the author/editor/coeditor of the Archive’s “The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962.” He played a large role in the campaign to declassify government documents about the crisis through the Freedom of Information Act. Dr. Kornbluh attended all of the post-Soviet Union conferences between American, Soviet, and Cuban participants of the crisis and has personally interviewed Fidel Castro on his role in the crisis.
• Phil Williams, Director, Matthew B. Ridgway Center for International Security Studies, and Wesley Posvar Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh
  
  Dr. Williams has written on crisis management and is a recognized expert on organized crime and drug trafficking in national security. He most recently has noted cyberspace national security policy and strategy’s similarity to the situation that existed at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Sponsored by the IUP Political Science Department, the Six O’Clock Series, the History Department, the Latin American Studies Program, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Torges’s comments were part of a presentation that she and John Wesley Lowery, a professor of Student Affairs in Higher Education, gave as part of IUP’s Six O’Clock Series. Entitled “The Sandusky Case: Implications and Lessons for Higher Education and IUP,” Torges and Lowery explained how education about appropriate responses to sexual misconduct will help create a safer campus, which is a prerequisite for student success.

In the first half of the presentation, Torges talked about the sex abuse scandal at Penn State involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Torges focused on three incidents of Sandusky’s abuse of young boys on Penn State property, between 1998 and 2001, that were either witnessed by or made known to Penn State employees, and the responses—or lack of response—of Penn State officials. She then detailed the various repercussions for Penn State because of its institutional negligence, including NCAA sanctions and an ongoing investigation by the Department of Education that could result in tens of thousands of dollars of penalties for the university.

“The Sandusky case has served as a wake-up call for all universities,” said Torges. “We need to be sure not only that we have the appropriate procedures in place, but that students are aware of where to go and who to contact if they experience or witness sexual misconduct.” Torges added, “We are using the Sandusky case to help educate the IUP community about where to get help, and to foster an environment in which students are not afraid to come forward with information about sexual harassment or abuse.”

In the second half of the presentation, Lowery explained how Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972—known to the public primarily for its impact on gender equity in collegiate sports—has been interpreted to include protection against sexual harassment.

Lowery, who is regarded as a leading expert on topics related to legislative issues and student conduct in higher education, explained the broad scope of Title IX protection. He also explained the resources we have at IUP to assist students who experience or know of sexual harassment.

Lowery and Torges concluded their talk with five key lessons that universities can take from the Sandusky case:

1. Compliance is not some individual’s responsibility, it is an institutional responsibility.
2. All of us—students, staff,and faculty—comprise the institution.
3. Complacency does not lead to compliance [of federal law and IUP policy]. Noncompliance will not be tolerated.
4. Civil rights is about creating an environment in which all students can succeed.
5. Creating a safe environment requires awareness of what to do and who to contact if you experience or witness sexual harassment or sexual violence.

A description of IUP’s reporting procedures for sexual harassment and sexual violence, including contact information, is available online on the webpage of IUP’s Office of Social Equity and Civic Engagement.

A more detailed description of Torges and Lowery’s presentation was published in the Sept. 25, 2012, edition of the Indiana Gazette.

Once again this year, on Monday, September 17, 2012, Chambers will pull on knee breeches, balance a pair of wire-rimmed bifocals atop his nose, and walk across the Oak Grove, enduring the stares of curious undergraduates. “The costume isn’t so bad,” said Chambers. “It’s that darned wig that gets to me. You wouldn’t believe how hot it is.”

As part of IUP’s commemoration of Constitution Day—the day in 1787 when the authors of the U.S. Constitution signed the document—Chambers will join with three other IUP professors portraying Founders in “Original Intentions? A Chat with the Founding Fathers.” The presentation is the first of this year’s Six O’Olock Series and is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 17, in the Hadley Union Building’s Ohio Room.

