Monday, September 15

The Election of 1960
Hal Berry, SCC professor of history and theater

One of the closest and most exciting elections in American history was the contest in 1960 between Sen. John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The contest echoed the sentiments and beliefs of change versus the status quo. Hal Berry will dissect the election.

‘Silence Means Consent’: Gun Violence, Human Rights and Democracy in Jamaica
Michael Kuelker, SCC professor of English
HUM 214

Michael Kuelker, SCC professor of English, speaks on the interconnectedness of poverty, violence, democracy, and human rights in Jamaica. The presentation will draw from video interviews he conducted while on assignment for Amnesty International in 2007. Learn about advocacy from the outside and community building work from the inside, as Jamaica faces vexing problems of crime and violence. Video footage includes prominent Jamaican artist/activists Bunny Wailer and Queen Ifrica, as well as ordinary folks.

What Film Propaganda Can Do to/for the State
Members of the SCC Global Studies Committee
Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building Auditorium

Members of the SCC Global Studies Committee will explore the power and perils of propagandistic myth making through film. Clips will include Leni Riefenstahl's 1934 “Triumph of the Will,” Mikhail Kalatozov's 1964 “I Am Cuba,” and other works. Participants also will discuss the extent to which propaganda has touched American shores.

Tuesday, September 16

Thank You, Madam President: How Women Have Changed and Challenged the Modern Political Landscape
Vickey Herbel, assistant professor of sociology, and
Jennifer Rigdon, former professor of speech
Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building Auditorium

Vicky Herbel and Jennifer Rigdon will discuss the women's movement in America. Herbel will address the roles that race, social class, and men played in the early women's movement. Rigdon will discuss the link between gendered communication, feminism, and Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the presidency. In a critique of the evolution of national-level female candidacies, Rigdon will explore the role of feminism and the delicate balance of communication styles female candidates must achieve to be taken seriously.

Bust the Ballot
Live and direct by Jose Tapia from MTV’s “The Real World”
Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building Auditorium

In a freewheeling open forum, Jose Tapia will discuss issues facing voters in the November election. The event will encourage young people to create positive social and political change in their lives and communities. There will be a question and answer session, and participants will be able to debate political issues. Known in the 1990s as “Rock the Vote,” the event will promote voter registration and empower young people to get out and vote.

The Impact of Mass Media on the Presidential Election Process
Paul Roesler, SCC professor of political science, and Darren Osburn, SCC associate professor of speech communications
Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building Auditorium

Learn how mass media – newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet – have shaped presidential campaigns. This multimedia presentation by Paul Roesler and Darren Osburn will examine how party-owned newspapers, campaign jingles, TV commercials, televised debates, political documentaries, and Internet fundraising have helped and hindered candidates seeking the highest office in the land.

Death of Democracy
Bob Gill, SCC instructional media manager

Ever since FDR used federal policies to help the nation survive the Depression, Americans have debated the role of the government in addressing societal problems. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War, and the impending meltdown of our mortgage industry, we are facing difficult questions about how, and even if, the government should intervene in economic affairs. In a multimedia presentation, Robert Gill will explore controversial questions about the lines dividing public and private spheres. 

The Human Cost of Illegal Immigration
Jane Zeiser, SCC associate professor of Spanish

Jane Zeiser will lead a panel discussion about some of the disparaging results of illegal immigration such as border bandits and human trafficking. The discussion seeks not only to raise awareness of the precarious plight of illegal immigrants, but also to offer suggestions for reducing corruption and poverty in their home countries, such as opening capital markets and raising quotas of legal immigration in the U.S.

‘The Right to Keep and Bear Arms’:  The Supreme Court Speaks’
Paul Roesler, SCC professor of political science,  and Ron Pettus, SCC associate professor of political science

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2008 on a Second Amendment case for only the second time in history. Learn what the highest court in the land had to say about this controversial amendment. Paul Roesler and Ron Pettus will discuss the history behind the new ruling as well as its impact.

Hollywood and the Presidency
Hal Berry, SCC professor of history
SSB 1102

Since the early days of film, Hollywood has been fascinated with the presidency and the men who served in the office. Using film clips from various productions, this seminar will reveal how the industry portrayed the office of the presidency.

Thursday, September 18

The Truth about Islam
Malayeka Siddiq, SCC student

Malayeka Siddiq explains what Islam really says about terrorism. The seminar will address how a faith, whose name itself means “peace,” could encourage its followers to work for death and destruction.

Assessing Women’s Representation Cross-Nationally:  Why are more women elected to office in Rwanda than in America?
Diana O’Brien, graduate student at Washington University

The U.S. falls below the world average of female legislators and ranks 68th in women's representation worldwide. Diana O'Brien will examine the factors that influence women's representation in legislatures cross-nationally and features of the American electoral system that limit women's representation. She also will take note of solutions implemented by other countries to increase the number of women elected to office.

Trials in Africa: America’s Changing Post-Cold War Foreign Policy
Travis Thompson, SCC instructor of history

Travis Thompson will give an overview of U.S. foreign policy in Africa during the Clinton and Bush administrations, focusing on such pivotal topics as the HIV/AIDS crisis, genocide, and economic development. How has Washington's approach to Africa changed since the fall of the Soviet Union? How has the world's wealthiest democracy defined its role in regard to a continent with some of the world's most defunct governments and poorest peoples?

For directions, see campus maps or contact Michael Kuelker at mkuelker@stchas.edu for additional information.

This event is co-produced with SCC Student Affairs.
The organizers gratefully acknowledge support from
Emerson Electric and the SCC Foundation.