Appearing with Franklin will be fellow Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton, Charles Pinckney, and James Madison (portrayed, respectively, by Political Science professors Steven Jackson and Dighton “Mac” Fiddner, and by History professor Joe Mannard.)

The Genesis of Constitution Day

Until a few years ago, September 17 was dubbed “Citizenship Day” and was a relatively obscure federal holiday. That changed in 2005, after the late Robert Byrd, a long-time senator from West Virginia, became frustrated with how little most Americans know about their government and the document that created it. Byrd quietly inserted an amendment into a 2004 spending bill that renamed September 17 as Constitution Day and mandated that all educational institutions that receive federal funding—including universities—observe the holiday with educational programs to increase awareness about the U.S. Constitution.

So, starting in 2005, schools and universities scrambled to find ways to engage students and the public in learning about their Constitution. That was the impetus that led to IUP conjuring the spirit of Benjamin Franklin to talk the process of writing the U.S. Constitution in the summer of 1787.

Bringing the Constitution to Life

“I wanted to find a way to bring history to life—literally,” said Gwen Torges, a Political Science professor who has coordinated IUP’s Constitution Day activities since 2006. “People often refer to the intentions of the Founders. I thought it would be interesting to give students a chance to interact, in a way, with the past,” Torges said.

Torges came up with an idea: How about enlisting someone familiar with the writing and ratification of the Constitution to portray one of the Founders? She thought it would be a good idea to choose a Founder recognizable to the public and known as an engaging personality; someone like Benjamin Franklin. “From there, it was easy,” Torges said. She remembered that one of her colleagues, David Chambers, taught a course on the Federalist Papers, a series of writings that explain and defend the Constitution, and she believed Chambers would be a natural at portraying Franklin. “The hard part was getting the courage to ask him,” said Torges. “It seemed like a lot to ask someone to put on a hot costume and traipse around campus talking about the Constitution.”

To her pleasant surprise, Chambers not only agreed, but seemed pleased by the idea. Indeed, after the scheduled events were done, Chambers went walking through the Oak Grove, distributing copies of the Constitution and chatting with students.

The following Constitution Day, in 2007, was the first of the “chats with the Founders,” because Franklin was joined by Founder James Madison, portrayed by History professor Joe Mannard. Appearing before about 50 students in the Stabley Library, Franklin and Madison were asked about their role in writing the Constitution by Torges.

Mannard warmed quickly to his role as Madison and has participated every year since (this will be his fifth year). “Preparing for this annual event has given me a greater appreciation of how, despite the serious disagreements dividing them, these men were nevertheless able to transcend their differences and frame a document establishing a government that has endured for more than two centuries,” said Mannard. “Their example gives me hope that we will be able to find solutions to the seemingly intractable problems facing our own time.”

By 2008, Alexander Hamilton and Charles Pinckney had also been resurrected to participate in the “chat with the Founders.”

Charles Pinckney represented South Carolina at the Constitutional Convention, and so Political Science professor Dighton “Mac” Fiddner (who hails from neighboring North Carolina) enjoys embellishing his portrayal of Pinckney with authentic doses of his Southern accent, gentlemanly charm, and folksy humor. Fiddner becomes most animated when informing audiences that the so-called New Jersey plan (which is mentioned in every history of the Convention) was mostly plagiarized from his “Pinckney Plan.” “Those Jersey boys get all the glory, but it was this country boy from South Carolina who did all the work,” Fiddner said last year about Pinckney.

Lessons of Moderation and Cooperation from the Past Still Relevant

Fiddner believes that these “chats”—which are always lively and filled with friendly differences of opinion—are important because they provide an accurate account of the tumult that characterized much of the deliberations at the Convention. “There was really nothing orderly about the Convention,” said Fiddner. “I think many people today fail to realize just how deeply the delegates disagreed about so many issues.”

Chambers agrees. “One of the things I admire most about Franklin’s participation at the Convention was his ability to assume the role of elder statesman and to persuade the delegates to agree to compromise in a spirit of moderation and cooperation.”

Jackson said playing a Founder has given him an increased appreciation for Alexander Hamilton. “I enjoy playing Hamilton,” said Jackson. “Of all of the Founders, his vision of America as a strong, prosperous, industrial country was closest to what we eventually became, and his views on slavery and native Americans were, for the day and compared to the other Founders, also forward-looking.”

Anyone who’s seen one of the “chat with the Founders” can see that the professors portraying the Founders are obviously enjoying themselves. Mannard put it this way: “Serving with my fellow ‘Founders’ and moderator has also given me, a member of the Department of History, the opportunity to extend hands across Keith Hall and work closely with my talented colleagues in the Political Science Department. I have been consistently impressed not only by their obvious intelligence and erudition, but also by their unfailing wit and good humor, making the whole experience one I eagerly anticipate sharing each Fall.”

The presentation, “Original Intentions: A Chat with the Founding Fathers,” commemorates Constitution Day, the day when the authors of the U.S. Constitution signed their work and sent it to the states for ratification. Four of the Founding Fathers—Benjamin Franklin, Charles Pinckney, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison—will be on hand to share insights regarding the Constitutional Convention and what they hoped to achieve with the document. The Founders will be portrayed, respectively, by Political Science professors David Chambers, Dighton “Mac” Fiddner, and Steven Jackson, and by History professor Joe Mannard.

In an effort to give students a greater role in the Six O’Clock Series, the IUP Center for Student Life will for the first time be recruiting students to write and present opening remarks for each presentation.

“When I learned that they wanted a student to provide the opening remarks for the ‘Chat with the Founders,’ I immediately thought of John,” said Gwen Torges, an assistant professor in the Political Science Department and coordinator of IUP’s Constitution Day events. “The Political Science Department is proud to have John represent our department.”

This will be the eighth annual observance of the day in 1787 when the final draft of the U.S. Constitution was signed and sent to the states for review and ratification.

"With the upcoming presidential election, it's a good time to reflect on the republic created by the U.S. Constitution. I hope people will come to these events with lots of questions,” said Professor Gwen Torges, of the Department of Political Science, which is sponsoring Constitution Day.

Everyone on campus and in the community is warmly invited to attend and celebrate the 225th birthday of the Constitution.

Public Reading of the U.S. Constitution

noon  |  In front of Stabley Library, Oak Grove

Join President Michael Driscoll in a public reading of the Constitution. Starting with the Preamble and concluding with the 27th Amendment, we'll bring the words of this venerated document to life. If you have never heard the Constitution read aloud, prepare to be moved. Be one of the first 100 people to arrive, and you can read part of the Constitution and receive a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution, a “We the People at IUP” t-shirt, and a star-shaped cookie.

“A Casual Conversation with the Framers of the U.S. Constitution”

6:00 p.m. |
HUB Ohio Room 

Enjoy—and participate in—a conversation with four of the framers of the Constitution: Ben Franklin, Charles Pinckney, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, portrayed, respectively, by political science professors David Chambers, Dighton “Mac” Fiddner, and Steven Jackson and History professor Joe Mannard.

Learn what the framers were thinking when they wrote the U.S. Constitution, as well as how they might view contemporary constitutional challenges.

This presentation is the opening program for the Six O’Clock Series and is cosponsored by the Office of Student Life.

About Constitution Day

Formal commemoration of Constitution Day is a relatively new phenomenon. Frustrated by many Americans' lack of even basic knowledge about their government and its history, Senator Robert Byrd decided to take a proactive approach to increase civic awareness. The West Virginian Senator authored legislation—which became law in December 2004—that requires universities to teach their students about the U.S. Constitution.

Starting in 2005, on September 17 each year, every educational institution that receives any federal funds (and that includes just about every university in the country) must implement some sort of educational programming designed to raise awareness about the Constitution and its history.

• Article about the requirements mandated by Constitution Day, (Chronicle of Higher Education)
• Senator Robert Byrd’s website explains why he authored Constitution Day legislation
• Notice of implementation of Constitution Day, published by the Federal Register

Online Resources about the U.S. Constitution

Is your knowledge about the Constitution a little rusty? You’re not alone. In a survey by the National Constitution Center, only 1.8 percent of college students knew that James Madison is considered the father of the U.S. Constitution, compared to 58.3 percent who know that Bill Gates is the father of Microsoft. The following links will take you to a variety of resources that provide information about the history and content of the U.S. Constitution.

• The National Archives provides many online resources related to the Constitution, including the text of the U.S. Constitution and the history of the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
• The National Constitution Center offers commentary to explain the meaning of the Constitution in an Interactive Constitution.
• Listen to discussions of contemporary constitutional issues produced by NPR’s Justice Talking radio program.
• The Constitution Project seeks consensus solutions to difficult legal and constitutional issues. It does this through constructive dialogue across ideological and partisan lines, and through scholarship, activism, and public education efforts.

The BLSA is a national organization that promotes the entrance of black students into the field of law by providing internship opportunities, mentorships, LSAT prep, and other pertinent resources and information. The BLSA is a nondiscriminatory organization. Although the BLSA primarily caters to IUP's black student community who have an interest in law, the organization is open to all members of the IUP community without regard to race, lifestyle, color, religious creed, disability, national origin, gender, and sexual orientation.

For more information, contact BLSA student president Ian Grant at i.q.grant@iup.edu.

The award was given in recognition of Fiddner’s work in submitting a $38,600.08 grant proposal to the Gerda Henkel Foundation to sponsor an international roundtable discussion on “Cyberspace National Security Policy and Strategy” during the 2012–2013 fiscal year. This roundtable will continue Fiddner’s efforts to collaborate with other researchers and policy makers to identify cyber-based threats to U.S. national security and to spur the development and implementation of a comprehensive national program to deal effectively with these threats.

The Grantsmanship Award was developed by the Office of the President at IUP in 2010 to encourage and support faculty grantsmanship. The fund provides a $2,500 award for tenure-track faculty members who submit a grant proposal of at least $25,000.

The IUP Pre-Law Society serves as a valuable resource for IUP students who are interested in law school and law-related careers. The organization is involved in events such as IUP’s Law School Career Day, LSAT prep courses, guest speakers, visits to law school, and more.

Joining IUP’s Pre-Law Society provides:

• leadership opportunities
• access to resources compiled by the Pre-Law Society
• opportunities to participate in mock trial competitions
• information about law school and law-related careers
• a place to meet other students with interests similar to yours

Plus, the Pre-Law Society is a lot of fun!

Department of Political Science 

At the Asian Studies Development Program conference in Seattle, Wash., March 29–31, 2012, Jackson’s presented “China’s Good Neighbor Policy: Or, How to Be a Regional Hegemon and Still Be Liked.” The paper examines the relationship between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors from the 19th century to the present.

Jackson also presented “Correlates of Corruption? China’s Foreign Direct Investment in Africa and African Misgovernment” at the International Studies Association annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., on April 2, 2012. The paper examines the relationship between Chinese investment in African states and levels of corruption and repression in those countries from 2003–2011.

Aside from your LSAT score and grades, your personal statement is the most important part of your law school application. Nearly all law schools require that students submit a two-page personal statement along with their law school application. Admissions officials do read personal statements—and they matter . . . a lot. The personal statement is your one chance to set yourself apart from the hundreds (or thousands) of other applications being reviewed by an admissions committee.

• Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012
• Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Taught by Gwen Torges of the Political Science Department

In this workshop, you will learn:

• the purpose of a personal statement
• what admissions officials are looking for in a personal statement
• what types of information you should—and shouldn’t—include
• how to decide what to write about
• how to banish writer’s block and get started writing!

Besides learning about the components of a personal statement and tips for writing one of your own, you will read and evaluate sample personal statements. The workshop also includes a brainstorming session and other exercises to help you come up with and develop a theme for your personal statement.

To Register:

The workshop is free, but you need to register by sending an e-mail to Kyleen at kburkley@iup.edu by Thursday, March 29.

This workshop is sponsored by:

• IUP’s Pre-Law Program
• The College of Humanities and Social Sciences 
• The Political Science Department 

If these questions sound familiar, then this workshop’s for you.

Getting into Law School Workshop

• Date: Saturday, March 3, 2012
• Time: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
• Taught by Gwen Torges of the Political Science Department

You Will Learn:

• about the application process and the important deadlines what law school admissions officials are looking for
• strategies for getting the best possible letters of recommendation how to set yourself and your application apart from the crowd

The workshop is free, but you must register by Thursday, March 1, 2012. After you register, you will be sent information about location and about a packet that you need to purchase.

To Register:

Send an e-mail to Kyleen at kburkley@iup.edu. Deadline to register is Thursday, March 1, 2012.

This workshop is sponsored by:

• IUP’s Pre-Law Program
• The College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• The Political Science Department

The Eisenhower National Security Panel will give a public forum, 6:30–8:00 p.m. in the HUB Monongahela Room.

All are invited. Attendance vouchers will be available for students.

Mingle with the panel members at a reception before the forum, 4:30–5:30 p.m. in the HUB Delaware Room. Pizza will be provided.

Department of Political Science

Representing Sweden again this year, Xavier Alarcon, Joe Hovan, Kaitlyn Klinges, Justin Mauk, and Kevin Stay were among nearly two hundred students from East Coast schools who were discussing the issue of Turkish ascension to the European Union.

The students visited the Swedish Embassy in Washington and were briefed by Swedish diplomats as part of the intense three-day activity.

Department of Political Science

Get realistic practice and try your hand at the types of questions you’ll face on the actual exam. You’ll receive a personalized score report pinpointing your strengths and weaknesses.

Free Practice LSAT 

• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• November 12, 2011
• 10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Register for the free practice LSAT.

Department of Political Science

Come meet other students who are interested in law school, and help create an agenda for the club.

All IUP students are welcome to join the Pre-Law Society, which serves as a valuable resource for those interested in law school and law-related careers.

Joining IUP's Pre-Law Society gives you:

• leadership opportunities
• access to resources compiled by the Pre-Law Society
• information about law school and law-related careers
• a place to meet other students with interests similar to yours
• a chance to visit law school in the area

Plus, the Pre-Law Society is a lot of fun.

This informational meeting is being organized by English/Pre-Law student Chase Keibler. If you have questions, you can contact Chase at xcsq@iup.edu.

Department of Political Science

Admissions officials do read personal statements—and they matter . . . a lot. The personal statement is your one chance to set yourself apart from the hundreds (or thousands) of other applications being reviewed by an admissions committee.

Don’t know what to write or how to get started? Then sign up for the:

Writing a Law School Personal Statement Workshop

Saturday, October 29, 2011

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Taught by Prof. Gwen Torges of the Political Science Department.

In this workshop, you will learn:

• the purpose of a personal statement
• what admissions officials are looking for in a personal statement
• what types of information you should—and shouldn’t—include
• how to decide what to write about
• how to banish writer’s block and get started writing!

Besides learning about the components of a personal statement and tips for writing one of your own, you will read and evaluate sample personal statements. The workshop also includes a brainstorming session and other exercises to help you come up with and develop a theme for your personal statement.

To Register:

The workshop is free, but you need to register by sending an e-mail to torges@iup.edu by Thursday, October 27.

This workshop is sponsored by:

• IUP’s Pre-Law Program
• The College of Humanities and Social Sciences 
• The Political Science Department

If these questions sound familiar, then this workshop’s for you.

Getting into Law School Workshop

Saturday, October 22, 2011

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Taught by Prof. Gwen Torges of the Political Science Department 

You will learn:

• about the application process and the important deadlines
• what law school admissions officials are looking for
• strategies for getting the best possible letters of recommendation
• how to set yourself and your application apart from the crowd!

The workshop is free, but you must register by Thursday, October 20.

To Register:

Send an e-mail to torges@iup.edu. Deadline to register is Thursday, October 20.

This workshop is sponsored by:

• IUP’s Pre-Law Program
• The College of Humanities and Social Sciences 
• The Political Science Department

Every Tuesday afternoon, philosophy student Ian Todd hosts a show in which IUP faculty members talk about their research.

Until 2009, the UK’s highest appellate court was a committee within the House of Lords. Relying on personal interviews with the new court’s first Justices, Torges’s research traces the development of this new institution. She is particularly interested in the creation of legitimacy for the new court, and the extent to which perceptions of legitimacy focus on symbolic versus substantive factors.

Admissions representatives from several law schools are coming to IUP to talk about their schools and to answer your questions.

IUP’s Annual Law School Fair

• Thursday, October 20, 2011, 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
• Crimson Event Center (Folger)

Department of Political Science

The discussion will take place on Thursday, February 10, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the HUB’s Allegheny Room.

IUP professors Ibrahim Affaneh and Azad Ali will speak about the current situation facing these two groups of people in the Middle East.

The student teams were sponsored by the John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security and advised by Drs. Werner Lippert, History, and Dighton Fiddner, Political Science. The conference took place February 18–21, 2010, in Washington, D.C.

Model NATO is a simulation of the proceedings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, augmented by preconference study and briefings at embassies of NATO member states in Washington, D.C. It provides a unique opportunity for university and college students to study the role, structure, and activities of NATO, as well as the military, political-security, economic, and social issues facing the alliance.

Through simulation, students gain a better and clearer understanding of the capabilities and constraints that shape the policies of NATO countries in determining matters of collective defense. Apart from dealing with a prepared agenda, students grapple with a contemporary crisis to be revealed at the Model Conference.

The Murtha Institute will once again sponsor IUP’s participation in the 2011 National Model NATO from February 17–20, 2011, where IUP will be representing Denmark and Germany.

The encyclopedia, a twelve-volume major project of the International Studies Association’s Compendium Project, brings together the state of the field in a wide variety of areas of International Studies. The International Studies Encyclopedia is available on line and in print.

All IUP students, staff and faculty are encouraged to attend one or more of the scheduled activities.  We’d especially like to have staff and faculty represented in the first event of the day, a public reading of the U.S. Constitution.  Details about how you can participate as a reader are included below.  Faculty members are encouraged to announce these events to their students.  Extra credit vouchers will be available for those faculty who wish to offer extra credit for student attendance.

Public Reading of the Constitution
Noon to 1:00 p.m., Oak Grove
One hundred members of the IUP community – students, staff and faculty – will gather to read the Constitution, starting with the Preamble and ending with the 27th Amendment.  Want to be a reader?  Send an e-mail message to jhlj@iup.edu.  The first 100 responders will join in the reading and will receive a “We the People at IUP” t-shirt.

Making Sense of the Electoral College
1:30-2:30 p.m., 210 Stabley Library
Ever wondered what the heck the Electoral College is all about?  Professor Emeritus Ed Platt will help us make sense of this confusing institution to elect American presidents in a presentation:  “The Electoral College:  Origins, rationale, evolution and alternatives.”

A Conversation with the Framers
3:00-4:00 p.m., HUB Allegheny Room
Sit in on a chat with three of the writers of the U.S. Constitution - Ben Franklin (aka Professor David Chambers), James Madison (aka Professor Joe Mannard) and Charles Pinckney (aka Professor Mac Fiddner) – to gain insight on how the Framers envisioned presidential elections and the office of the president.